'Defensive Wall' helping league leaders Arsenal | OneFootball

It has been 21 seasons since Arsenal last lifted the title, with the Gunners finishing runner-ups in the last three campaigns. However, the North London side now have a four-point lead at the top and a characteristic that boosts confidence: the defensive security of Mikel Arteta's team.

Despite millions of pounds invested on forwards, with names like Viktor Gyökeres, Eberechi Eze, and Noni Madueke the team's highlight is the defence which records the best start for the team in the Premier League, having conceded only three goals in 13 games so far.

More than preventing goals, the London team has prevented opponents from managing to shoot on target, giving David Raya an easy time.

Last weekend's victory over Crystal Palace was the fifth consecutive match in which the team did not concede a goal, with the team set to end October in the Premier League having allowed just one shot on target in three games. Earlier this month, West Ham ended the London derby with four shots, but none on target, and the same happened with Fulham, who missed the mark in all nine attempts they had. The only shot on target came from Palace, who at 25 minutes into the second half managed to hit the target with Eddie Nketiah, unsuccessfully.

In the Champions League, Arsenal secured two more victories this month, defeating Olympiacos and Atlético de Madrid also without conceding goals. The Greeks, however, shot 10 times with three of those shots on goal, while the Spaniards came very close to breaking this blockade but managed to aim accurately in only one of the 11 shots they attempted.

Arsenal will play one more time this month on Wednesday (29th), in the fourth round of the English League Cup, hosting Brighton.

Starting well in the Premier League guarantees nothing

This is the seventh time in history that Arsenal starts a Premier League season with at least 22 points in the first nine rounds but only one of these occasions resulted in the Gunners lifting the trophy.

In 2002/03, the team, then led by Arsène Wenger, was leading with 23 points after seven wins and two draws but in the end Manchester United finished with a five-point advantage at the top of the table. The following year, Arsenal lifted the league title without losing a game in the Invincibles season.

However, Arsenal had its best start in history in 2004/05, with 25 points in the first nine rounds, but at the end of the season, Chelsea was 12 points ahead and took the trophy.

In 2007/08 there were 23 points in the first nine games and only a third position at the end, four points behind Manchester United and two behind Chelsea. In 2013/14 the start was identical to the current one and in the end, the team had to compete in the Champions League playoffs, finishing behind Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea.

Finally, with Mikel Arteta in charge in 2022/23, there were eight wins and just one defeat to start, but the title went to City, with a five-point difference.