Arsenal scored 71 goals in the Premier League 2025-26. That is the lowest number of a champion since Leicester City in 2016. In which, their number of goals from set pieces (25) is the highest compared to any champion in 34 years of the league history. Besides, the number of goals from live ball situations (42) is significantly lower than that of the champions in the past 10 years.
The second lowest number of goals from live balls of a champion team in this period is 61 goals, belonging to Chelsea in the 2016-17 season. To be easy to imagine, all champions in the past 10 years have scored at least 45% more goals from live balls than Arsenal in the last season. As for Manchester City in the 2018-19 season, this number is even almost double.
The Premier League last season saw an average of 2.75 goals/game (down from 2.93 goals in the previous season and 3.28 goals in the 2023-24 season). The 2025-26 season recorded 1.8 goals from live balls/game (down from 2.15 goals in the 2024-25 season and 2.38 goals in the 2023-24 season).
The contribution efficiency of attacking players in the Arsenal squad is quite low for a champion team. In terms of goals and assists (G/A) in the Premier League, Viktor Gyokeres leads with 15 times (14 goals, 1 assist); followed by Leandro Trossard (6 goals, 6 assists), Bukayo Saka (7 goals, 5 assists) and Eberechi Eze with 9 times (7 goals, 2 assists). Ranked after this group are midfielder Declan Rice (9), defender Jurrien Timber (8), midfielder Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino and center-back Gabriel (7).
For easy visualization, let's look at Mohamed Salah's achievements in the 2023-24 season. He contributed 47 G/A (29 goals, 18 assists) in Liverpool's championship journey. Besides, there are Luis Diaz (13 goals, 5 assists), Cody Gakpo (10 goals, 4 assists), Dominik Szoboszlai (6 goals, 6 assists), Alexis Mac Allister (5 goals, 5 assists), Trent Alexander-Arnold (3 goals, 6 assists) and Diogo Jota (6 goals, 3 assists).
In Man City's previous treble season, Erling Haaland led the list with 32 G/A (27 goals, 5 assists); followed by Phil Foden (19 goals, 8 assists), Julian Alvarez (11 goals, 9 assists), Rodri (8 goals, 9 assists), Bernardo Silva (6 goals, 9 assists), Kevin De Bruyne (4 goals, 10 assists) and Jeremy Doku (3 goals, 8 assists).
However, the two most recent champions against Arsenal both witnessed a sharp drop in the number of goals scored. Liverpool decreased from 86 goals (season 2024-25) to 63 goals last season. Man City decreased from 96 goals (season 2023-24) to 72 goals. That is also part of the reason why Arsenal took the lead.
Arteta understands this issue very well and has approached Vinicius Jr of Real Madrid very seriously. However, the number of good strikers currently is not many and only focuses on some big teams such as Real Madrid, PSG, Bayern Munich or Man City. After failing with Vinicius, what is Arsenal's next option on the left wing when Trossard has left the team and Martinelli's future is precarious?
In parallel with completing the attacking trio (which is missing a good position on the left wing), Arteta also needs to ensure that the remaining places such as the center forward or right wing are not injured, typically Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka. The Spanish coach also needs new players from last season such as Viktor Gyokeres or Eberechi Eze with stronger bounces.
Like Liverpool's success under Jurgen Klopp in 2020, Arsenal's victory is the result of almost non-stop progress over 5 years. Both teams are unlucky when they are only behind Man City in seasons when they have almost made no significant mistakes. Arsenal finished second with 89 points in the 2023-24 season, and Liverpool also finished second with 97 points (2018-19 season) and 92 points (2021-22 season).
Therefore, the challenge for any champion team is to ensure that it is not the end of a successful cycle. That means Arsenal needs to put aside all signs of fatigue and revive the energy and spirit that helped them win the Premier League title.
It's always easier said than done. The only clubs that successfully defended the throne in the Premier League era are Sir Alex Ferguson's Man United (6 times), Jose Mourinho's Chelsea (1) and Pep Guardiola's Man City (4).
Arsenal's stability in the past 4 seasons (reaching 84, 89, 74 and 85 points respectively) along with good results in the last 2 seasons in the Champions League (semi-finals and finals) is very admirable. However, the "Gunners" still have room to develop further. That is also the reason for Mikel Arteta to mention rising to another "level" and the need for "more outstanding individuals" in his last-season speech.
