Arsenal has kicked off the second half of the Premier League Season on a high, winning all Six Premier League games thus far in 2024. The Gunners have registered 25 goals this year and have only conceded 3 a testament to how impressive the Mikel Arteta-led side has been since the start of the year.
The Gunners currently sit third in the league, 2 points off league leaders Liverpool while being a single point behind defending champions Manchester City.
Arsenal will be looking to continue their charge towards winning the league title this season after seeing themselves fall short to Manchester City, last season. Mikel Arteta’s team exhibited a commanding presence in the Premier League last season, maintaining a leading position for 248 days until their defeat to Manchester City in the latter stages of the campaign.
Arsenal’s Current winning streak is an indication of the North London club hitting its stride at a very crucial stage this season. In contrast to last season in which the Gunners suffered several draws including dropping points from winning positions against West Ham and Liverpool, leading to the Gunners missing out on the prestigious silverware, this season the Gunners are demonstrating their ability to sustain momentum and perform under pressure, a clear example being their 3-1 win at the Emirates against a Liverpool side that had lost only one league game before the Arsenal Clash.
Arsenal’s defensive brilliance has been on full display in their last six matches, as they haven’t allowed any opponent to generate more than 0.5 expected goals (xG) in a single match. Impressively, their opponents have only managed a total xG of 1.96 across those games, the Gunners have also begun to hit their strides in chances creation as they have totaled 18.75 expected goals in 6 league games, scoring 25 goals combined in those games, this being a clear contrast and a different style compared to earlier in the season.
Arsenal’s recent success can also be credited in part to their brilliance in set-piece situations. Since the beginning of the year, they’ve capitalized on set pieces to net 8 goals, significantly boosting their overall goal tally. This proficiency has played a crucial role in Arsenal boasting the highest goal difference in the league, standing at 39 as of Gameweek 26.
Mikel Arteta will receive a significant boost with the return of key players from injury for Arsenal. Long-term absentees like Thomas Partey, Fabio Vieira, and Emile Smith Rowe are set to make their comeback. Additionally, with players like Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka rediscovering their form from the previous season with the 22-year-old scoring more Premier League goals than any other player in 2024 (7 goals in 6Premier League games), Arsenal will pose a formidable threat. The return of these players to full fitness, coupled with the resurgence of their star performers in front of goal, enhances Arsenal’s prospects of maintaining their impressive performance over the long term.
Mikel Arteta will also have his eyes on the UEFA Champions League and a lack of focus could be detrimental to the Gunners’ chances of winning the league, the Gunners lost the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 clash to Porto, and they could potentially face the challenge of managing the demands of European competitions alongside tough domestic fixtures including away matches against Manchester City, Tottenham, and Manchester United. However, a winning streak will surely boost the team’s morale and confidence, the Gunners could hold the psychological advantage that’ll be crucial in these high-stakes games.
With the business end of the season approaching, Arsenal’s peak form positions them well for a strong finish in the league standings, and these wins coupled with the tactical brilliance of Mikel Arteta, the Gunners might just be Peaking at the right time.
