2019–20 Arsenal F.C. season


The 2019–20 season was Arsenal's 28th season in the Premier League, 103rd overall season in the top flight and 100th consecutive season in the top flight of English football. The club participated in the Premier League, the FA Cup, and the UEFA Europa League. They also participated in the EFL Cup.
Despite finishing eighth and enduring one of their most turbulent seasons in the Premier League, Arsenal ended the season with silverware, winning the 2019-20 FA Cup for a record fourteenth time.

Review

Pre-season

Arsenal began their off-season by completing some squad alterations. Bernd Leno, Reiss Nelson, Joe Willock, Eddie Nketiah, Emile Smith Rowe and Matt Macey all received new squad numbers, the latter five being promoted to the first team from the academy.
Arsenal's pre-season tour in America got off to a shaky start with club captain, Laurent Koscielny, refusing to travel. He believed that over his nine years of service to the club, he had earned the right to terminate his contract despite still having one year remaining. This led to the club taking disciplinary actions, including stripping Koscielny of the club captaincy.
Arsenal's first summer signing was young Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli from Ituano FC for a £6 million transfer fee. The summer was dominated by headlines providing that Arsenal's transfer budget was only £45 million. Despite several major outlets reporting on this, it was revealed that the budget was actually closer to £100 million. The lack of budget and ambition from owner Stan Kroenke led many fans to grow infuriated and begin protesting his ownership with the hashtag "#WeCareDoYou".
On 15 July, Arsenal began their pre-season tour with an emphatic 3–0 friendly win over Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids, with Martinelli scoring on his non-competitive debut. The Arsenal players featured were mostly youth players, with Mesut Özil, Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also featuring as substitutes.
On 17 July, Arsenal played Bayern Munich in California in the 2019 International Champions Cup and prevailed 2–1, with Eddie Nketiah scoring the winning goal. Three days later, the Gunners continued their winning form with a 3–0 victory over Fiorentina in Charlotte, North Carolina, with a brace by Nketiah and a goal by Joe Willock. Three days later, Arsenal faced Real Madrid in Landover, Maryland, in the Gunners' third and final International Champions Cup match. Arsenal were leading 2–0 through Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but Real hit back with the troubled Gareth Bale halving the deficit and Marco Asensio scoring the equaliser. The match ended 2–2, resulting in a penalty shootout that the Gunners lost 3–2. Both teams ended the match with ten men. This meant that Arsenal finished in third place, their best-ever result in the competition.
On 25 July, Arsenal completed the signing of French teenage centre-back William Saliba from Saint-Étienne for a reported £27 million transfer fee. However, he was loaned back to the French club for the 2019–20 season. Arsenal also completed a season-long loan deal for Spanish midfielder Dani Ceballos from Real Madrid.
On 26 July, Arsenal pair Mesut Özil and Sead Kolašinac were involved in a carjacking attempt by a group of armed robbers in London near Golders Green, where there was footage of Kolašinac chasing the robbers. Both players were targeted by the gang but it was confirmed by the club that the pair escaped uninjured and were safe.
On 28 July, Arsenal played in the Emirates Cup for the first time since 2017, losing 1–2 at home to French team Lyon. The Gunners failed to win the Emirates Cup for the first time since 2014.
On 31 July, Arsenal played a friendly game against Angers, who were celebrating the 100th anniversary of the French club's establishment. The match ended in a 1–1 draw, meaning a penalty shootout had to decide the winner. The Gunners won the shootout 4–3, with Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez saving the decisive spot-kick from ex-Arsenal player Jeff Reine-Adelaïde.
On 1 August, Arsenal made the signing of Ivorian winger Nicolas Pépé from Ligue 1 club Lille for a club record £72 million.
On 4 August, Arsenal also played against Barcelona on the Joan Gamper Trophy at the Camp Nou. The Gunners lost 2–1, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scoring the only goal in the first half giving Arsenal the lead going into half-time. However, a poor own goal from Ainsley Maitland-Niles and a 90th-minute winner from Luis Suárez gave Barcelona the win in Arsenal's final pre-season fixture. Also during the day, Takuma Asano left the club to join Serbian club Partizan for a £900,000 transfer fee. In his three years at the club, Asano did not play a single minute.
On 6 August, former captain Laurent Koscielny left Arsenal to join Ligue 1 club Bordeaux for a reported £4.6 million transfer fee. Koscielny had spent nine years at the club.
On 7 August, Carl Jenkinson left the club to join Nottingham Forest for a £2 million transfer fee.
On 8 August, transfer deadline day, the Gunners signed left-back Kieran Tierney from Celtic for a reported £25 million fee and, three hours later, centre-back David Luiz from Chelsea for a reported £8 million transfer fee. In addition, Alex Iwobi joined Everton for £28 million — which could rise to £35 million — and the recently promoted Eddie Nketiah joined Leeds United on a season-long loan.

August

Arsenal began the season with a 1–0 win at Newcastle United, courtesy of a goal by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, in the Premier League on 11 August. The following week, the Gunners played Burnley in their first home match of the season on 17 August. They won 2–1, with goals by Alexandre Lacazette and Aubameyang. Their third match of the season came at Liverpool on 24 August. Nicolas Pépé made his first start for the club, but Arsenal lost 3–1 at Anfield after two goals by Mohamed Salah and a header by Joël Matip. Lucas Torreira's first goal for the season was a late consolation. Arsenal ended August third in the league table with six points from a possible nine. On 30 August, Arsenal learned their 2019–20 UEFA Europa League group stage opponents: Eintracht Frankfurt of Germany, Vitória de Guimarães of Portugal and Standard Liège of Belgium. The following day, Nacho Monreal was surprisingly sold to La Liga club Real Sociedad, ending a six-and-a-half year association with the club.

