Surprise statistic now reveals Arsenal have become the best in the PL at one thing

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Despite struggles in recent weeks, Arsenal have been strong defensively this season, but have sometimes thrown away reckless goals.

Recent losses to West Ham, Liverpool and Fulham saw defensive errors and set-piece calamities harm the team, and Mikel Arteta’s side have looked a shadow of themselves from what they were this time last year.

However, despite talk of a crisis, Arsenal are still just five points off the top of the league, and there is a long way to go in the title race.

Many have pointed to the lack of goals in attack, and errors from goalkeeper David Raya at the back, but remarkably, the Gunners have actually improved in one important aspect of their play.

Arsenal have improved at defending set-pieces

Despite recent errors from corners and free kicks leading to goals, as a defensive unit, Arsenal have improved when it comes to conceding chances from set-pieces, and have the best record in the Premier League in this regard.

Stats from X user Shreyas Khatri, via Understat, have revealed that Arsenal are now conceding less xG (expected goals) from set pieces than last season, and defensively they rank best in the league ahead of Manchester City and Wolves.

Arsenal have marginally improved at attacking set-pieces, but still create a lower xG from set plays than Everton, Newcastle, Liverpool, Brentford, Wolves and Man City.

Are Arsenal good at set-pieces?

Arsenal’s last Premier League goal came from a set-piece, as Gabriel Magalhaes rose high from a free-kick to nod in away at Liverpool.

Gabriel Jesus scored a header against Brighton from a corner the week before, and Arsenal have not scored since, with just 20 open-play goals out of 37 in the league overall.

Defensively, Arsenal have been outstanding when it comes to set pieces in the last two seasons, but recent games have seen them look more vulnerable in this sense.

Despite the presence of William Saliba and Gabriel, who could be difference makers in the title race, recent games have seen Arsenal concede four goals from set-pieces in the last six, after conceding just one in the first 14 games of the season.

This is clearly an outlier coupled with Arsenal’s poor form, rather than the norm over the last two seasons, and over the course of the campaign, if the Gunners iron out their mistakes, they will likely see defensive set pieces as an area of strength again.