This is the ninth time that the Gunners have amassed as many as 19 points after eight matches of a Premier League campaign but they have gone onto to win the title in just one of the previous eight seasons – doing so in their Invincibles campaign of 2003-04.
While Mikel Arteta’s scored four goals in the Champions League thrashing of Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, it was also their fourth successive clean sheet in all competitions – and defence could be key to their chances of winning the title this season.
Arsenal have conceded just three goals in 12 matches overall in 2025-26 – the fewest across all competitions of any side in Europe’s big five leagues.
They have prevented the opposition from registering a shot on target in back-to-back league games for the first time in 22 years.
The only side to go three games in a row without facing a shot on target is Manchester City 11 years ago.
Such has been the dominance of Arsenal’s defence domestically, they are restricting the opposition to very few opportunities, let alone conceding goals.
In addition to keeping the joint-most clean sheets, the Gunners have given up the fewest big chances (as defined by Opta), faced the fewest shots on target and have the lowest expected goals tally against.
