Arsenal lost fewer Premier League matches than any other side across the 2025 calendar year, but missed out on top spot on goal difference.
Martin Zubimendi of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium on December 30, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
The Gunners finished level on 77 points with Manchester City, but ended the year in second place once again, this time on goal difference with Pep Guardiola‘s men recording +47 and Arsenal +37.
However, City recorded seven league defeats across the year (the same number as Aston Villa), compared with Arsenal’s four, the lowest total in the division.
What ultimately separated the two sides was Arsenal’s number of draws, with only Bournemouth recording more.
Mikel Arteta’s team drew 11 of their 37 league matches in 2025, six more than City, who converted a greater proportion of tight games into wins.
Turning even one of those draws into a victory would have been enough for Arsenal to finish the year outright leaders, not that you win any prizes for that.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 20: (L-R) Bukayo Saka, Viktor Gyoekeres and Declan Rice of Arsenal celebrates victory following the Premier League match between Everton and Arsenal at Hill Dickinson Stadium on December 20, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Across the calendar year, Arsenal won 22 matches and conceded just 28 goals, the best defensive record ahead of City, who conceded 34.
The data points to a side that was extremely difficult to beat, but, as we know, not always ruthless enough in front of goal to fully capitalise on their control.
City, by contrast, won 24 of their 36 matches. Pep Guardiola’s side were beaten more often, but carried greater attacking punch over the course of the year, thanks, in no small part, to Erling Haaland, who found the net in the Premier League 27 times. Arsenal scored 65 to City’s 81.
Behind the top two, Aston Villa finished third on 73 points, while Liverpool ended the year fourth on 68. Chelsea finished fifth with 63 points, with Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion completing the top seven.
Lower down the table, Tottenham Hotspur endured a difficult year, losing 20 of their 36 matches, while Manchester United finished 13th after 14 defeats.
Promoted and relegated sides Sunderland, Leeds United, Burnley, Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Southampton occupied the lower reaches based on their partial-season records.
#ClubMatchesWDLGoals+/-Pts
1Manchester CityMan City36245781:344777
2Arsenal FCarsenal372211465:283777
3Aston VillaAston Villa36227757:381973
4Liverpool FCLiverpool37208969:492068
5Chelsea FCChelsea36189955:371863
6Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace361611952:43959
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton3616101062:54858
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle361761359:481157
9Brentford FCBrentford371671458:50855
10Everton FCEverton3715101245:40555
11AFC BournemouthBournemouth3612121255:52348
12Fulham FCFulham361531850:55-548
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd3612101454:56-246
14Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest361371649:53-446
15Tottenham HotspurTottenham361062049:60-1136
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham36891942:62-2033
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves36842432:64-3228
18Sunderland AFCSunderland1776419:17227
19Leeds UnitedLeeds1754824:31-719
20Burnley FCBurnley17321219:34-1511
21Leicester CityLeicester19321411:38-2711
22Ipswich TownIpswich19141418:49-317
23Southampton FCSouthampton19131514:47-336
via Transfermarkt
For Arsenal, the numbers are impressive. Losing only four league matches across a full calendar year reflects a side operating at a consistently high level.
The challenge moving forward is clear, converting more of those narrow margins into wins to ensure that such consistency is rewarded with first place rather than second when it comes to the only table that actually matters – the Premier League table at the end of May.
In 2024, Arsenal finished top with 85 points, ahead of Liverpool on goal difference, from 36 games to their 37.
They lost only three games that year.
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