Arsenal's Defensive Masterclass: How the Gunners Stack Up Against England's Greatest Ever Backlines
Arsenal's remarkable campaign opening has been founded on an impressively resilient defensive unit.
The North London club currently leads the Premier League standings, has smoothly progressed to the Carabao Cup last eight, and maintains an unblemished Champions League campaign. Mikel Arteta's squad is potentially Europe's finest at this moment.
Their dead-ball expertise has captured attention, alongside their defensive solidity, with Arsenal allowing merely three goals across all tournaments this term. One came from a Dominik Szoboszlai spectacular, another was a classic Erling Haaland finish, and the third was a header from Newcastle United's imposing forward Nick Woltemade—hardly shameful concessions.
Arsenal secured another shutout in European competition midweek as they defeated Slavia Prague, the 3–0 triumph in the Czech Republic continuing their victorious streak to 10 matches across all competitions.
Their most recent clean sheet also saw them equal an English football milestone.
Arsenal Equal English Football Milestone With Recent Shutout
After Arsenal's most recent victory without conceding, their sequence now reaches eight consecutive matches. They have blanked and defeated Olympiacos, West Ham United, Fulham, Atlético Madrid, Crystal Palace, Brighton & Hove Albion, Burnley and most recently Slavia Prague during this remarkable defensive run.
Their triumph and eighth straight clean sheet across all competitions means they have equaled the milestone for the longest sequence of winning matches while keeping opponents scoreless among all English first division teams in history, according to Opta. Preston North End in 1889 and Liverpool in 1920 both managed to claim eight victories consecutively without conceding, but no English side had matched this achievement in the past century, until 2025's Arsenal.
Should Arsenal manage to triumph and maintain a clean sheet away at Sunderland in the Premier League on Saturday, they will create history. This won't be simple considering the Black Cats' form, who have found the net in every home fixture this season and presently occupy fourth position. However, Arsenal's defensive unit will back themselves to neutralize their opponents at the Stadium of Light, with a shutout always bringing victory within closer reach.
What Defensive Milestones Can Arsenal Still Achieve This Campaign?
Victories notwithstanding, Mikel Arteta's team still has considerable ground to cover before surpassing the consecutive shutout record in the Premier League alone. Manchester United holds this distinction after achieving 14 straight clean sheets in league play during their 2008–09 title-winning season. Arsenal currently maintains a four-match streak.
Liverpool possesses the record for most consecutive clean sheets by an English club across all tournaments, with Arsenal approaching their 11-match run under Rafa Benítez in 2005.
The Gunners have allowed three goals in their 10 Premier League fixtures thus far, positioning them to potentially establish the record for fewest conceded in a season. Chelsea permitted only 15 goals throughout the 2004–05 campaign, surpassing a previous mark of 17 goals held by Arsenal during 1998–99.
Former Arsenal shot-stopper Petr Čech currently holds the record for most shutouts in a single Premier League season, achieving 24 as part of Chelsea's defensive excellence in 2004–05. David Raya, who presently has seven in 2025–26, can surpass the legendary keeper, and might secure his third Golden Glove award—which would place him one behind record holders Čech and Joe Hart.