Mikel Arteta applauding at Arsenal, with Pep Guardiola raging on the sidelines
(Credit: Imago)
Callum O'Connell
Tue 4 November 2025 11:24, UK
Arsenal have enjoyed a fantastic start to their Premier League campaign so far and are growing increasingly confident in their pursuit of the title.
Mikel Arteta’s side beat Burnley 2-0 last time out in what was a routine performance, with Viktor Gyokeres and Declan Rice securing them all three points.
Another clean sheet away from home mean Arsenal have now conceded just three goals in 15 games across all competitions, and none in their last seven games.
Mick Brown told Football Insider last month that Arsenal’s defensive dominance makes them title favourites, with their back four proving impregnable so far.
However, it is the Gunners’ use of another key weapon which makes them the standout favourites for the title ahead of the likes of Man City and Liverpool.
Mikel Arteta clapping for the Arsenal fans.
Credit: Imago
Arsenal’s set-pieces will win them the Premier League title
The Gunners’ set-piece proficiency is no secret, having scored 12 goals from dead-ball situations already this season and again against Burnley, by far the most of any Premier League side.
Despite Arsenal receiving some stick from rival fans for their style of play, Arteta’s side have not been deterred from their winning formula, and it has become a clear advantage.
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That is according to former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that set-pieces can be the difference between winning and losing for Arsenal.
“*There’s been a lot of discussion about the way Arsenal play,*” he told Football Insider.
“People are complaining because teams have gone back to playing long balls and utilising set pieces to score goals, not every team plays the same way any more.
“But they never mention how many goals are conceded trying to play out from the back, and we saw it happen again when Liverpool beat Aston Villa.
“For Arsenal, they’ve cut out those mistakes, and they’re not afraid to go long if they need to.
“It was a thing when I was coaching, and it’s still a thing now, a third of all goals come from set pieces.
“If that’s one of your assets, whether you’re Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Brentford or whoever, you should utilise that to the best of your ability.
“In Arsenal’s case, it’s more than a third of their goals coming from set pieces. If they can’t break you down in normal play, they will from a set piece.
Gabriel Magalhaes Arsenal looking focused
Credit: Imago
“They have multiple ways to win games, and that’s what wins you titles. It’s a huge advantage over the likes of Man City because it’s even harder to stop them scoring.
“Listening to some of the conversation surrounding it, criticising Arsenal for scoring set plays, if every team could do it as effectively as they do, they would.
“Honestly, the criticism astounds me, because I think those set pieces and how dominant they are from them is what will win Arsenal the Premier League.”
Meanwhile, Paul Merson tipped Arsenal as the title favourites, insisting they can win the league “comfortably” given their rivals’ stuttering performances.
Viktor Gyokeres concerns squashed at Arsenal
One concern about Arsenal over the last couple of seasons has been their lack of a regular goalscorer, and those concerns emerged again surrounding Gyokeres.
The Sweden international scored his fourth league goal in 10 games against Burnley, having last scored a Premier League goal against Nottingham Forest on 13 September.
However, Brown told Football Insider on 23 October that Arsenal are not concerned about Gyokeres and do not see his lack of consistency in front of goal as a problem.
Viktor Gyokeres in action for Arsenal
Credit: Imago
Gary Lineker slammed Gyokeres recently, claiming he could damage the Gunners’ ambitions of winning the Premier League given his lack of goals.
Brown explained that Arsenal’s defensive dominance removes the need for an elite goalscorer, with other key players chipping in with match-winning moments.
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