Arsenal's Title Hopes Strengthen with Recent Form
Arsenal fans have experienced their fair share of hope in recent title races, only to see it dashed as the team fell short. However, this season feels different.
Saturday's 2-0 victory against Burnley marked Arsenal's fifth consecutive win in the Premier League, placing them seven points clear at the top of the table, although they have played one more game than some of their rivals.
This win also intensified the pressure on traditional competitors like Manchester City, who are nine points behind and will face second-placed Bournemouth on Sunday, and Liverpool, who sit ten points off the pace after Aston Villa's match later that day.
While it is still early in the season, could this finally be Arsenal's year after a 22-year wait and three consecutive second-place finishes?
BBC Sport explores why Arsenal's championship bid appears stronger than ever.
Strength from Set-Pieces
Burnley secured promotion from the Championship last season with a robust defensive record, conceding only 16 goals in 46 matches, showcasing their resilience.
This was evident during Saturday's match; however, when confronted with Burnley's disciplined defense, Arsenal found scoring from open play challenging, making set-pieces crucial once again.
Arsenal excel in this regard, with their first goal at Turf Moor coming from a corner—marking their eighth goal from set-pieces this league season, the most by any team in their first ten matches of a campaign.
In total, 12 of their 18 league goals this season have originated from dead-ball situations, the highest ratio in the top flight and the most by any team in a single Premier League season.
As former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer noted, "I can’t see a weakness. They’ve scored again from a set-piece, but there’s been so much more than that in the performance. I like how they’re utilizing [Riccardo] Calafiori and [Jurrien] Timber in advanced positions to create overloads and win set-piece opportunities."
A Near-Impenetrable Defense
Arsenal last conceded a goal on September 28 against Newcastle, a match they won 2-1. Since then, they have kept a clean sheet in seven consecutive games, coming close to ending that streak when Burnley’s Marcus Edwards struck the post from a free-kick in the final moments.
The 2-0 victory means Arsenal has maintained a clean sheet in seven straight matches across all competitions for the first time since a similar run in 1999.
Next, they will travel to Slavia Prague for a Champions League match on Tuesday. If they can avoid conceding again, it will mark only the second time in the club's history that they have kept teams out for eight consecutive matches, with the first instance occurring back in 1903.
Arsenal has also been effective in limiting opponents' chances, allowing just one shot on target in their last four league games.
The fixture against Burnley was one where Arsenal teams of recent seasons might have been physically overpowered, but they are now standing up to such challenges. Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha remarked, "When I first started doing punditry in 2021, Arsenal’s biggest failing was their softness; they could be bullied. Now, they can adapt their play—if it needs to be a fight, it will be a fight; if it needs to be a footballing game, they can play that too."
Strength in Depth
Arsenal invested around £250 million to strengthen their squad this summer, and the benefits of this depth are becoming apparent.
Despite a growing injury list that includes forwards Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, as well as captain Martin Odegaard and Noni Madueke, the players stepping in have significantly contributed to Arsenal's impressive form, alleviating the pressure to rush injured players back into action.
Onuoha added, "The depth they possess means that if someone drops out, the next player steps up. This is ultimately why they are being considered favorites—they are in a great position."
Faltering Rivals
Manager Mikel Arteta has previously highlighted timing as a key factor in Arsenal's inability to win the Premier League since he took charge in 2019. In May, he pointed out that Liverpool won the league last season with fewer points than Arsenal achieved in the previous two campaigns.
This season, the timing seems favorable for Arsenal, as their strong form coincides with their rivals faltering. Liverpool, who began the season with five consecutive wins, have now lost their last four matches. Manchester City, meanwhile, has had a mixed performance with five wins, three losses, and a draw.
While Arsenal fans may begin to feel optimistic, it’s worth noting that no team leading at this stage has gone on to win the title in the past six seasons. However, former Manchester United defender Gary Neville stated on Sky Sports, "Arsenal are reliable; you can trust them. This is your title, Arsenal. I’ve never felt this sure before; it’s early in the season, but it really is yours. That’s not being overconfident or placing pressure; Arsenal must feel it themselves. This is the moment for Arsenal to reclaim the title. The opportunity is there; they must seize it."