For all Arsenal’s attacking prowess in recent years, in the 2025/26 season, it’s been their defensive ability that has really made the difference. After their 1-0 victory at Fulham on Saturday, Mikel Arteta’s men are three points clear at the top of the Premier League table. It was their eighth clean sheet of the season in all competitions, and, tellingly, they’ve conceded only three league goals. That’s three fewer than the next best sides (Manchester City and Sunderland) and eight fewer than current champions Liverpool. There is a long way of the campaign to go, but could the Gunners’ defence prove the key to winning this season’s title?
In this article, we’ll take a look back at Arsenal’s results this term and examine whether they could even break the Premier League record for the fewest goals conceded in a season.
Arsenal’s Defensively Sound Results
Together until the end. pic.twitter.com/bBZi50vjWL
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 19, 2025
As well as conceding only three goals in eight Premier League games this term (at a rate of 0.38 goals per game), they have won each of their other three games 2-0: against Port Vale in the EFL Cup, and against Athletic Bilbao and Olympiacos in the Champions League. In the EPL, the three goals were scored by three top players from top clubs. Dominik Szoboszlai scored a screamer for Liverpool (in Arsenal’s only league defeat so far), Erling Haaland got one for Man City, and in-form Newcastle new boy Nick Woltemade notched as Arsenal won 2-1 on Tyneside.
In the Premier League, the Gunners have kept clean sheets against Manchester United (away), Leeds United (home), Nottingham Forest (home), West Ham (home), and Fulham (away). They haven’t conceded more than one goal in any game this season. In fact, the last time a side scored two goals against the Gunners in the league was way back in December 2023 (when Arsenal won 4-3 at Luton). Impressively, Arteta’s men have gone through the last two league matches without their opponents having a single shot on target.
A good deal of the defensive success can be credited to David Raya between the sticks. But his talent is just one cog in the Gunners’ defensive machinery. Arteta has his whole side playing as a unit, and when they lose the ball, they work together to get it back in double-quick time. Dutchman Jurrien Timber has been a key defensive stalwart for the Gunners this term, while Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba have been consistent and reliable. With an active transfer window bolstering the whole squad, Arteta also has the scope to rotate and rest players when required, which could minimise the risk of tired mistakes throughout the season. All in all, the Gunners are looking in exceptional shape.
How Does Arsenal’s Defensive Record Compare with the Last Three Seasons
Arsenal had to settle for second place in each of the last three seasons, which was agonising for the manager, players and fans alike. Currently, Arsenal are conceding just 0.38 goals per game in the league (and 0.27 goals per game in all competitions). But how does that compare to the previous three campaigns? We’ve also thrown in the Invincibles triumph of 2003/04, i.e. the last time Arsenal won the Premier League.
| Season | Goals Scored Per Game | Goals Conceded Per Game | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 | 1.88 | 0.38 | 1st* |
| 2024/25 | 1.82 | 0.89 | 2nd |
| 2023/24 | 2.39 | 0.76 | 2nd |
| 2022/23 | 2.31 | 1.13 | 2nd |
| 2003/04 | 1.92 | 0.68 | 1st |
*Correct after eight matches
Interestingly, the last time Arsenal conceded fewer than 30 goals in a season, they won the league (2003/04). They also conceded less than a goal per game in their other two title-winning campaigns (2001/02 and 1997/98). All this should come with a note of caution, however. Arsenal’s record in terms of the fewest goals conceded in a Premier League came in 1998/99, when they let in just 17 goals in 38 matches… but they still only finished second behind Manchester United, by a single point.
Could Arsenal Set a New Defensive Record?
Remarkably, despite letting in only 17 goals in 1998/99, the Gunners don’t hold the record for the fewest goals conceded in a Premier League season. That honour goes to Chelsea who, under Jose Mourinho, conceded just 15 over the 38 Premier League games in 2004/05, an average of just 0.39 goals per game. Mourinho’s men won the title by six points from Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal that term, and lost just once along the way.
If the Gunners are going to better Chelsea’s impressive defensive record this term, they will need to maintain (or improve on) their current rate of conceding just 0.38 goals per game. Ultimately, that might come down to whether key players can stay fit, not least first-choice goalkeeper Raya.
But the primary objective for the season is clearly not beating Chelsea’s defensive record. It is to win the Premier League for the first time in over two decades. And if the Gunners can continue their impressive defensive solidity, they will have a great foundation from which to launch a successful tilt at the title.