September

Arsenal started September with the first North London derby at the Emirates Stadium against Tottenham Hotspur on 1 September. An early goal by Christian Eriksen and a Harry Kane penalty made it 2–0 in Tottenham's favour, but Alexandre Lacazette halved the deficit during first-half stoppage-time and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored an equaliser to make the score 2–2. A late Sokratis Papastathopoulos goal was disallowed for offside to deny Arsenal a comeback win, meaning that the derby ended in a 2–2 draw. The following day, European transfer deadline day, Arsenal loaned Mohamed Elneny to Turkish club Beşiktaş and Henrikh Mkhitaryan to Italian club Roma. No move materialised for defender Shkodran Mustafi following a summer of speculation on his future at the club.
On 15 September, following the international break, Arsenal continued their Premier League campaign with a 2–2 draw at Watford, despite a double by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang putting them 2–0 up.
After such a capitulation at Vicarage Road, Arsenal's spirits were dampened when they headed to Germany to face Eintracht Frankfurt in the opening Europa League group stage fixture. In one of the more high-key matches, Arsenal named a young lineup packed with potential. First, a brilliant through-ball from 18-year-old academy product Bukayo Saka found Joe Willock, who burst into the box and saw his shot deflect off Frankfurt defender David Abraham and put Arsenal ahead at the break. The turning point came with 11 minutes to play. Already booked for a clip on Saka, Dominik Kohr was sent-off for pulling back substitute Nicolas Pépé. With five minutes remaining, Saka capped-off a superb debut performance with a stunning low strike to make it 2–0 in Arsenal's favour. Two minutes later, he slipped in Aubameyang, who duly rolled home to wrap up 3–0 victory over the struggling ten-man Eagles.
Later that week, the Gunners played host to Aston Villa in the Premier League's sixth round of fixtures. At half-time, Arsenal found themselves a man and a goal behind after John McGinn stroked home Anwar El Ghazi's cross on 20 minutes, prior to Ainsley Maitland-Niles being sent off for a reckless challenge on Neil Taylor. However, a minute short of the hour mark, man of the match Matteo Guendouzi burst into the box before being hauled down by Villa defender Björn Engels. Nicolas Pépé stepped up to take the subsequent spot-kick and duly drilled down the middle to make it 1–1. One minute later, Villa were back in front through striker Wesley. Nine minutes short of full-time, Calum Chambers evened the score at 2–2 with his first Arsenal goal in two years. Three minutes later, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang bent home a terrific free-kick to earn Arsenal a dramatic 3–2 win and become just the ninth side in Premier League history to win a match despite trailing by both a man and a goal at any point of the match.
The Gunners then recorded the largest competitive win of the Unai Emery era when they progressed to the fourth round of the EFL Cup after thrashing Championship outfit Nottingham Forest 5–0. Debutant Gabriel Martinelli opened and closed the scoring, first with a bullet header and then with a deflected long-range strike. Meanwhile, Kieran Tierney made his Arsenal debut while Rob Holding scored on his return from a long-term knee injury, planting a header home just a minute after becoming Arsenal captain. Héctor Bellerín then made his return from injury off the bench, marking it with an assist for Joe Willock. Meanwhile, Reiss Nelson grabbed his first Gunners goal while Calum Chambers made three assists in a night of positives for Arsenal.
However, Arsenal were unable to provide such class next time out as a dull affair at Old Trafford against Manchester United, which ended in an uninspiring 1–1 stalemate. United lead 1–0 at the break courtesy of Scott McTominay's stunning strike on the stroke of half-time. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang then levelled after Bukayo Saka pounced on a loose ball from Axel Tuanzebe to release the Gabonese. Despite the initial decision being offside, a VAR check confirmed the goal would stand.

