One early season stat that shows a worrying trend for Arsenal

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·4 September 2025

One early season stat that shows a worrying trend for Arsenal

Arsenal have frequently been criticised for relying heavily on set pieces to secure victories rather than demonstrating sufficient creativity in open play. This has raised questions about the team’s ability to consistently challenge for the highest honours in the league, despite being regarded as one of the leading contenders for the title when the season concludes.

The club strengthened their squad during the most recent transfer window, investing significantly in attacking options such as Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres. With these additions, many supporters believe there should be little justification for any shortcomings in the forward line. While improvements were made across different areas of the team, the attack remains a particular focus of expectation and scrutiny.

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Early Season Performance

Despite the substantial investment and clear intention to enhance their squad, Arsenal’s start to the season has not been entirely convincing. They have already featured in three league matches, mirroring the schedule of their rivals, and have dominated the majority of these encounters in terms of possession and overall control of play. Nevertheless, questions linger about their effectiveness in converting this dominance into tangible scoring opportunities.

According to Football365, Arsenal are currently the only club in the league to have created just one big chance from open play so far this season. This is in contrast with the other nineteen Premier League teams, all of whom have generated more. A big chance is typically understood to be an opportunity that a team is expected to score from more often than not, and this statistic suggests that the Gunners are not making the most of their attacking potential in free-flowing situations.

Martinelli (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Looking Ahead

The season is still in its early stages, and it is widely acknowledged that new players often require time to fully integrate and build chemistry with their teammates. It is therefore reasonable to anticipate that Arsenal’s statistics in this area will improve as the campaign progresses. The blend of talent assembled within the squad suggests that better attacking output from open play is achievable, provided the forward line develops greater fluidity and understanding.

While reliance on set pieces has been a recurring theme in criticism of Arsenal, the presence of newly acquired attacking talent offers a platform for improvement. Supporters will be hoping that as the season unfolds, the side can demonstrate greater sharpness in open play and convert dominance into consistent goals, thereby solidifying their credentials as genuine title contenders.

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