I also think that City did not have the best season last year and this is what gave Arsenal the opportunity to follow City until the very last round. And although in the last season it seemed that Arsenal became a more stable team, I am not in a hurry to say that Arteta will completely get rid of this problem, and therefore I do not think that Arsenal can become the main competitor for City this season, at least until the first decline.
Wasn’t their best season but had a very good season and to i’d say they have a wonderful season ahead of Arsenal because they were even more dangerous in the Champions League than Arsenal. Arsenal was just more competitive than ever and last season they showed that if Manchester City should relent for a bit they will snatch the trophy from them.
I don’t why Arteta can see that they need a better striker a clinical one at that to be able to compete with Manchester City but i don’t think he is seeing it and Arsenal is not in talks with any big striker.
I don't think there's a bad season as long as the team can continue to maintain their performance and consistency so far, what has happened in the last two seasons is not something strange considering that a team like Arsenal has indeed experienced has significant improvement in terms of quality and also their performance so it is not surprising that Arsenal is able to give a stiff competition to Manchester City, this season may be more colorful in the Premier League because Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea have experienced a lot of improvements in their performance and also their squads so it will make Manchester City pressured with the existing competition.
Arsenal will lose Nketiah who reportedly left for Crystal Palace as well as Gabriel Jesus who is currently injured, but it looks like Arteta is not in serious condition to bring in a new striker at the moment although he may be aware that they need a main striker who is qualified and ready to compete with Haalaand, if Arsenal continues to rely on and plot Kai Havertz as the main attacker then I personally am very unsure if this season they will be Manchester City toughest rival in the fight for the championship trophy.