As a result of this efficiency, Arsenal spend relatively little time in deeper areas compared to the rest of the league, ranking 18th and 13th for the percentage of touches taken in the defensive and midfield thirds respectively, but ranking in the top three for attacking third touches, with 30.9% coming in the final third. However, their attacking output seems to have taken a downturn from the title-competing benchmarks they set last season. In the 2024/25 Premier League season, Arsenal are averaging 14.25 shots on goal per 90 (sixth), whereas last season, they averaged 17.03, then third in the division. Similarly, their non-penalty expected goals (npxG) return of 1.8 per 90 was good enough for fourth, while this year their 1.51 average sees them place as only the seventh most productive attack across the league so far.
Although there are some questions to be asked around the Arsenal attack this season, their out of possession work has remained impressive. Despite being forced to play multiple games with ten men for long periods, Arsenal still rank as the league’s second strongest defence, conceding an average of just 0.96 npxG per 90, and are one of only three teams to limit their opposition to under an average of 1 npxG per 90 this season.
Tactically, Arteta achieves this by blending the ability to press teams high up in a 4-2-4 shape with an extremely compact 4-4-2 when defending deeper areas, making it risky to try and build up through Arsenal’s press but also frustrating effectively when defending the box. With Arsenal boasting the second lowest passes per defensive action (PPDA*) figure in the league, both the success and intensity of their press is notable. And, with the average opposition shot against the Gunners coming from 18.5 yards out, the third furthest distance in the league, the data suggests their execution of both sides of their defensive plan is at a league-leading level.