October

Arsenal kept up their fine midweek form with a 4–0 hammering of Belgian minnows Standard Liège in the Europa League. Gabriel Martinelli was again on the double, scoring twice in the opening 16 minutes before Joe Willock scored the third after showing good composure to put away Reiss Nelson's rebounded attempt. Dani Ceballos added the fourth early in the second half with his first Gunners goal to keep them top of the group. Back in the Premier League, Arsenal climbed to third in the league table after David Luiz's first goal for the club on nine minutes earned them an unconvincing 1–0 home win against Bournemouth.
After the international break — which saw multiple Gunners in action for their countries — Arsenal's return to action was spoiled with what was just their second defeat all season long when Sheffield United managed a 1–0 win at Brammall Lane thanks to Lys Mousset's clever finish on the half-hour mark, replicating their famous win in 2007.
And it looked to be two defeats from two come the restart of football after goals from Marcus Edwards and Bruno Duarte, either side of a fine Gabriel Martinelli header, had put unfancied Portuguese side Vitoria SC on the brink of a famous Europa League win at the Emirates Stadium. However, Nicolas Pépé proved the difference of the bench when he netted two stunning free-kicks, first in the 80th minute and then again in the 92nd, to earn Arsenal a relieving 3–2 victory and make progression to the next round all but assured.
And the team looked high on confidence when two goals inside the first ten minutes from defenders Sokratis Papastathopolous and David Luiz put them in firm control against a solid Crystal Palace side. However, the Eagles retorted by halving the deficit via Luka Milivojevic's penalty shortly before the break, before Andre Ayew nodded home on 52 minutes to make it 2–2.
Later in the game, struggling and much-criticised Swiss captain Granit Xhaka was substituted following another poor performance, but boos echoing about the stadium didn't help matters, and after swearing at supporters, he ripped of his shirt and stormed down the tunnel. He wouldn't appear for the side again for nearly a month and also had the captaincy title stripped from him.
Late on, though, Papastathopolous thought he had won it after smashing home following a touchline scramble, but the goal was incorrectly disallowed by VAR due to Calum Chambers’ "infringement" on Luka Milivojevic, despite replays showing two players collide with Chambers before he downed Milivojevic, meaning Arsenal had to settle for a point in a dramatic but damaging encounter at the Emirates Stadium.
Following the Crystal Palace draw, Arsenal lay in fifth position, and results continued to downturn after the Gunners exited the League Cup after leaving Anfield empty-handed following a 5–4 penalty shootout defeat to Liverpool.
But it was the manner of how the game descended to penalties that will make this match live long in the memory. In one of the most high-scoring encounters in Arsenal's history, the Gunners drew 5–5 with Jurgen Klopp's high-flying Reds side. The games opening goal came just six minutes in, when Liverpool debutant Neco Williams hurled a wonderful ball over the top to former Gunner Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who's low cross was knocked into the net by Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi.
However, on nineteen minutes, Liverpool's goalkeeper Caiomhin Kelleher couldn't keep out Bukayo Saka's attempt, gifting Lucas Torreira an equaliser. Arsenal then took the lead after Gabriel Martinelli pounced on a similar goalkeeping error by the Irishman, before Martinelli notched his second to make it 3–1 after converting Bukayo Saka's low cross.
Nonetheless, Liverpool managed to navigate a route back into the game when Martinelli clipped Harvey Elliot in the Arsenal box. James Milner buried the subsequent spot-kick to cut the deficit to 3–2.
However, a Milner error, an ingenious Mesut Ozil flick and a simple Maitland-Niles finish put Arsenal 4–2 ahead on 54 minutes. However, quickfire screamers from Oxlade-Chamberlain and Divock Origi levelled the game at 4–4, before Joe Willock's 30-yard rocket put Arsenal in front.
However, there was stoppage-time heartbreak for the Gunners, as Origi netted his second of the night with an acrobatic volley to signal penalties at the end of the most high-scoring match in League Cup history.
Despite the first six penalties being converted, it was Dani Ceballos who missed first, as his penalty was blocked by Kelleher. Despite Maitland-Niles converting, Curtis Jones scored the winning spot-kick as Arsenal exited the tournament in the most dramatic of fashions.

November

Arsenal began November the same way they ended October: drawing two games in succession. Both matches ended 1–1, first at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League. Arsenal had taken the lead through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's 50th goal for the club, but were pegged back late on after Raul Jiminez nodded home Joao Moutinho lobbed cross with sixteen minutes to play.
The next one was against Vitoria SC, a game which also ended 1–1 in what could be argued as Emery's worst game at the helm of Arsenal. The Gunners managed just one shot on target and one accurate pass into the box, both of which came for the goal, as Shkodran Mustafi nodded home Nicolas Pepe's delightful free-kick delivery, but in stoppage time Bruno Duarte's acrobatic volley managed to worm its way through a crowd of Arsenal bodies on the line, with manager Unai Emery now under serious pressure.
Results were not appearing to change. Later in the week, the Gunners went six games without a win after two quickfire second-half goals from Jamie Vardy and James Maddison saw Leicester City secure a 2–0 win over the struggling North Londoners, leaving them sixth.
Rumours were rife throughout the international break that Emery was on the brink of the sack, but he was still on the touchline in the Gunners' home fixture with Southampton. After an early Danny Ings goal but Saints ahead, Alexandre Lacazette got his first goal since September to level it at 1–1.
However, with just under 20 minutes to go, Kieran Tierney clipped Ings as the visitors were gifted a chance to retake the lead. Despite Bernd Leno blocking the initial spot-kick, James Ward-Prowse scored on the rebound to make it 1–2.
Southampton seemed on the verge of collecting a famous win, however Lacazette spoiled that dream when he lashed home a Martinelli cross in the 96th minute, rescuing a point for Arsenal in a 2–2 draw.
With Emery now teetering on the edge, it was reported that he had one last game to save himself, namely the Europa League fixture at home to Eintracht Frankfurt. Despite their recent form, Arsenal appeared as favourites, as they were chasing an eighth straight European win at the Emirates, something never managed before, and had also, of course, won the reverse fixture 3–0 in Germany.
However, despite leading 1–0 at half-time through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyangs deflected strike, a swift double from Japanese international, Daichi Kamada, earned Frankfurt a shock 2–1 win and left Emery hanging by a thread.
At 10 AM BST, on 29 November 2019, Unai Emery was sacked by Arsenal following the chastening Frankfurt defeat. Soon after, former assistant coach and "Invincible" Freddie Ljungberg earned the caretaker boss role, with his first game due to be away to struggling Norwich City.

