VERY few records in football will remain untouched, but one that was seen as nearly impossible to conquer was perhaps the record set by Mourinho’s Chelsea in 2004/05. The teams closest since were still seven goals shy of the record, such as Liverpool in 2018/19 and Chelsea themselves only the following season.
So the question still remains, who could possibly touch this record, let alone break it? After only eight games this season, two teams have already conceded more than that Chelsea team in all of that title winning season, those being Wolves with 16 and West Ham with 18.
Step forward Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.
Eight games played, three goals conceded. Back to back games against West Ham and Fulham in which they limited the opposition to no shots on target. A rate of 0.38 goals conceded. This means they’re on course to let in only 14 goals this season.
Extraordinary. But the stats back up the fact that this is no fluke. In Europe’s top five leagues, not only do they lead for goals conceded, they lead for expected goals conceded, second for shots faced and shots on target faced. The quality of chances allowed to opposition is second best in Europe to add, with their XG per shot below 1.
Their domestic defensive brilliance has now been transferred over to the continent’s elite competition. Since their return in the Champions League, 27 goals scored and 0 conceded in all home games during the group stage/league phase of the tournament, with all of those fixtures resulting in wins.
The last time the Gunners conceded a goal at home in the group stage of the Champions League was all the way back in November 2016, in a 2-2 draw with Paris Saint Germain.
Even despite injuries to key players within this time period such as Gabriel and William Saliba, squad depth has become a game changer for the defensive reinforcements this powerhouse possesses. Gone are the days of Rob Holding and Calum Chambers, now the backup options are Cristhian Mosquera and title winning defender with Bayer Leverkusen, Piero Hincapie.
Consistent fullbacks in Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori has ensured stability and a guarantee in strong 1v1 defending. This Arsenal team can’t be played through or out wide by almost any opponent. Teams have been have suffocated creatively.
It’s also important to emphasise the commitment to defending the six yard box that Arsenal have. For all the praise you can give to the back four, the ever present and commanding David Raya has been instrumental in strengthening the backline.
However, this doesn’t guarantee anything. Of the teams that had a start defensively anywhere near as good as this, only Chelsea and Manchester United would go on to win the title. Arsenal conceded only 17 goals in the 1998/99 season, but still lost out on the title, finishing second. The least amount of goals conceded by a team that didn’t win the league.
With the new look attack starting to gel on the pitch, the Gunners have become almost impossible to stop. Beating the 15 goals record may be a huge ask, but Arsenal are driving it close as of now.
Not only is the platform there to win their first league title in what would be 22 years by the end of the season, but the chance to make history with a record we may never see again.
