Why Arsenal Early Season Dominance Is Turning Heads in Premier League

Arsenal's commanding start to the season has established them as serious contenders for the Premier League title, a sharp contrast to the near misses of previous campaigns. 

Under Mikel Arteta, the Gunners are blending experience with youthful energy, delivering results that have fans and pundits alike talking about a return to the summit of English football.

The Gunners recent performances against Newcastle, West Ham, Fulham, and Crystal Palace underscore a newfound consistency. While these fixtures cost them 10 crucial points last season, Arsenal has secured maximum points this term, highlighting a mental and tactical resilience that was previously lacking.

 Last season’s campaign faltered with draws and losses in these same matches, contributing to a third consecutive second-place finish behind Liverpool by 10 points.

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What makes Arsenal's rise even more impressive is the difficulty of their early-season schedule. They have already played tough away games against Manchester United, Liverpool, and Newcastle, along with a home clash against Manchester City, yet they sit four points clear at the top of the table over Bournemouth. 

Current Arsenal early-season form has been complemented by the struggles of their traditional rivals—none of Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, or Chelsea occupy a top-four spot at this stage, a first since 1992.

Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha praised Arsenal’s all-around quality.

 “People call them set-piece FC and all that, but they are up there with teams with the most shots and fewest goals conceded,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live. 

“They are brilliant. They sit top of the league and they deserve to be there.”

After investing around £250m in eight new players over the summer, the pressure was on Arteta to deliver Arsenal’s first league title since 2004. So far, the investment appears to be paying dividends, with the team boasting the second-best attack and the most formidable defense in the Premier League, despite injuries affecting key players.

Arsenal’s defensive resilience has become the foundation of their title challenge. Arteta described the 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace as more valuable than any other win this season, particularly given slip-ups from rival clubs.

 “We are where we are because we've been very, very consistent,” he said. 

“But it really doesn’t mean anything other than let's keep doing the things we're doing well.”

The statistics reinforce Arsenal’s defensive dominance. They lead the league in clean sheets (6), fewest goals conceded (3), fewest shots faced (72), and lowest expected goals against (xGA 5.3). 

Central defenders Gabriel and William Saliba have formed a partnership lauded as arguably the best in the division, with summer signing Cristhian Mosquera providing high-level cover. The Gunners have not conceded in their last three Premier League matches, a streak of 385 minutes.

Former Arsenal forward Theo Walcott highlighted the psychological edge Arsenal now possesses. 

“The whole team has a fear factor. People are just afraid of them. They don’t concede goals, and it’s starting to feel normal,” he told BBC Sport. Former England striker Ellen White added that Arteta’s squad is now a “juggernaut, looking difficult to stop.”

Arsenal’s prowess from set-pieces has become a trademark of their season. With Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice delivering precise corners and free-kicks, the team has scored 11 goals from dead-ball situations—69% of their 16 total goals—putting them ahead of rivals like Chelsea.

 Key victories, including a crucial header from Gabriel against Atletico Madrid, underline how decisive set-pieces have become.