December

Freddie Ljungberg's first match as interim boss was staged at Carrow Road against Norwich, on 1 December 2019. Despite Arsenal dominating the early exchanges, it was the home side who took the lead after Teemu Pukki's deflected strike crawled into the net. However, less than a minute later, a handball by Norwich defender Christoph Zimmerman gifted Arsenal a route back into the game via just their second penalty kick of the season. However a poor penalty by Aubameyang was blocked by Timo Krul. However, encroachment in the penalty area saw Aubameyang gifted a retake, and he buried the second attempt, making it 1–1. However, Norwich retook the lead in the second minute of first half stoppage time via Todd Cantwell, but Aubameyangs second goal, coupled with some super saves by Bernd Leno, saw Ljungberg's first match end in an enthralling 2–2 draw.
Ljungbergs first home match in charge of the Gunners took place against Brighton And Hove Albion on 5 December 2019, but a listless first half performance saw Brighton lead 1–0 thanks to Adam Websters fierce strike.
However, a clever looping header from Alexandre Lacazette five minutes into the second half got Arsenal level, before David Luiz had a smart volleyed finish disallowed for offside. Then, man of the match Aaron Mooy bent in a terrific cross to Neal Maupay, who duly nodded home to seal a stunning 2–1 Brighton victory and extend Arsenal's win-less run in all competitions to nine games.
And it looked certain to be ten after Angelo Ogbonna's weak header had West Ham United ahead at the London Stadium on 38 minutes. It had been another lifeless performance from the Gunners, but on the hour mark, a lovely through-ball from Lucas Torreira was cut back by Sead Kolasinac to Gabriel Martinelli, who rifled home to mark his first Premier League start with a well-taken goal.
And six minutes later, it was 2–1 after Nicolas Pepe cut away from Arthur Masuaku before bending a terrific strike into the far corner. Mesut Ozil's pass was then played on to Pepe by an Aubameyang back-heel three minutes later, with the Ivorian's lofted cross volleyed home by Aubameyang, sealing a much-needed 3–1 victory and restore the Gunners to the top ten.
High on spirits following the West Ham victory, Arsenal travelled to Belgium to face Standard Liege. So long as they avoided a five-goal defeat the Gunners would qualify, whilst top spot would be assured with a win, or failure for Eintracht Frankfurt to beat bottom-placed Vitoria at home.
After a dead first-half, Standard Liege took a much-needed lead on 47 minutes after Samuel Bastien's deflected attempted hobbled over the line. And when Selim Amallah made it 2–0 with a similarly deflected effort on 69 minutes, and Frankfurt leading 2–1, it seemed as though Arsenal would have to settle for second place.
However, a wonderful Bukayo Saka cross was powered home by the head of Alexandre Lacazette, before, with nine minutes to go, Arsenal completed the comeback when a quick one-two between Saka and Gabriel Martinelli saw the former's low shot skim into the net, as the match ended 2–2. That, coupled with Eintrachts 2–3 home loss to Vitoria, meant Arsenal finished top of Group F, having accrued 11 points from three wins, two draws and one loss.
Despite the recent upturn in results, the Gunners were brought right back down to earth when a first-half blitz from champions Manchester City saw the Citizens run out 3–0 winners at Emirates Stadium. An individual masterclass from Kevin De Bruyne was the foundation for City's victory, with the Belgian play-maker opening and closing the scoring with stunning strikes, whilst also setting up Raheem Sterling's goal on fifteen minutes.
On the sixteenth of December 2019, the UEFA Europa League Round-of-32 draw was made. Arsenal, as a seeded side, avoided the big guns such as Sevilla, Manchester United, Ajax or Inter Milan. They were drawn against Greek giants and established European side Olympiacos, with the first leg to be staged in Athens.
After leading them to just one win in five games as caretaker, Freddie Ljungberg was unable to become Arsenals new long-term boss, as former player Mikel Arteta was appointed as the new manager on 20 December 2019. After retirement in May 2016, Arteta had spent three years as assistant coach of Manchester City, winning two Premier League titles, seven trophies and was widely praised by manager Pep Guardiola and several other players.
Despite the appointment, Arteta was obliged to watch Freddie Ljungbergs final Arsenal game from the stands, in a tricky trip to an Everton side in a similar predicament to the Gunners. However, a listless performance from both sides saw a dull game end 0–0, the Gunners first goalless stalemate since December 2017, when they drew 0–0 at West Ham United.
After the Christmas Day break, the Gunners were back in action away to AFC Bournemouth on Boxing Day in Mikel Arteta's first game as new boss. After going behind 35 minutes courtesy of a Dan Gosling tap-in, Arsenal drew level after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted similarly easy tap-in, as a high-edged encounter ended 1–1.
The Gunners final match of the year was staged at the Emirates Stadium against off-colour rivals Chelsea in Mikel Arteta's first home test. However, despite taking a 13th-minute lead through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's header, late goals from Jorginho and Tammy Abraham earned the visitors a 2–1 comeback win and denied what would have been a deserving victory for Arsenal.

