The wait for Arsenal’s first Premier League trophy since 2004 goes on after coming up short behind Manchester City, who became the first side in English top-flight football history to be crowned champions in four consecutive seasons.
Despite their 2-1 home win against Everton on the final day, the Gunners finished two points behind Manchester City on 89 points.
This final points tally falls just one point shy of the club’s all-time best league points total of 90, set by the Invincibles, who won the league without a single loss in 2003-04.
Nevertheless, Arsenal have still managed to match and also break several club records in what has nonetheless been an impressive campaign for Mikel Arteta’s men…
Most wins in a Premier League season (28)
“That’s not progress, that’s history”. These were Mikel Arteta’s words after his side earned their 27th Premier League win in a 1-0 win away at Manchester United this month. The Arsenal manager would have known his side needed to surpass the 26 Premier League wins they achieved last campaign to stand a realistic chance of snatching the league title away from Manchester City.
Arsenal’s league form in 2024 was crucial in leading them to break this record, with the Gunners racking up an incredible 16 wins from their last 18 Premier League games, gathering a possible 49 points from 54 available.
However disappointed Arsenal fans may be at not winning the league this year, they may take solace in the fact that the team did not falter in the second half of the season, unlike the previous season, where they collected just 12 points from their final nine league games.
Most goals scored in a league season (91)
Another record broken from last season is the 91 league goals Arsenal have scored over this campaign, their highest-ever total in the Premier League era.
What makes this even more remarkable is the fact that Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard, and Gabriel Jesus have all failed to reach double-figure goal tallies in the Premier League despite having finished with 15, 15, and 12 league goals last season respectively.
Bukayo Saka’s goalscoring form has remained intact, with the England winger notching a career-best 16 Premier League goals this campaign. However, Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz have each come to the fore as reliable marksmen for the Gunners, with both men achieving their best returns in a Premier League season, scoring 12 and 13 league goals respectively.
Havertz, in particular, endured much scrutiny after his £65 million signing from London rivals Chelsea this summer and following a string of uninspiring early performances in midfield. However, since the German was moved up front at the turn of the year, he has provided an extra dimension in attack, so much so that the clamour from Arsenal fans for the signing of a high-profile striker has quietened down.
Most away clean sheets in a league season (11)
Arsenal’s defence has been integral to how well the team has performed this season, with the Gunners conceding 29 league goals, the fewest in the league and 16 fewer than the previous year.
This has also allowed them to keep 18 Premier League clean sheets this season, the most of any other team, with 11 coming away from home. No previous Arsenal side has had this many on the road, with only Chelsea collecting more away clean sheets in a season, with their 12 in 2008/09.
These clean sheets ensured Arsenal ended the season with a club-record goal difference of +62, which in turn meant the Gunners would have usurped Manchester City if the league title had gone to goal difference on the final day.
This defensive solidity has owed massively to the imperious centre-back pairing of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, as well as the £105 million club-record signing of midfielder Declan Rice and the loan signing of goalkeeper David Raya from Brentford.
Rice’s athleticism, physicality and ball-winning ability has proved a huge asset for Arsenal in midfield, and despite some early concerns, Raya’s excellent handling from crosses and interceptions outside his area has given the team more security in defence. The 27-year-old goalkeeper’s debut season also ended with him receiving the Premier League Golden Glove, after 16 clean sheets from 32 games.
Most goals from corners in a Premier League season (16)
Not long ago, Arsenal were often derided for their vulnerability at defending corners and their inability to score from them.
However, thanks somewhat to their set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, the team has become the most dangerous team in the league from these positions. Arsenal have scored 22 set-piece goals this season, the most in the league, and from corners, they have scored 16 goals, the joint-most in Premier League history alongside West Brom in 2016/17, and Oldham in 1992/93.
Centre-back Gabriel in particular has benefitted from Jover’s set-piece expertise. Since the Brazilian made his Premier League debut in August 2020, no other defender has scored more than his 14 goals, 12 of which were scored after Jover arrived at Arsenal in July 2021.
Whether it is Martin Odegaard pulling up his socks to deliver a signal moments before taking a corner, or defender Ben White trodding on goalkeepers’ toes and trying to undo their gloves, Arsenal’s innovative routines and subtle gamesmanship have drawn an increasing amount of attention throughout this season.
The signing of Rice and his excellent delivery from corners has also been a big boost.
So, with all eyes on Arsenal’s set-piece prowess, Jover would do very well to replicate this level of success next year to keep the opposing teams guessing.