Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has shared a positive injury update ahead of his side's Premier League clash at Burnley on Saturday.
The Gunners head to Turf Moor this weekend as England's side to beat, aiming to extend their impressive unbeaten streak in all competitions since losing to Liverpool in the early stages of the season.
Arsenal's unbeaten run in all competitions since defeat to Liverpool
Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest
Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal
Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
Arsenal 2-0 Brighton
Arteta’s side have firmly established themselves as one of the most balanced and well-organized teams in Europe, boasting the best defensive record on the continent while continuing to pose a real threat going forward.
Defensively, Arsenal’s numbers are simply exceptional.
mikel-arteta-arsenal-premier-league
Across all competitions, they have conceded just three goals — a defensive record matched by no other top club in Europe’s major leagues — and they could be on to break an all-time Premier League record currently held by José Mourinho's Chelsea of the 2004/2005 season.
|Least goals conceded in a Premier League campaign|
|Team|Season|Conceded|PL finish|
|---|
|Chelsea|2004-05|15|1st|
|Arsenal|1998-99|17|2nd|
|Chelsea|2005-06|22|1st|
|Man United|2007-08|22|1st|
|Liverpool|2018-19|22|2nd|
|Man City|2018-19|23|1st|
|Chelsea|2006-07|24|2nd|
|via ESPN|
This remarkable solidity stems from a well-drilled backline featuring William Saliba, Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber, who have quickly restored the Emirates Stadium’s reputation as a fortress.
With David Raya between the sticks making crucial saves, reinforcing his standing as one of the best goalkeepers in world football, opponents simply cannot break them down right now.
They’ve also become a nightmare from set pieces. Under Arteta’s coaching, and following the arrival of Gabriel Heinze as part of his staff, the league leaders tower above everyone when it comes to set-piece goals — scoring 11 times from corners and free-kicks so far.
This style has attracted some criticism, with Arsenal quite near the bottom of the pile for Premier League goals from open play, but supporters won't care one bit if they carry on this superb run of form.
Their standing has been made all the more impressive considering a bunch of big-name first teamers are currently sidelined through injury.
William Saliba and Gabriel Martinelli joined the Arsenal treatment table recently, missing their 2-0 win over Brighton in the Carabao Cup midweek.
Arsenal-Saliba-Gabriel (1)
Saliba was out for a brief period at the very start of 25/26 too, with summer signing Cristhian Mosquera performing excellently in his absence.
The young Spaniard appears set for an extended run in the team once again after Arteta's latest update on Saliba, but there's some good news sprinkled in there too.
Mikel Arteta shares positive Arsenal injury update pre-Burnley
While Saliba and Martinelli are both still absent with no timeframe put on their return, Arteta shares a positive update on the conditions of club captain Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke.
Arsenal-Martin-Odegaard-injury
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, when asked if the trio could all be available for Arsenal's North London derby clash against Tottenham in November, the response was ecstatic with Arteta expecting them back "very soon".
"I'm excited because they are tremendous players," Arteta said.
"I see them work every single day, how desperate they are to be part of the team, the huge boost that is going to be for the squad to have those players available again after such a long time. I'm really happy that I think it's going to be very soon."
Reports this week suggested that Madueke is making a "faster-than-expected" recovery at Arsenal and is closing in on a return.
Insider HandOfArsenal also stated earlier this month that Havertz is blowing away Arsenal staff and is on track to return ahead of schedule.
kai-havertz-arsenal-premier-league
Odegaard's return can't come soon enough, with the Norwegian suffering terribly bad luck with injuries this term as he looks to put his fitness woes behind him and provide Arsenal with that extra cutting edge in the final third.
The former Real Madrid star suffered a medial collateral ligament injury to his left knee against West Ham just before the last international break, and estimates claim his comeback is booked for November.
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