During Mikel Arteta’s tenure as Arsenal manager, the Gunners have been one of the best teams in the league, fighting for the title a few times. However, they’ve always fallen short. This season, the team is stronger than ever, leading collective and individual stats, boosting their chances for the 2025/26 season.
The team edges that have Arsenal on top
Even though Arsenal has historically been recognized thanks to their beautiful attacking style, set-pieces have become one of their strengths under Arteta. Arsenal has scored 11 set-piece goals this season, two more than any other side; with 69% of their league goals coming from dead balls.
In the last few years, high-line pressure has been a staple in football. Most of the top teams in the world use it in their favour, but in England, there is no squad doing it as Arsenal. PPDA 9.9 places the Gunners at the sharp end of the league’s pressing scale, making it difficult for their opponents to play the ball from the back.
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Their box denial has been astonishingly good as well. Opponents have had just 104 touches inside Arsenal’s area, the fewest in the Premier League, and produced only 10 headed efforts against them, the lowest too.
Saliba and Gabriel are having a season to remember so far. With their first-choice pair together at the back, Arsenal has conceded just five open-play goals in 2025, and none away from home in open play since New Year’s Day. That’s one stat to take into account for betting opportunities, as it might be interesting to opt for a clean sheet for the Gunners if they’re available for the match.
One headline for each player in the starting XI
The amazing start of the season Arsenal is having brings one headline for each player in the starting XI.
David Raya: The best save percentage in the Premier League
Spanish goalkeepers always deliver in England. Arsenal’s system doesn’t bring him a lot of work; however, he’s immaculate when needed. The surprising 88.33% save percentage in the league is a testimony to it.
Jurrien Timber: Tackling tide and penalty-box threat
With 25 tackles already (2nd among Premier League defenders) and 3rd-most touches in the opposition box among full-backs. This overlap is helping the team achieve its great numbers in the league.
William Saliba: Calm that kills counters
Alongside Gabriel, Arsenal have conceded just five open-play goals in 2025, and since Jan 1, none of them have come in open play away from home.
Gabriel Magalhães: Set-piece bully at both ends
Gabriel’s amazing defensive performance doesn’t make us forget the near-post menace he is in set-pieces. For example, the corner he flicked for Trossard’s winner at Fulham that kept Arsenal at the top of the league.
Riccardo Calafiori: Left-back, playmaker, match-winner
Decided Old Trafford with a thumping header from a corner, and he’s also supplying from open play, with another goal and 2 assists in the league.
Martín Zubimendi: Press-resistant metronome with a hammer
He won September’s Premier League Goal of the Month for an amazing Forest volley and scored a brace in the same match. Furthermore, he’s the tempo-setter for the team, serving as the ‘Busquets’ Arteta has been looking for.
Declan Rice: The stabiliser who still arrives
Anchors the league’s top press and is chipping in with league goals (2) while policing transitions in front of the centre-backs.
Martin Ødegaard: The organiser-in-chief
He’s the main creator of the team. The captain is the reference point for the final-third structure and the man in charge of set-piece delivery routines.
Bukayo Saka: Supply line and set-piece trigger
Even though he’s a winger, he’s the second top scorer among Arsenal players in the Premier League with 3 goals so far.
Viktor Gyökeres: The press that starts the avalanche
So far, Gyökeres has struggled a bit to adapt to English football… even if it doesn’t look like it. The Swedish striker is Arsenal’s PL top scorer with 4 goals, and the league leader for pressures in the final third/box to this point.
Eberechi Eze: The difference-maker off the dead ball
Scored his first PL goal for Arsenal with an outstanding scissor finish vs Palace, which ended up being the club’s October Goal of the Month in another set-piece routine.
The best three subs
Leandro Trossard: The closer
Bundled home to set-piece winner at Fulham and keeps delivering decisive actions in tight game-states. If his form continues, even if he has problems entering the starting XI, he might become the ‘super-sub’ of the season.
Ben White: The plug-and-play problem-solver
He’s Arteta’s shape-shifter when game plans need an in-match tweak. White can serve as a right-back, right-center-back, or third man in buildup. His versatility is a must for a team that is looking to fight for the titles.
Gabriel Martinelli: Vertical spark
Martinelli’s role in Arsenal has changed a lot. Sometimes he’s in the starting XI, and quite often he seems himself come in the last third of the match. However, he’s always among the leaders in goal involvements for the team, including two goals and an assist in September.
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