Arsenal now lead Premier League for one staggering stat, Man Utd are 35% behind

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Arsenal’s defence has been outstanding this season, and Saturday’s victory over Brentford saw Mikel Arteta’s side keep another clean sheet.

Arsenal now have six Premier League clean sheets this season, more than anyone else, and defenders William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes have been particularly good.

Saliba came in at the start of last season, and has remarkably won 75% of his Premier League games. Arsenal saw their title challenge collapse after he picked up a long-term injury in March, but his return in this campaign has been a welcome one.

Arsenal’s defence since Saliba became part of the squad has reached a new level, and they are now well ahead of any other team in the Premier League in one metric.

Arsenal lead the Premier League in clean sheet statistic

Stat site Squawka has now highlighted that Arsenal have kept a staggering 14 clean sheets in 25 away Premier League away games since the start of last season.

Arsenal are miles clear of anyone else in this stat, with Manchester United in second place with nine, 35% less than the Gunners’ total.

Arteta’s side have developed the ability to grind out tough victories on the road, and Saturday’s victory over Brentford saw them leave it until the 89th minute before Kai Havertz netted the winner.

Arsenal’s astonishing away record

In six away games this season, Arsenal have conceded just three goals, with two of these coming against Chelsea, and one against Newcastle which should have arguably been ruled out.

In 19 away games last season, Arsenal conceded nine times in the 14 which Saliba played, and nine times in the five he missed, emphasising how important the Frenchman is to the defensive unit.

Arsenal kept just one clean sheet in his absence, compared to seven with him last season, and Arteta’s side conceded three or more times on the road just twice since the start of the last campaign, shipping three at Man United and four at Man City.

Whilst this season has seen Arsenal somewhat stutter going forward, there has been an extra emphasis on defence, and this has now been reflected in their ability to shut out the opposition even when away from home.

If Arsenal can maintain this defensive solidity, then they will be right up there in terms of the title race if consistency can be kept. Whilst another injury to Saliba could possibly jeopardize this, for now, they are cruising when it comes to defending on the road.