January

If 2019 had ended badly, Arsenal started 2020 in flying fashion, beating Manchester United 2–0 to secure a vital New Year's Day win. The Gunners took the lead on eight minutes after Nicolas Pepe guided home Sead Kolasinac's deflected cross, before grabbing the second just before half-time, Greek defender Sokratis Papastathopolous hammering in after David de Gea spilled Alexandre Lacazette's header.
After the euphoria of the United victory, Arsenal faced another fallen giant in the form of Leeds United at home in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup. It was the 17th meeting between the two sides in world football's oldest competition, and the fourth since 2011. That year, Arsenal had won a replay 3–1 at Elland Road after a 1–1 draw at the Emirates Stadium, and the following year a late Thierry Henry goal sent them through.
However, this match had a very different script in contrast to the dominant first-half Man. United display. Arsenal were unable to build out from the back and often succumbed to Leeds' high press, and should have been behind at the break if not for a crossbar and two remarkable Emiliano Martínez saves. However, Arsenal did eventually claw their way to a 1–0 win, courtesy of Reiss Nelson's scrappy finish early on in the second half, on the receiving end of a deflected cross from man-of-the-match Alexandre Lacazette. The Gunners were duly drawn away to AFC Bournemouth in the following round.
The Gunners sent both young potentials Tyreece John-Jules and Emile Smith-Rowe on loan for the rest of the season on 10 January, to Lincoln City and Huddersfield Town respectively.
Arsenal's first match in the road in 2020 was staged at Selhurst Park against an injury-hit Crystal Palace team. Arsenal took a deserved 1–0 lead into the break after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang rolled in his 14th goal of the season-and 16th in all competitions, finishing off an 18-pass team move. However, the Gunners conceded their first goal of 2020, with a bloated deflection guiding Jordan Ayew's effort home. Arsenal were then reduced to ten men after captain and goalscorer Aubameyang committed a wild studs-up tackle on Max Meyer. The game finished 1–1.
On 13 January, young Arsenal centre-back Konstantinos Mavropanos moved on loan to 1. FC Nurnburg, before Dejan Iliev went on loan to Jagiellonia Bialystok the next day.
When back in action, Gabriel Martinelli netted his second Premier League goal in Arsenal's next match, at home to Sheffield United, poking home Bukayo Saka's deflected cross. However, his goal proved fruitless as a late John Fleck goal earned the visitors a 1–1 draw.
Arsenal faced a tricky trip to Stamford Bridge to play Chelsea just over three weeks after losing to the Blues at the Emirates Stadium. They faced a similar outcome after a dreadful back-pass from Shkodran Mustafi left Bernd Leno stranded and Tammy Abraham through on goal. David Luiz hauled him down and received a straight red card, Arsenal's second in two away matches, and gifted Chelsea a penalty.
Jorginho slotted home, and at the break the Gunners trailed 1–0. However, after Mustafi cleared from a corner, Gabriel Martinelli picked up the ball 67 yards from goal, and thirteen seconds later, after darting past three players, he coolly passed it past Kepa Arrizabalaga to level things up. But Chelsea regained the lead with six minutes to play after Cesar Azpilicueta poked home a low Callum Hudson-Odoi cross. But in the 87th minute, captain on the night Hector Bellerin scored with what was just Arsenal's second shot of the match, as the ten-man Gunners fought back to earn a highly creditable 2–2 draw.
Arsenal continued their strong start to 2020 when early goals from Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah-recalled recently from his Leeds United loan spell-ultimately earned them a 2–1 win at AFC Bournemouth in the FA Cup fourth round.
The Gunners took a fifth-minute lead after a 22-pass move involving all ten outfield players culminated in Saka lashing home off the crossbar. Nketiah then made it 2–0 after he laid of to Willock in the area, and Willocks pass to Saka was drilled into Nketiah, who tapped home easily.
After an insipid first half display, a more courageous Bournemouth team earned a consolation goal via Sam Surridges first for the club in the 94th minute, with the Englishman rounding Emiliano Martinez to slot home.
The next day, the Gunners sent James Olayinka to League Two side Northampton Town on loan for the remainder of the season.
On 30 January, Arsenal finally sealed their first signing of the Winter window, bringing in Spanish defender Pablo Mari on loan for the remainder of the season, with an option to buy at the end, from Brazilian side Flamengo.
On deadline day, the Gunners completed a second loan until the end of the season with an option to buy. This time it was Southampton full-back Cedric Soares who arrived, a Portuguese right-footer with 120 Premier League appearances to his name already.

