They claim that scoring is the hardest thing in football and it certainly proved a hot-button issue for Arsenal in 2024/25.
Our troubles are borne out in grim statistics: the Gunners notched just 69 goals during the Premier League campaign (down from 91 last year) and not one player reached the ten-goal mark, the first time that has happened at N5 since 1923/24.
But the team still netted a few great goals this term, with a mix of powerful opening goals, a curled leveller and cherry-on-top stunners all helping us to cement a disappointing – though commendable – second-place finish.
So, from set-piece magic and long-range beauties to a bit of individual class, here are my top ten Arsenal goals from this campaign.
Arsenal’s Top 10 Goals of 2024/25 Season
10. Leandro Trossard vs West Ham
Leandro Trossard, Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Leandro Trossard rounded off a team move at the London Stadium in November | Julian Finney/GettyImages
No ranking can exist without mention of the ever-present Leandro Trossard, and it is his lovely goal at the London Stadium which kickstarts this list.
It bears a team element as the move began from the back and involved 13 passes. After some patient build-up play, the ball found Bukayo Saka out wide and he, in turn, fed it to Martin Odegaard outside the box.
The captain then produced a delightful, scooped pass back to Saka and our starboy squared it to the Belgian forward, Trossard having little to do but almost walk it over the line and thereby double our advantage.
Not the most spectacular goal, yet it boasts an understated beauty via its patience, smart movement and clinical end.
An Arsenal classic.
9. Ethan Nwaneri vs Manchester City
Ethan Nwaneri, Josko Gvardiol
Ethan Nwaneri completed the Arsenal rout over Manchester City | Alex Pantling/GettyImages
This was a ‘pinch me I’m dreaming’ moment, for players and fans alike.
Manchester City had endured a season to forget and many tipped Arsenal to exorcise their Sky Blue demons in their February clash. However, the nature of this win – a thumping 5-1 victory – exceeded all expectations and it was capped off by the marvellous Ethan Nwaneri.
Three minutes of added time had passed when he got the ball, controlling a long switch from Declan Rice. The then 17-year-old worked a yard of space beyond Savinho before firing an unstoppable shot past Stefan Ortega in goal.
It added gloss to an already big scoreline and also formed a coming-of-age moment for a truly special talent.
8. Bukayo Saka vs Fulham
Bukayo Saka
An immediate return to the score-sheet for Bukayo Saka | Justin Setterfield/GettyImages
Back to the collective now and a team goal that announced Saka’s return after three months on the sidelines.
By this point our title hopes were faint at best, yet Arsenal still craved a win and this match hung in the balance at 1-0 when Saka appeared. The move started with Rice (who else?) intercepting a loose pass and playing it to Gabriel Martinelli, the Brazil forward needing no further invitation to drive into the open space ahead.
Martinelli then found Mikel Merino on the wing and his first-time cross was exquisitely flicked on by the former’s heel towards the back post, where a grateful Saka stood unmarked to nod home – 2-0, game over.
From the smart Rice intervention and deft Martinelli touch to the ‘fairy-tale’ aspect for Saka, there is a lot to like about this goal and it saw us secure three valuable points (in the European race, as it turned out...).
7. Gabriel Jesus vs Crystal Palace (Goal #1 in the Carabao Cup)
Gabriel Jesus, Dean Henderson
The chipped finish brought Arsenal level against Crystal Palace | Alex Pantling/GettyImages
Take the individual skill of Martinelli and double it – you get a beautiful goal from our stricken no. 9, Gabriel Jesus.
Ten minutes had elapsed in the second half of this Carabao Cup tie and jitters were creeping in as the visitors held a small lead. But that all changed when Odegaard sliced through the Crystal Palace team to find Jesus.
His first touch took the ball away from Trevoh Chalobah, and he could easily have gone down as the defender lunged in. Instead, Jesus stayed on his feet and casually dinked the ball over the onrushing Dean Henderson to bring Arsenal level.
The goal featured great skill and composure at a time of angst, and Jesus would go on to score a hat-trick before the night ended.
A special player who deserves more.
6. Bukayo Saka vs Real Madrid
Bukayo Saka, Thibaut Courtois
Bukayo Saka kept his composure for Arsenal at the Bernabeu | David Ramos/GettyImages
Not much different to the last goal, but it happened on a far bigger stage and put Arsenal in front at the Bernabeu.
It began with nice play in the final third, with Rice, Odegaard and Merino all exchanging neat passes in and around the Real Madrid box. Their work was then complemented by Saka whose movement beat the offside trap and he lifted a Merino pass over Thibaut Courtois to break the deadlock versus the UCL holders (making it 4-0 on aggregate).
To produce such an impudent finish, having missed a penalty earlier, speaks to the mentality of Saka and showed he belongs at this elite level.
Continued on the next slide...