The youngest squad in the league faced a long road to recovery
In short: Arsenal entered the 2021–22 Premier League season as the youngest team in the division, boasting an average starting age of just over 24. However, despite their youth and high-profile signings, they endured a grueling start that saw them sink to the very bottom of the table.
Managed by Mikel Arteta in his second full season, Arsenal's identity was defined by a commitment to youth. Their average starting age of 24 years and 308 days made them more than a year younger than any other team in the Premier League. This demographic shift was supported by significant investment: the club spent £50 million on Ben White from Brighton, £34 million to secure Martin Ødegaard permanently from Real Madrid, and approximately £17.2 million for Albert Sambi Lokonga.
The season began with a period of profound struggle. Arsenal suffered three consecutive losses to open their campaign, including a 5–0 defeat against Manchester City where Granit Xhaka received a red card in the 35th minute. Following these outcomes by late August, they fell to 20th position—the lowest rank—losing out to Norwich City and Wolverhampton Wanderers regarding goals scored plus goal difference.
A turning point arrived on September 11 against Norwich City. After remaining scoreless for much of the match, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored a VAR-confirmed goal in the 66th minute to secure a 1–0 victory. This result marked Arsenal's first league win of the season and successfully elevated them out of the bottom three positions. The campaign ultimately saw them finish fifth in the Premier League, securing qualification for the UEFA Europa League.
The year was also notable for its logistical hurdles and squad movement. A small number of positive COVID-19 tests among staff forced a withdrawal from the Florida Cup in July. Additionally, the club managed a complex rotation of talent, including loaning out key figures like William Saliba to Marseille and Lucas Torreira to Fiorentina, while integrating new faces like Takehiro Tomiyasu.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2021–22 Arsenal F.C. season
- Also: Wikidata — 2021–22 Arsenal F.C. season · CC0
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