There is a different feel around Arsenal this summer.Having finally got the Premier League monkey off their backs – lifting a first title in 22 years – there is a palpable sense within the club of confidence and optimism. That has only been fuelled by them crushing Manchester City to win the Community Shield last weekend.The summer has not been dominated by will-they, won’t they transfer sagas – it hasn’t needed to be – but the midfield has been a particular area of focus for Mikel Arteta after too many narrow wins last season. Bruno Guimaraes has arrived with the personality to match his £75million price tag. But maybe just as importantly, Martin Odegaard looks liberated again. Mikel Merino is fit again and a World Cup winner. The Gunners suddenly have a wealth of players capable of demanding a midfield starting place rather than merely filling one.It’s resulted in an exciting optimism that this Arsenal can be more aggressive and less reliant on squeezing out narrow victories. One-nil wins and scraping games via a set-piece? That’s not the Arsenal they believe they need to be anymore.But the real test begins now. Here, Daily Mail Sport brings you the story of Arsenal’s summer and how they are shaping up for the new season. Arsenal revel in winning the first silverware of the season – the Community Shield – after they put Manchester City to the sword on Sunday Kai Havertz celebrates scoring Arsenal’s second goal at the Principality StadiumOdegaard rebornThe Odegaard of old has emerged from the shadows this summer.The Arsenal captain’s statistics from the 3-0 Community Shield thrashing of Manchester City were exemplary. Of all the Arsenal players who started on Sunday, the Norwegian ranked No 1 for passing accuracy (94.8 per cent), touches (74), dribble success percentage (100 per cent), possession won in the defensive third (6) and ball recoveries (9).It was a performance which brought back memories of his first seasons in north London, when he could grab games by the scruff of the neck and make things happen. Take the 2022-23 campaign, when Odegaard contributed 15 goals and seven assists in the season he was made captain by Arteta.His ascent had been fast, the next steps expected to be just as rapid for an ex-wonderkid who joined Real Madrid aged 16. In recent years, though, injuries haven’t been kind. The last campaign was a stop-and-start one, to put it mildly, plagued by various injuries including to his knee and shoulder. Sources point to the ankle injury he sustained playing for Norway in September 2024 as particularly troublesome, putting him out of action for two months. Even when he came back from the blow, it still plagued him for some time.So, it’s not just been one season of injuries but a vicious pattern of injury, recovery, search for form, gain some form – and then another knock. It’s why insiders weren’t surprised by Odegaard’s performance on Sunday. He played well in the tailend of last season, assisting Leandro Trossard for his crucial winner against West Ham in May that helped seal the title.In the World Cup, the midfielder starred for Norway, starting five of their six games at the tournament and registering four assists. He also displayed those leadership attributes which have long been ascribed to him. So momentum has been on his side of late – and those pesky injuries have stayed away for now.Insiders are expecting a big season from the Norwegian. They believe he can and will be a major driving force for the Arsenal midfield, and are expecting an uptick in goal involvements from him – see his sublime finish against City at the weekend. Having Odegaard back fully fit and, crucially, with confidence has created excitement at Arsenal.The club are aware his output needs to be better – and are adamant it will be. Odegaard been tasked with improving his numbers. He also sets the tone in an Arteta team in sync around his movements. They rely on his pressing and ability to create moments in congested areas. These next few months could truly be defining for Odegaard. And the groundwork has been laid. Martin Odegaard was back to his very best against Manchester City at the weekend Too often over the last two seasons the Arsenal captain has been hampered by injuriesThe midfield masses The sample size is small, but Guimaraes is already slotting in nicely – both on and off the pitch.In Sunday’s Community Shield, he showed those ‘warrior’ traits, as he’d describe them, having promised fans ‘I’m ready to be your warrior’. The midfielder charged around the pitch with verve and kept looking to put in meaty tackles, the physical battle something the Brazilian relishes.Yet, another side is emerging, too. Acamaraderie between himself and his team-mates has already been established. Central defender Gabriel is a big supporter of Guimaraes and close to his fellow Brazilian. The pair are friends away from football, the centre back having helped plant the seed of his countryman joining Arsenal and followed it up with constant badgering.There’s also a humorous connection between the new signing and Rice, the pair said to have bonded over the previous ‘fights’ they had when Guimaraes was a Newcastle man.This general feel-good element around the marquee signing has been something Arsenal have tapped into. At an Arsenal Supporters’ Trust event on Wednesday, Guimaraes was the surprise guest.Cries of ‘Bruno! Bruno!’ reverberated when he emerged, the hundreds in attendance stood up in excitement at their £75million new signing. The deafening reception reflected just how well he has already been taken to. As well as a steeliness in the middle, Guimaraes adds a threat in the attacking third, having hit at least five goals in his last three Premier League seasons.The expectation this season is that minutes will be shared more across the midfield. Christian Norgaard, for example, only started one league match last season and was often left out of the squad in the final months as he didn’t meet Arteta’s standards. Central defender Gabriel (right) is good friends with his countryman Bruno Guimaraes (left) and is helping him settle in With Guimaraes in the squad, Arsenal do not need to run Declan Rice into the groundNow, however, there is a core of players who are pushing for a starting spot and directly competing against each other, rather being destined for a peripheral role. Arteta has an astonishing group of players to pick from in midfield. They include Odegaard, Rice, Guimaraes, Martin Zubimendi, Eberechi Eze, Merino, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri.The best midfield in Europe? You would be hard pressed to find a team with better depth in that area. It gives Arteta the luxury to rotate which he will look to do this season with the toil of the previous campaign still being felt.Rice played 69 games for both club and country, managing neural pain in his leg at the World Cup. Rice is an integral part of the team, but will be more carefully managed. Winger Bukayo Saka has also been plagued with injuries. He looked sharp on Sunday, but needs protecting from himself, too, for he is said to want to play every game.Sources say that rather than edging games 1-0 or scrapping out wins, a more dominant style can be expected – as seen against City on Sunday. With the pressure of winning a first league title in 22 years now longer there, a more progressive approach can be expected. Results, though, remain king.