February

Arsenal extended their six-game unbeaten run under Mikel Arteta to seven matches, but were unable to find a winner in a lacklustre goalless draw at Burnley. Despite missing several good chances early on, the Gunners soon found themselves on the back foot, with the Clarets dominating proceedings. They had a number of opportunities to snatch a winner, most notably when Jay Rodriguez hit the bar from six yards out, but ultimately had to settle for a point in what was a dull affair.
After the two week winter break, in which the Gunners chiefly spent at a training camp in Dubai, Arsenal played host to Newcastle United in the Premier League. After a dull first half ended goalless, with neither side able to exploit the other, Arsenal took the lead on 54 minutes. Shortly after Nketiah had smacked the crossbar, Nicolas Pepe floated in an enticing cross which Aubameyang nodded home with a firm header.
The lead was doubled three minutes later, Pepe drilling home a low Saka cross after good work from the eighteen year old.
Allan Saint-Maximin hit the post as Newcastle went close a few times, before Mesut Ozil scuffed home substitute Alexandre Lacazette's cross for his first goal in ten months to make it 3–0. The build-up to the goal involved all eleven players and 35 passes, the most of any Premier League goal this season.
The Gunners grabbed a fourth in the 95th minute, Lacazette getting his first goal in ten games, hammering Pepe's low pass home, wrapping up a thumping, morale boosting 4–0 win.
The big news aside from the Newcastle match, though, was the declaration that Manchester City, placed second in the Premier League, has been banned from the Champions League by UEFA for the next two seasons. That meant if, as was likely, the Citizens retained their second-placed position, then fifth place would ensure Champions League qualification for next season. It was a major boost for the Gunners, who sat just six points away from fifth-placed Spurs, certainly not an insurmountable gap.
But the second route to Europe's premier club competition in 2020/21 was via winning the UEFA Europa League. To this competition the Gunners turned their attention in the first leg of their last-32 tie against Greeks Olympiacos, in Athens. Once again under Arteta the defence proved steady, but the attack was blunt throughout a dull first half, which ended 0-0.
The second half was following a similar script and the match seemed destined to end goalless, but with nine minutes to play Aubameyang played a neat ball into Saka, who's low cross across goal resulted in his 9th assist of the season, with Lacazette arriving at the near post to grab the winner.
The Gunners has just three days of respite prior to their massive home clash with European rivals Everton. The Toffees were two points clear of Arsenal in ninth position, and might have further extended their advantage after Dominic Calvert-Lewin's bicycle kick gave the visitors the lead after just 50 seconds, and it might have been more after some counter-attacking openings later on.
But Arsenal were not to be denied, and soon drew level after Bukayo Saka, released down the left by Granit Xhaka, bent a terrific cross into Eddie Nketiah, who deftly touched the ball in to level it at one apiece.
And six minutes later, a wonderful David Luiz through-ball released Aubameyang, who raced clear and slotted home for 2–1.
However, Everton managed to claw level before half-time, finishing the half as they had started. This time it was Richarlison, squeezing the ball past Leno after Yerry Mina nodded down Djibril Sidibe's hooked lob.
But if Everton had started the first half well, it was Arsenal's turn in the second, with Aubameyang racing ahead of Sidibe to nod Nicolas Pepe's cross home after just twenty-five seconds. Everton searched in vain for an equaliser, with Calvert-Lewin twice going close and Bernd Leno making some remarkable saves. However, Arsenal had the best chance after a giveaway from visiting keeper Jordan Pickford, but Nketiah's attempt bounced off the crossbar, and the relentless Gunners held on for a vital 3–2 win. This marked the first time Arsenal has won two consecutive Premier League games since the first two games of the season.
But all Arsenal's good form was undone in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League tie against Olympiacos in the last-32. After a goalless first period, and unmarked Pape Cisse header gifted the visiting Greeks a 1–0 lead and duly saw them earn extra-time. But when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang notched his 20th goal of the season with a fabulous bicycle kick in the 113th minute, few would have expected what happened next. On 119 minutes Youssef El-Arabi stretched to slide home a last-gasp winner for Olympiacos; 2–1 on the night and away goals on aggregate. Then, in the dying seconds Aubameyang glaringly missed a late chance to save the Gunners from elimination, lobbing wide from six yards with only the goalkeeper to beat. Arsenal were subsequently knocked out of the Europa League by the Greek minnows, putting their Champions League qualification hopes in vein.

March

With it mathematically impossible to win the Premier League and out of both the League Cup and Europa League, Arsenal's last chance of a trophy in 2019–20 came in the form of the FA Cup. To reach the last eight they needed first to navigate a way past Portsmouth at Fratton Park, a side they had not lost to in 21 games, since a 5–4 defeat in 1958. Their most recent encounter had come in 2009, with the Gunners triumphing 4–1. Though less stylish, the Gunners nonetheless claimed the necessary result, a routine 2–0 win, to earn a spot in the quarter-final draw. They had taken the lead in the fourth minute of first half stoppage time, Sokratis Papastathopolous sweeping home his third of the season with a crisp volley from a low Reiss Nelson cross, before a deflected cross from the English winger on 51 minutes saw Eddie Nketiah taking a touch before flinging the ball into the roof of the net, sealing the win.
In reward for the win, the Gunners were drawn against fellow Premier League side Sheffield United in the quarter-finals, with the match to be staged at Brammal Lane on 21 March. Arsenal had lost there, 1–0, in late October, but their most recent encounter with the Blades had come in January, when a late John Fleck goal cancelled out Gabriel Martinelli's opener as the spoils were shared in a 1–1 draw.
As for Arsenal's other goal, a top-five spot in the Premier League, their hopes were significantly boosted with another win and clean sheet against West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium. For much of the contest, though, it seemed as if the struggling Hammers would come out on top, but in the end, with the help of VAR, the Gunners eked out the win. Lacazette was the hero, with a winner off the bench on 78 minutes, slotting Mesut Özil's header into the corner.
David Moyes, the visiting manager, rued numerous missed chances for the Hammers after his winless run away to Arsenal in the Premier League extended to sixteen games, stating that his side "did not deserve to lose", per the BBC, whilst Mikel Arteta noted his Arsenal team had "turned a corner", now just five points of the top four.

COVID-19 suspension

Just a day prior to their trip to Manchester City, it was revealed by Olympiacos and Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis that he had contracted COVID-19, a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus which causes flu-like symptoms and may be fatal.
This, with two days of the total fourteen-day quarantine left, Arsenal postponed their match against Manchester City for the second time that season.
And Arsenal were affected by the virus even more when it was announced that manager Mikel Arteta had tested positive for the virus. Arsenal's entire first-team squad and several staff members were placed into isolation.
Later, when other sides` players, including the whole Chelsea squad, were placed into isolation, a Premier League shareholders meeting concluded that the season could not be continued, and would be postponed until 3 April. Another shareholders meeting agreed that, with the virus still infecting thousands of people around the world, the deadline for the resumption of league matches would be further extended, until 30 April.
On Tuesday 19 May, Premier League clubs including Arsenal made a return to non-contact training, with social distancing rules still in place. The Premier League was given further boosts after approving a return to contact training, before the UK government announced that competitive sport may return behind closed doors on 1 June. The Premier League then confirmed a return behind closed doors on 17 June, with Manchester City vs Arsenal among the first games back.
On 6 June, Arsenal continued to ramp up preparations by scheduling a friendly at home to Charlton Athletic. The Gunners won 6–0, with Eddie Nketiah scoring a hat-trick. Alexandre Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Joe Willock completing the scoresheet.
Another friendly was played on 10 June, against Brentford at the Emirates. The Gunners lost 3-2, having twice been ahead through Joe Willock and Alexandre Lacazette.

