Astonishing stat now shows Arsenal have gotten 18% worse at one worrying thing

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Arsenal are currently top of the Premier League, but they have been criticised in recent weeks for their attacking output.

Mikel Arteta’s side have been excellent defensively, but are not playing with the same attacking flair as they did last season when they led the Premier League for most of the campaign.

Jamie Carragher recently claimed that Arsenal’s drop in attacking intensity will ultimately prevent them from winning the title, despite the defensive improvements.

Many reasons have been offered for Arsenal’s drop in attacking fluidity, and some have claimed that opponents now sit deeper against the Gunners, but one stat has now emerged which may show why Arteta’s side are not racking up large scorelines anymore.

Arsenal have stopped scoring early goals

A stat relayed by journalist Sam Dean has now highlighted that Arsenal are no longer scoring within the first 20 minutes of games.

In 38 Premier League games last season, Arsenal scored 19 times in the first 20 minutes of games, 22% of the season’s total. This season, in 13 games so far, they have scored just once in that time, 4% of the total in this campaign, an 18% reduction from last year’s campaign.

The only early goal this season came in Arsenal’s 4-0 victory away at Bournemouth, with Bukayo Saka opening the scoring in the 17th minute.

Arsenal often laid down early markers in games last season, with Gabriel Martinelli’s first-minute goal against Liverpool a standout moment in a campaign which saw Arsenal score 88 league goals.

How has this negatively affected Arsenal?

One concerning aspect of Arsenal’s slow starts is that it allows teams to settle. When dominating possession at the Emirates, teams will often drop deep and gain more confidence in defence the longer they go without conceding.

Breaking down these deep blocks becomes more difficult without a goal to draw teams out to attack more. Arsenal often have to exert a lot of energy to find the opening goal, and the lack of space afforded to them does not make it easy.

The likes of Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli, who were outstanding in front of goal last season, have seen their outputs drop in this campaign, and Martinelli in particular thrives when he has space to run into.

The Brazilian has thrived in the Champions League this season, with his performances against Sevilla standing out as he enjoyed having space to run into, but the lack of early goals in the Premier League means teams are no longer pushing forward and leaving gaps in behind against Arsenal.