The 2020–21 season was Arsenal's 29th season in the Premier League, their 95th consecutive season in the top flight of English football and 104th season in the top flight overall. In addition to the domestic league, Arsenal participated in the FA Cup and EFL Cup. They also participated in the UEFA Europa League for the fourth consecutive year. Arsenal kicked off the season by defeating league champions Liverpool in the FA Community Shield, which ended up being their only trophy.
Managed by Mikel Arteta in his first full season, Arsenal finished eighth in their Premier League season, and following eliminations from the FA Cup, EFL Cup and UEFA Europa League, they failed to qualify for any European competition for the first time since the 1994–95 season.
Review
Background
Arsenal's 2019–20 campaign had seen defensive frailties and a lack of creativity lead to a disappointing eighth-place finish in the league, the club's lowest for a quarter of a century, but a successful FA Cup run and increasing promise under new coach and former cup-winning captain Mikel Arteta gave them increased optimism for the season ahead. The season had been defined by a three-month lull between March and June, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic; indeed, it was head coach Arteta's positive test that led to the season's pause, and when it returned, it was behind closed doors. The upcoming season was expected to continue in this manner. The league fixtures were released on 20 August, with Arsenal to kick off the new season away at newly promoted Fulham on 12 September. Soon after, the club announced plans to allow fans back into the Emirates Stadium in time for their home encounter with Sheffield United on 3 October.
August
Pre-season
The club's first major transfer of the season came on 14 August, with former Chelsea winger Willian signing a three-year contract. He had previously featured 339 times for the Blues over a spell of seven years, scoring 63 goals and winning two Premier League titles, a FA Cup, a League Cup and one UEFA Europa League.
Following the departure of assistant coach and former interim manager Freddie Ljungberg, Arsenal permanently signed January loanees Cédric Soares and Pablo Marí, with the latter arriving for a fee of £7 million. Two days later, following the players' return from a two-week break, Arsenal played their only pre-season friendly, at Stadium MK against League One side Milton Keynes Dons. Mohamed Elneny, Emile Smith Rowe, Daniel Ballard, Tyreece John-Jules, James Olayinka and William Saliba were all making their first appearances back from loan spells elsewhere; Saliba and a host of other youth-teamers made their debuts for the club. Arsenal took an early lead after Elneny took advantage of a poor clearance from goalkeeper Lee Nicholls with a long-range effort. A flowing team move ending with Bukayo Saka setting up Eddie Nketiah for a finish made it 2–0, before Rob Holding's own goal halved the deficit. A header from youth-teamer Mark McGuinness made it 3–1 late on, before Reiss Nelson scored a penalty he himself had won as the match ended 4–1 to Arsenal.
Community Shield
Arsenal kicked off their season by taking part in the FA Community Shield for the 24th time in their history, against last year's runaway Premier League champions Liverpool. Liverpool initially dominated the contest, but in the 12th minute, Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang received the ball from youngster Bukayo Saka and then cut away from young Liverpool right-back Neco Williams, before bending a shot into the bottom left-hand corner. Liverpool grew back into the game and equalised late on through Takumi Minamino. The match ended 1–1 and went straight to penalties. Liverpool's Rhian Brewster was the only man to miss as Arsenal clinched their 16th Community Shield, with Aubameyang scoring the winning penalty.
September
Arsenal's first major action of September was the £23 million signing of Lille centre-back Gabriel, with whom they had been linked for weeks. Gabriel signed after a promising 2019–20 season with the French club, his third total but his first at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy; he had spent the previous two seasons on loan at Avai and Dinamo Zagreb. Less than a week later, the club announced they had re-signed influential central midfielder Dani Ceballos on a second successive loan spell from Real Madrid. Ceballos had made 37 appearances in 2019–20, scoring twice, contributing two assists and providing a strong influence from a deep-lying position.