Return to football

June

The Gunners made their return to football away to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, exactly 102 days after their last match, at home to West Ham United. The Gunners at first matched City, but injuries to both Granit Xhaka and Pablo Marí proved costly, as substitute David Luiz made two errors; first after misjudging a Kevin De Bruyne ball right at the end of the half, which allowed Raheem Sterling to score, before conceding a penalty early in the second half, and being sent off for it. De Bruyne scored the subsequent spot-kick, before youngster Phil Foden wrapped things up in injury time, of which there were eleven minutes following a serious injury to teenage City defender Eric García.
The next match featured the Gunners traveling away to Brighton & Hove Albion on 20 June. In the 35th minute, Brighton striker Neal Maupay collided with goalkeeper Bernd Leno, who had jumped up to collect a long pass, on the edge of the box, causing Leno to fall awkwardly and sustain a leg injury. The injury forced Leno to leave the game on a stretcher, being visibly upset and remonstrating at Maupay, and was replaced by backup goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez for the rest of the game. In the 68th minute, Nicolas Pépé opened the scoring with a curling shot into the far top corner. Brighton responded soon after with Lewis Dunk poking the ball over the line on a short corner in the 75th minute. Late into stoppage time, Brighton broke the tie when Maupay slotted home past Martínez, taking all three points from the match and winning 2–1. As a result, Arsenal dropped to 10th.
On 24 June, Arsenal announced a one-year extension to defender David Luiz’s contract, a surprise to some given he had been inconsistent in his first season at the Emirates.
The Gunners also announced the permanent signings of January loanees Cedric Soares and Pablo Mari, and an loan extension for Dani Ceballos.
In the next match at Southampton, Matteo Guendouzi was dropped from the 20-man squad, thought to be as a result of his confrontation with Neal Maupay towards the end of the Brighton match.
After Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit the bar early, Arsenal took the lead after Eddie Nketiah took advantage of Saints keeper Alex McCarthy’s error. In the second half, Southampton pressed hard for an equalizer, with Nathan Redmond and Shane Long forcing saves from Emiliano Martínez. However, with five minutes to go, the Saints were reduced to ten men when Jack Stephens earned a straight red card from referee Graham Scott after clipping Aubameyang and denying the Gabonese striker of an "obvious goal-scoring opportunity." From the ensuing free kick, substitute Alexandre Lacazette’s hit the wall before his second shot was spilled by McCarthy, which fellow substitute Joe Willock slammed home to make it 2–0, sealing a first away league win under Arteta.
Arsenal went away to Sheffield United for their FA Cup quarter-finals match on 28 June. Sheffield United seemed to have scored first in the eighth minute when John Lundstram headed home from a corner kick, but he was ruled to be offside by VAR. In the 23rd minute, Chris Basham clipped Alexandre Lacazette from behind in the penalty box, and Nicolas Pépé converted the ensuing penalty to give Arsenal the early lead. In the 57th minute, Oliver Norwood's free kick found David McGoldrick, whose shot was saved by Emiliano Martínez before John Egan scored the rebound, but VAR once again disallowed the goal after ruling that McGoldrick was offside in his initial attempt. However, Sheffield finally tied it up late in the 87th minute when David McGoldrick managed to score after the ball bounced around in the box, first off Sead Kolašinac and then off Shkodran Mustafi before landing in the path of the Irish striker. The match seemed to be headed into extra time, but in second half stoppage time, a mistake by Blades goalie Dean Henderson allowed Dani Ceballos to score from a narrow angle, securing the win for the Gunners and advancing them to the semi-finals.

