FOOTBALL
Posted on February 25, 2026 6:30 pm | Updated on February 25, 2026 6:23 pm
Mikel Arteta
Arsenal are making history with their defence this season. For 36 matches across the Premier League, Champions League and cups, they have not conceded a single goal from a counter-attack. The last one came on 21 September 2025, when Erling Haaland scored for Manchester City in a 1-1 draw at the Emirates.
What Exactly Is a Counter-Attack Goal?
A counter-attack goal happens when a team wins the ball in their own half and races forward quickly to score before the other team can get back into shape. Think lightning-fast passes and runners exploiting space. Most teams fear these because they happen in seconds. Arsenal used to leak a few last season – they dropped points against West Ham, Brentford and Liverpool because of them. This year? Zero. The streak stands at 36 games and is still going.
Smart Tactics That Stop Counters Before They Start
Mikel Arteta has built a team that controls games without leaving gaps. Arsenal keep the ball a lot (often over 60% possession), but when they lose it, everyone knows exactly what to do.
They use something called “rest defence”. While attacking, players stay in smart positions behind the ball so they can defend instantly. Centre-backs push high up the pitch. Full-backs sprint back. Midfielders drop in to create extra numbers.
If an opponent tries a long ball or quick pass, Arsenal trap them. In one game against Aston Villa, they pinned the ball near the corner flag with overlapping pressure – the attacker had nowhere to go. Against Wolves, Saliba and Gabriel jumped in front of cut-backs, turning 1-v-1s into 2-v-1s. No space, no easy pass, no shot.
The Rock-Solid Defenders Leading the Charge
William Saliba and Gabriel are the best centre-back pair in the league. They are fast, strong and read the game perfectly. Saliba steps out to win the ball high up. Gabriel follows wingers tightly and blocks everything.
Full-backs Jurrien Timber and Piero Hincapie never stop running back. They cover the wide areas and the back post. Midfielder Mikel Merino often acts as the “spare man”, doubling up to make attacks impossible. New signing Martin Zubimendi drops between the centre-backs for extra protection.
The Numbers That Back It Up
Premier League opponents have created just three big chances from counters all season. Only Chelsea have allowed fewer. In the last 22 league games, Arsenal faced only 11 transition chances – more than some teams that sit deep, but the quality is terrible.
Arsenal are on track to concede just 29 goals all season – their lowest since 2003-04. They keep a clean sheet almost every other game. Last season counters cost them points. This year they have turned defence into an art form.
🔴Arsenal have conceded zero goals from counter-attacks!⚪️
They have now gone 36 consecutive matches across all competitions without conceding from a counter-attack!!
Thirty-six matches means there must have been games without Saliba or Magalhães…
Yet they've still kept 36… pic.twitter.com/q2nUlRuJiQ
— Ta16(たいちろー)→Gooner⚽️ (@Ta16dataeng) February 25, 2026
What Opponents Are Saying
Brentford boss Keith Andrews said after a 1-1 draw: “If you’re going to score against Arsenal, it will be hard earned. You have to try to cause chaos in transitions – we did a bit, but it wasn’t enough.” Wolves manager Rob Edwards added: “They would pick us off if we tried to play too open.”
Even Arteta stays calm. He says the team just focuses on “what we want to achieve” no matter what the other side does in the Premier League.
Why This Streak Could Win Arsenal the Title
In the modern game, teams that stop counters win titles. Manchester City and Liverpool have been hurt by them in the past. Arsenal now look unbreakable on the break.
As the season heads to its exciting finish, one thing is clear: if you want to beat Arsenal, you cannot do it on the counter. You have to break them down the long, hard way. And right now, almost nobody can.
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