Adrian Clarke analyses the Gunners’ backline and looks at the secrets to their success<\/p>\n
Football writer Adrian Clarke takes a closer look at Arsenal’s impressive defence after the first seven Matchweeks.<\/p>\n
Team analysis: Arsenal<\/a><\/p>\n Arsenal are rightly considered the best defensive side in European football right now, having conceded just three goals in their opening 10 matches in all competitions \u2013 and just once from open play.<\/p>\n The Gunners have tightened up enormously since looking unusually shaky out of possession away to Manchester United<\/a> on the opening weekend<\/p>\n They proved extremely hard to break down in testing away games at Liverpool<\/a> and Newcastle United<\/a>, giving up less than one Expected Goal (xG) in each of their last six Premier League matches<\/p>\n Given the calibre of opposition faced, Arsenal’s calmness and off the ball resilience was outstanding.<\/p>\n And in clean-sheet victories at home to Leeds United<\/a>, Nottingham Forest<\/a> and West Ham United<\/a>, Mikel Arteta\u2019s men had to deal with just two shots on target in total.<\/p>\n Arsenal’s Expected Goals Against (xGA) 25\/26<\/p>\n Opponent Man Utd (A) Leeds (H) Liverpool (A) Nottingham Forest (H) Man City (H) Newcastle (A) West Ham (H) Arsenal are also remarkably good at preventing matches from escalating.<\/p>\n Usually in control of their emotions, even when setbacks occur, they have not conceded more than twice in a match since beating Luton Town 4-3 on 5 December 2023<\/a>.<\/p>\n Watch Luton 3-4 Arsenal highlights<\/p>\n This season, Arsenal are yet to concede more than once, with Liverpool and Manchester City<\/a> already shipping two goals on several occasions (Liverpool doing so four times, and twice for City).<\/p>\n This pattern of solidity has been in place since the start of 2023\/24.<\/p>\n During that period, Arsenal have amassed far more clean sheets than their chief title rivals, limiting opponents to a maximum of two goals far more regularly.<\/p>\n Arsenal goals conceded compared to title rivals since 23\/24<\/p>\n Goals conceded 0 1 2 3 4 5 Scroll across to see the full table on mobile<\/p>\n Quality in defence<\/p>\n Goalkeeper David Raya<\/a> deserves plenty of credit.<\/p>\n The agile Spaniard may not be super busy, but he currently boasts the best save percentage of all top-flight ‘keepers, with 88.33 per cent.<\/p>\n In the full-back positions, Jurrien Timber<\/a> and Riccardo Calafiori<\/a> are also in tremendous form.<\/p>\n Right-back Timber is dominating opposition wingers, making 25 tackles so far this season, the second-highest number among defenders.<\/p>\n Most tackles by defenders 25\/26<\/p>\n Player Tyrick Mitchell Jurrien Timber Jayden Bogle Left-back Calafiori has been excellent too, nullifying the threat of dangerous players like Jarrod Bowen<\/a>, Mohamed Salah<\/a> and Phil Foden<\/a>.<\/p>\n The use of two full-backs who would class defending as one of their key strengths has clearly had a positive impact on the team.<\/p>\n William Saliba<\/a>\u2019s formidable partnership alongside Gabriel Magalhaes<\/a> is another factor – despite only being on the pitch together for 65 per cent of Premier League minutes this season.<\/p>\n When Saliba and Gabriel have played alongside one another in 2025, Arsenal have let in just FIVE goals from open play.<\/p>\n Astonishingly, the Gunners have not conceded away from home in open play with Gabriel and Saliba together since Bryan Mbeumo<\/a> scored for Brentford<\/a> on New Year\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n When you compare Arsenal’s 2025 record in this department with last season\u2019s title-winning centre backs, Virgil van Dijk<\/a> and Ibrahima Konate<\/a>, you can see what an impression Gabriel and Saliba make when they are both fit and available.<\/p>\n Arsenal’s centre-backs compared to Liverpool’s in 2025<\/p>\n \u00a0 Matches Open-play goals conceded Matches per open-play goal conceded Why are Arsenal so hard to score against?<\/p>\n The current leaders make very few mistakes in defensive areas.<\/p>\n Arsenal have conceded just one shot from a high turnover in 2025\/26, the lowest figure, with six the current average per team across the Premier League.<\/p>\n We also do not see many lapses in concentration that prove costly.<\/p>\n
\nxGA<\/p>\n
\n1.52<\/p>\n
\n0.17<\/p>\n
\n0.52<\/p>\n
\n0.20<\/p>\n
\n0.87<\/p>\n
\n0.61<\/p>\n
\n0.49<\/p>\n
\nArsenal
\nLiverpool
\nMan City<\/p>\n
\n35
\n26
\n29<\/p>\n
\n31
\n31
\n32<\/p>\n
\n16
\n18
\n18<\/p>\n
\n1
\n8
\n1<\/p>\n
\n0
\n0
\n2<\/p>\n
\n0
\n0
\n1<\/p>\n
\nTotal<\/p>\n
\n27<\/p>\n
\n25<\/p>\n
\n21<\/p>\n
\nGabriel & Saliba
\nKonate & Van Dijk<\/p>\n
\n16
\n25<\/p>\n
\n5
\n17<\/p>\n
\n3.20
\n1.47<\/p>\n