July

The Gunners started the new month with their first-ever competitive game in the month of July, at home to the Premier League’s bottom club Norwich City. Before the match, Bukayo Saka extended his Arsenal contract to 2024, ending weeks of speculation.
Saka was rested for this game, but Arsenal nonetheless eased past the Canaries 4–0. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang became the fastest Arsenal player to reach 50 Premier League goals-in his 79th match-after taking advantage of Norwich goalkeeper Tim Krul’s attempts to Cruyff turn him in the box. Only five players in Premier League history had reached the landmark faster than Aubameyang.
Aubameyang then turned provider for Granit Xhaka four minutes later, who scored his first of the season to finish off a flowing team move. In the second half Norwich improved, but a loose ball by striker Josip Drmic gifted Aubameyang the second, before Cedric Soares-making his debut five months after signing on loan from Southampton and nine days after permanently signing for the club-scored 226 seconds after coming on with a terrific bending strike from the edge of the box to complete the rout.
Following the big win over the Canaries, Arsenal travelled to a high-flying Wolves, a side who stood six points clear of Arsenal heading into the contest; however a fine volleyed finish from Bukayo Saka-his first in the Premier League-and a late second from substitute Alexandre Lacazette saw Arsenal battle to a deserved 2–0 win and three vital points.
The side then faced a Leicester City side who stood nine points clear of them in third, but had struggled to maintain consistency since the turn of the year. After Aubameyang converted a low Saka cross for his 20th Premier League goal of the season, Arsenal dominated proceedings. But Leicester took control in the second half, and a red card to substitute Eddie Nketiah reduced Arsenal to ten men and Leicester snatched a late equaliser through Jamie Vardy as the game finished 1–1.
In the next game, Arsenal played their first-ever North London Derby at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Gunners took an early lead after Alexandre Lacazette rocketed into the top corner in the 16th minute, but three minutes later Heung-min Son equalised after taking advantage of loose defending from Sead Kolasinac. The game continued to be end-to-end, with both sides hitting the crossbar, before Toby Alderweireld headed in the winner nine minutes from time. The defeat meant that Arsenal slipped out of the European places, and a Manchester United victory over Southampton the following day would condemn the side to yet another season without Champions League football.
Following the Spurs defeat, Arsenal hosted the newly-crowned champions Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium. The Reds were aiming to reach a record 101 league points, but those hopes ended after Arsenal came from behind to beat the visitors 2–1; Sadio Mané had earlier opened the scoring to cap off a fine team move, but a sloppy pass by Virgil van Dijk gifted Alexandre Lacazette the equaliser, before the Frenchman intercepted and attempted goal-kick by Alisson, and duly squared for Reiss Nelson, who scored his first-ever Premier League goal with a composed finish after a neat first touch.
Arsenal then made a trip to Wembley for the seventh consecutive season, this time to play FA Cup holders Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-finals. Arsenal were underdogs heading into the contest, but goals in either half from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang earned Arsenal a remarkable 2–0 win. His first goal came after he converted a Nicolas Pépé cross at the far post following an 18-pass move, his second after running clear on goal after an excellent long ball from Kieran Tierney, thus booking their place in the final. A day later, it was confirmed that the Gunners would face London rivals Chelsea in the FA Cup Final, after the Blues beat Manchester United 3–1 in the other semi-final.
In the penultimate game of the league season, Arsenal visited Villa Park to take on relegation-threatened Aston Villa. The Gunners needed to win to maintain their chances off European qualification via the league, but a Trezeguet goal on 27 minutes proved enough for Villa to claim a vital 1-0 victory, as Arsenal slipped to tenth in the table.
For the final match of their Premier League season, Arsenal hosted Watford at the Emirates Stadium on 26 July 2020. Watford needed the win to maximize their chances of avoiding relegation, but it was Arsenal which got off to a hot start, scoring three times in the first 35 minutes. In the first minute, Craig Dawson clattered into the back of Alexandre Lacazette in the box while making a poor attempt to gain possession. After several minutes of VAR review, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sent Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster the wrong way and scored the ensuing penalty in the 5th minute. In the 24th minute, Aubameyang teed up Kieran Tierney in the box, whose strike took a deflection off Will Hughes and found the back of the net for his first goal for the club. In the 33rd minute, Tierney returned the favor, and his long throw-in found Aubameyang in the box, who controlled it and overhead kicked it in from close range. A few minutes before halftime, David Luiz took out former Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck after the latter had taken a shot, earning Watford a penalty. Given Watford striker Troy Deeney's habit of striking penalties down the middle, goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez chose not to dive, but Deeney still managed to score just to Martínez's left, and the score was 3–1 at the half. Watford managed to half the deficit in the 66th minute when Ismaila Sarr's low cross found Welbeck, who sidefooted into the net between Martínez and Rob Holding. Watford nearly completed the comeback in the 74th minute when Sarr found Welbeck again, but the latter's backheel flick was parried away by a diving Martínez. A minute later, Arsenal had a chance to seal the win when Eddie Nketiah, who, despite having the better angle from which to shoot, passed to Aubameyang to give the Gabonese striker a chance to complete his hat-trick and draw level with Jamie Vardy for the Golden Boot, but Foster easily saved from the narrower angle. Despite several late chances from Watford, including a Deeney header in extra time that went over the crossbar, Arsenal held on for a 3–2 win, moving them up past Sheffield United and Burnley to finish in 8th place on 56 points. Elsewhere, Aston Villa's 1–1 draw with West Ham meant that Watford were relegated, as they had failed to better Villa’s final day result.

Players

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Transfers

Transfers in

Loans in

Transfers out

Loans out

Club

Kits

were announced as Arsenal's kit supplier as of the start of the season. This marks the first time since the 1993–94 season that Adidas have been the kit supplier to the club.
Supplier: Adidas / Sponsor: Fly Emirates / Sleeve Partner: Visit Rwanda

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

Goalscorers

Assists

As of 18 July 2020

Disciplinary record

Clean sheets

Pre-season and friendlies

Friendlies

International Champions Cup

Emirates Cup

Joan Gamper Trophy

Mid-season friendlies

Competitions

Overview

Premier League

League table

Results by Matchday

Matches

On 13 June 2019, the Premier League fixtures were announced.

FA Cup

EFL Cup

UEFA Europa League

Arsenal entered the competition in the group stages as a result for their fifth-place finish in the 2018–19 season. The Gunners were drawn with Eintracht Frankfurt, Standard Liège and Vitória.

Group stage

Knockout phase

The draw for the Round of 32 was confirmed on 16 December.
Round of 32

Awards

Arsenal Player of the Month award

Arsenal Player of the Month award winners were chosen via open-access polls on the club's official website.
MonthPlayerVotes
August34%
September48%
October75%
November83%
December37%
January49%
February
June40%

Arsenal Goal of the Month award

Arsenal Goal of the Month award winners were chosen via open-access polls on the club's official website.
MonthPlayerCompetitionOpponentVotes
AugustPremier LeagueBurnley34%
SeptemberPremier LeagueTottenham39%
OctoberEFL CupLiverpool46%
NovemberWomen's Super LeagueTottenham Hotspur31%
DecemberPremier LeagueWest Ham United29%
JanuaryPremier LeagueChelsea60%
FebruaryEuropa LeagueOlympiacos22%
JuneFA CupSheffield United26%