Arsenal: Solid Defense but Must Win the Title

01/11/2025 07:55:00 FieldFrenzy

Arsenal’s defense stands out as the team with the least goals conceded in the Premier League this season. Yet, this achievement will be forgotten if they do not win the title.

Recently, journalist Martin Samuel wrote an analysis about Arsenal’s defense in The Times and assessed that the "Gunners" defense is at least on par with Southampton’s 2013/14 squad, but it still falls short compared to Chelsea’s 2010/11 or Manchester United’s 2007/08 defenses.

A Strong Defense Alone Is Not Enough

"This is the third-best defense we have seen in the Premier League after nine games, sharing this position with five other teams," Martin Samuel emphasized.

Southampton under Mauricio Pochettino was also among them. In their first full season on the south coast, Pochettino’s Southampton conceded only 3 goals in 9 games, exactly like Arsenal now. They ranked third after 9 matches and had lost only once. By season’s end, they finished eighth, conceding 46 goals. Still, that season was regarded as a success, marking Southampton’s highest finish since 2002/03 and their best points tally in the Premier League era up to that point.

However, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal differ from Southampton. The "Gunners" are title contenders with the strongest squad in the league. There is debate whether Arteta is building the greatest defense ever. Can they break Chelsea’s record of 15 goals conceded in José Mourinho’s first season, or match Liverpool’s combined record average of 0.38 goals conceded per game set in 1978/79?

Nevertheless, Martin Samuel insists that no one will care about these statistics or comparisons if Arsenal cannot win the title this season. "What do those numbers mean without a trophy? There is no parade for a solid defense. But if a team has a strong defense and wins the championship, then everything changes," Samuel wrote.

Before Pep Guardiola’s arrival, there was a period in the Premier League when champions were built on a solid defense, especially under George Graham’s Arsenal. Arsene Wenger revolutionized Arsenal’s attack when he arrived, but the defensive line in his title-winning teams still included many players who had worked under Graham.

But here lies the irony. Arsenal’s best defense in the Premier League era was the 1998/99 team featuring David Seaman, Lee Dixon, Martin Keown, Tony Adams, and Nigel Winterburn, conceding only 17 goals.

Arsenal currently have the tightest defense in the Premier League this season

No Championship, No Comparisons

Yet no one ranks them above the "Invincibles" squad (Arsenal’s nickname after going unbeaten in the 2003/04 season) with defenders Jens Lehmann, Lauren, Sol Campbell, Kolo Toure, and Ashley Cole for a simple reason. The "Invincibles" conceded 26 goals but did not lose a single match and, most importantly, won the Premier League.

Martin Samuel highlights: "Will the current Arsenal defense with David Raya, Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel, and Riccardo Calafiori be remembered as one of the best Premier League defenses in recent seasons? Possibly, but only if the numbers hold up and they win the title. Numbers alone are not enough."

Arsenal’s 17 goals conceded in 1998/99 is impressive, but that season Manchester United conceded 20 more goals and finished just one point ahead in the standings. What people remember from that year for the "Red Devils" is their historic treble.

On last week’s The Times podcast, there was a discussion about the best Premier League defenses: Chelsea (2004/05, 2005/06), Arsenal (1998/99), Manchester United (2007/08), Liverpool (2018/19). The challenge was to pick one defensive lineup, including the goalkeeper. "Would five current Arsenal players make the list? I don’t think so. I would choose Petr Cech, Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, John Terry, and Robertson," Martin Samuel wrote, explaining that all his picks have won league medals.

In closing his article, Martin Samuel stated: "No team matches Arsenal’s defensive ability right now. Is that enough? Certainly not. It must be proven by results. It doesn’t matter how many goals Arsenal concedes. The pinnacle is not statistics. The pinnacle is trophies. When they win trophies, then we can talk about history."

Comment (0)