Arsenal title chances look stronger than Liverpool’s as Arteta’s side master open-play dominance
They can’t continue to get away with it. But they might, in fact. Furthermore, if Arsenal does, they shouldn’t be too concerned about the broader response.
It was always suspected that Liverpool’s dominance of the Premier League table was based on completely shaky and insecure groundwork.
Some obvious weaknesses were covered by late goals to salvage subpar performances, and the thin veneer of invincibility was quickly snatched away.
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Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal has exploited those mistakes more than they ever have as chasers rather than pacesetters.
Furthermore, this is as strong a platform as potential champions could hope to have built, even though it will enrage opponents and annoy neutrals. Arsenal won 1-0. Ole, ole, set piece again.
Although it’s not the most thrilling or inspiring thing to see, Arsenal seems to have developed a more dependable and regular winning strategy than anyone else.
Arsenal might as well be crowned right now if defence brings you championships. In 11 games across all competitions this season, they have given up three goals, while every other team has given up at least seven.
They have only lost points to the two teams that have combined for the last eight championships. Additionally, they are fixing some of the expensive errors from the last two campaigns.
Arsenal had already won three of their first eight games, including ones they lost in 2023–2024 and 2024–2025.
A determined Fulham team was hanged, drawn and cornered at Craven Cottage, while Newcastle was ultimately defeated at St. James’ Park and the previously embarrassing West Ham was eliminated prior to the international break.
Marco Silva’s team did not have a single attempt on goal, despite their impressive performance.
Harry Wilson was the essence of ambitious in his attempts on goal, but he was also the antithesis of shot-shy. The closest they came was a mishit Josh King cross that David Raya had to tip over.
After Leandro Trossard deflected Gabriel’s header from a Bukayo Saka corner, Arsenal limited them to just one (blocked) attempt in the forty minutes or so that followed.
The visitors decided that was close enough and pushed the hosts away after a few moments.
Arsenal has done a remarkable job of virtually negating the whole open-play football idea.
In their attempt to restrict the sport to set pieces for which they may gather their hordes of giants in either penalty area and appease the all-powerful Nicolas Jover, this is all merely a means to an end, an inevitable and necessary evil.
Compared to Brentford and Burnley, they have scored fewer goals in the Premier League during open play. And they deserve praise for it since they have ridiculously increased the margins.
Additionally, they still occasionally play real football. Viktor Gyokeres made a deft move after a brilliant Saka ball, but the striker’s finish was unsuccessful.
In the second half, the two nearly scored again, but Timothy Castagne was there to clear the line.
After two minutes of passing the ball around their defence, Arsenal made a really ridiculous move when Jurrien Timber launched a beautiful long ball to Trossard, whose first-time pass into Riccardo Calafiori in the middle was immediately fired into the top corner by a really stupid football player.
It was an incredible demonstration of skill and technique from a set of players who are all too frequently reduced to their physical characteristics, even though the designated left-back had regrettably veered offside in his excitement.
It is the cause of the majority of the criticism directed at Arteta and something that we are all guilty of.
Rather of consistently winning duels automatically, these incredibly talented players and Gyokeres are capable of the exquisite.
However, football is more complicated than Michael Owen’s strangely compelling assertion that it’s simpler to defend than to attack.
To make doing just enough of the latter matter, Arsenal has mastered the former. It works well and is definitely sustainable.
