Arsenal's Defensive Wall: Can They Match Chelsea's Legendary 2004-05 Record?

Arsenal's position as potentially the top contenders for the 2025–26 Premier League championship is founded on their defensive solidity.

Mikel Arteta has constructed a defensive structure so formidable that opposing teams find it extremely difficult to find the net against them, while goalkeeper David Raya barely faces shots on goal behind the central defensive pairing of William Saliba and Gabriel.

Jurriën Timber's development into a world-class right-back, combined with the abundance of choices at inverted left-back positions, has made confronting Arsenal a daunting challenge, and their defensive prowess is so remarkable that they might be eyeing Chelsea's legendary defensive achievement from 2004–05.

Under José Mourinho's guidance, Chelsea established the most impenetrable defence in Premier League history by allowing only 15 goals throughout 38 matches while claiming the championship.

John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho established one of the competition's greatest defensive partnerships, typically supported by Paulo Ferreira on the right flank and future Arsenal player William Gallas on the left, protecting goalkeeper Petr Čech as Chelsea dominated the entire league.

Mourinho's squad suffered only one defeat in 38 matches to secure their inaugural Premier League title, and Arteta now aims to mirror that achievement with his own formidable defensive setup.

In October 2024, Terry posted on Instagram declaring that Chelsea's record would remain unbroken.

"I recently received this compilation of the 15 goals we allowed in 2004–05, and I can't help feeling frustrated yet extremely proud to have been part of such an exceptional team," he stated. "Reviewing those matches and goals mentally, thinking this could have been 10 or fewer.

"Records exist to be surpassed, but I doubt 15 goals conceded in the Premier League will ever be exceeded."

How Arsenal Stack Up Against Chelsea's Defensive Achievement