Paul Merson loves what he’s seeing from Arsenal this season, but has spotted something abnormal about the Gunners.
Merson thinks the Premier League title is Arsenal’s to win, despite being only ten matches into the season.
The former Gunner isn’t the only one to think that way, as Arsenal have been backed to win the league by many pundits.
Mikel Arteta will be eager to quieten the noise regarding his squad’s chances of winning the league, with so much football yet to be played.
That being said, right now, it’s difficult to see how the Gunners can be beaten, with Merson admitting that he’s seeing something about Arteta’s squad that’s out of the ordinary.
Paul Merson says Arsenal’s balance is unusual as Chelsea comparison is made again
Merson is well-tuned when it comes to what Arsenal are doing this season, sharing high praise for the North Londoners’ terrific start to the campaign.
The former Arsenal player featured on Sky Sports when the Gunners beat Burnley 2-0, and after the game, he admitted he thinks Arteta’s side are so good that they’re actually ‘unusual’.
“They’re a well, well-oiled machine with a lot of talent in that machine as well, and that’s very unusual,” Merson explained.
The pundit elaborated by comparing Arsenal to Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea side of 2004/05, who shared the ‘unusual’ traits that the Gunners now have.
“Usually, you get a machine, this reminds me of the Mourinho team that he had at Chelsea.
“Efficient machine, but had so much talent in it as well, and that’s not a good cocktail for everyone else.”
Arsenal have been compared to Mourinho’s side multiple times already this season, as some believe that Chelsea’s Premier League defensive record could finally be matched.
How 2025/26 Arsenal compare to 2004/05 Chelsea after ten games played
In the 2004/05 Premier League season, Chelsea conceded only 15 goals all campaign, which is crazy.
Petr Cech thinks it will be hard for Arsenal to break Chelsea’s record, but just how far off are Arteta’s side from their rivals’ historic feat after ten played?
| Club | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals against |
| Chelsea | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Arsenal | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
To put it bluntly, not very far at all is the answer.
By matchday ten, Chelsea had conceded two goals in the 2004/05 season, with Arsenal only conceding three so far this term.
What’s so remarkable about the Gunners right now is that teams aren’t even getting the chance to shoot on target against Arteta’s back four.
Arsenal have conceded just one shot on target in their last four Premier League games, which says all that needs to be known about their strength.
It would be incredible for the North Londoners to even get close to Mourinho’s record, with the main objective being to lift the trophy in May.
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