Arsenal Makes History with Never-Before-Seen Achievement in English Football

"Beyond mere control, I seek supremacy," Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta previously declared. "Supremacy in the crucial zones while suffocating the opposition. That's our approach."

Such supremacy, particularly in defensive terms, has certainly been accomplished.

Wednesday evening's 2–0 triumph against Brighton & Hove Albion marked Arsenal's sixth straight shutout, extending a streak that started with another 2–0 victory over Olympiacos on Oct. 1. The Gunners now hold the unique distinction of being the sole top-division team in the competition's 137-year existence to play, triumph and maintain clean sheets across six matches within a single month, according to Opta.

Arsenal's Clean Sheet Streak

Somewhat paradoxically, Arsenal reached this milestone following their most vulnerable defensive display of the campaign.

Brighton wasted two excellent chances within the first 10 minutes to breach a completely rotated backline. Fabian Hürzeler's organized yet unpredictable team unleashed 18 attempts, the highest total any opponent has managed at the Emirates since Brighton themselves in August 2024, when the Gunners played with 10 men for nearly half the match.

Substitute keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was called upon to make six stops. During the preceding five games of this remarkable sequence, David Raya faced just five shots on target.

True to his perfectionist nature, Arteta was visibly displeased with his team's careless opening to the cup encounter. "There were some very careless turnovers that we committed, in extremely dangerous positions. We failed to follow two or three principles that we consistently maintain in transition phases, for instance, and we might have paid the price," he grumbled.

Though Brighton squandered their chances, very few teams have been afforded such opportunities to waste.

Arsenal's Defensive Statistics in October

Just three players have found the net against Arsenal this campaign; Dominik Szoboszlai with a spectacular free kick, Erling Haaland on a swift counter-attack for Manchester City and Newcastle United's Nick Woltemade via a commanding header back in September.

Both West Ham United and Fulham failed to register a single shot on target while Atlético Madrid managed only one feeble effort from Thiago Almada. "I would consider [them] the strongest team we have encountered this season," a clearly deflated Diego Simeone admitted following that 4–0 Champions League defeat. "They compete exceptionally well, their players work tirelessly and they possess talent throughout their squad."

Arsenal's streak deserves some perspective. Five of their recent six fixtures have been played with home advantage at the Emirates Stadium against teams not renowned for potent attacking threats. The Gunners weren't the first to neutralize a West Ham offensive led by Niclas Füllkrug and they won't be the final team to do so.

Nevertheless, during a period when their attacking fluidity hasn't always been apparent, Arsenal's defensive reliability has anchored a run of results that has fulfilled Arteta's ambitious expectations of supremacy.