In the high-stakes world of the Premier League, conventional wisdom dictates that champions need a prolific striker. A Harry Kane or Erling Haaland figure is needed to fire them to glory. Yet, as of January 2026, Arsenal sit atop the table with 49 points from 21 games. They have 15 wins, four draws, and just two losses.
Arsenal’s Current Goalscoring Landscape
Arsenal have scored 40 goals, the second-highest in the league, but without a single player exceeding five goals. Viktor Gyökeres and Leandro Trossard lead with five apiece. This is followed by Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, and Eberechi Eze with four each. This distributed scoring raises a tantalizing question of how Arsenal are going to win the Premier League without a regular goalscorer.
Arsenal’s attack in the 2025-26 season is a model of collective responsibility rather than individual heroism. They have an expected goals (xG) of 37.17 and 212 shots taken. They are creating chances at an elite level, but the finishes are spread thin. Gyökeres is a summer signing from Sporting CP. However, he has adapted to Mikel Arteta‘s system but hasn’t exploded as a 20-goal talisman yet. Instead, contributions come from midfielders like Rice (four goals) and defenders such as Gabriel (three).
This isn’t a new phenomenon for Arsenal. In recent seasons, they’ve challenged for titles without a dominant striker. Last campaign, they scored 91 league goals—their highest-ever tally—yet no player reached 20. Saka, Martin Ødegaard, and Kai Havertz shared the load, emphasizing Arteta’s philosophy of fluidity over reliance on one outlet. The social media discussions among fans highlight this: “Arsenal has scored loads without a striker,” notes one X user, while another argues, “Goals aren’t the problem; it’s distribution.” However, with injuries to key creators like Saka, the lack of a clinical finisher could expose vulnerabilities.
No Arsenal player has scored more goals than Gabriel Martinelli in all competitions this season.
The Brazilian’s hat-trick against Portsmouth yesterday has sent him to the top. 📈🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/iON5Z6UCqk
— now.arsenal (@now_arsenaI) January 12, 2026
Historical Precedents
History offers mixed signals. There is no Premier League winner that has ever lacked a player in the top 10 scorers. Moreover, the lowest tally for a champion’s leading goalscorer is 13. It was achieved by Frank Lampard for Chelsea in 2004-05 and Ilkay Gundogan for Manchester City in 2020-21. That Chelsea side, under José Mourinho, is a prime example of success without a 20-goal striker. Didier Drogba managed just 10 league goals. However, a rock-solid defense (conceding only 15) and midfield contributions carried them to glory.
Manchester United’s 1992-93 title win saw them score just 67 goals. The lowest by any champion—relying on a balanced attack rather than a star forward. More recently, City’s 2020-21 triumph featured Gundogan as top scorer amid a season disrupted by COVID-19. This provided adaptability can trump individual firepower.
Yet, these cases are outliers. The dominant strikers like Haaland (27 goals in City’s latest title) or Mohamed Salah (often Liverpool’s leading light) have been the norm. Arsenal’s current setup echoes Chelsea’s 2005 model. However, in a league now averaging higher goal tallies, sustaining it over 38 games is uncharted territory.
Arteta’s Tactical Approach
Mikel Arteta’s evolution has been key to Arsenal’s resilience. His 2025-26 tactics emphasized a dynamic midfield. Declan Rice is advancing into box-to-box roles, Martin Zubimendi is anchoring, and Ødegaard is dropping to build play. This creates a fluid 4-3-3 that morphs into a 3-2-4-1 in possession. Moreovers allowing vertical passes into channels for runners like Eze and Saka.
Out of possession, subtle pressing tweaks trap opponents high, leading to transitions where multiple players attack the box. “Arteta’s system is bolder, shrinking space and forcing mistakes,” analysts note. This reduces dependence on a single scorer; instead, goals stem from overloads and quick combinations. Gyökeres thrives in chaos, but Arsenal’s control-oriented play sometimes blunts pure instinctual finishers. As one tactical breakdown observes, “Arsenal build without over-involving the striker, focusing on midfield potency”.
Arsenal top-scorers this season (all competitions):
Martinelli 9
Gyökeres 7
Saka 7
Trossard 7
Eze 5
Merino 5
*Own goal 5
Gabriel 4
Rice 4
Madueke 3
Timber 3
Zubimendi 3 pic.twitter.com/1AbE1kAhoK
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) January 12, 2026
Strengths Beyond Scoring
Arsenal’s title charge isn’t built on goals alone. Their defense is formidable, conceding just 14 in 21 games—the league’s best. William Saliba and Gabriel form an impenetrable partnership, while full-backs like Jurriën Timber add attacking width. Midfield control from Rice and Zubimendi yields 58.1% possession and 85.3% pass accuracy.
This holistic approach mirrors successful teams like Liverpool’s 2019-20 winners. They have spread goals across Salah, Sadio Mané, and Roberto Firmino without one dominant figure. Arsenal’s injury resilience—winning without Saka in recent games—further bolsters their case. Fans on X echo this: “Arsenal climbed to first despite injuries; it’s the system.”
Potential Challenges and Solutions
The risks are evident. In tight games or against low blocks, a ruthless finisher turns draws into wins. Arsenal’s two losses this season highlight moments where chances went begging. Without a 15-20 goal player, fatigue or dips in form could erode their lead. It is especially Manchester City (45 goals) breathing down their necks.
Solutions? Internal tweaks could amplify existing threats. The more direct service to Gyökeres or rotations involving Jesus. A January signing isn’t ruled out, but Arteta’s track record suggests faith in the squad. As one BBC analysis posits, “Teams have won without a 20-goal striker; Arsenal could change the narrative.”
A Paradigm Shift?
Arsenal’s campaign challenges the striker-centric dogma. With a watertight defense, tactical ingenuity, and shared scoring, they could etch their name in history as the first champions without a top-tier goalscorer. But the relentlessness of Premier League relentlessness demands consistency, One barren spell could prove costly. If Arteta’s collective triumphs, it might redefine success. For now, the Gunners are proving that in modern football, the sum can indeed exceed the parts.
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