By Martin Graham
No club has previously secured the Premier League crown without at least one player finishing inside the top 10 of the scoring chart. Arsenal, however, may be attempting to rewrite that history during a campaign that has already exceeded expectations in several competitions.
Mikel Arteta’s team has lost only twice across all tournaments, holds a perfect record in the Champions League, and sits six points clear at the summit of the domestic table. They are also through to the Carabao Cup semi-finals and the FA Cup fourth round, underlining the consistency of their season so far.
What makes those achievements stand out even more is the absence of a dominant goal-getter. Despite accumulating 40 league goals — a tally only bettered by Manchester City — Arsenal has not depended on one individual to provide the bulk of their attacking output.
Erling Haaland has already reached 20 league strikes, while Arsenal’s leading scorers, Leandro Trossard and Viktor Gyokeres, have registered just five apiece, placing them well outside the league’s elite scoring positions.
A costly striker yet to find form
Gyokeres arrived last summer in a £64m deal after an exceptional spell in Portugal, where he scored prolifically for Sporting. That efficiency has not carried over, with the Sweden international struggling to reproduce anything close to those numbers.
The 27-year-old’s recent displays have raised concerns, particularly during the draw with Liverpool, where he barely influenced proceedings, recording limited involvement and no attempts on goal. His return from open play has also dried up, with just one such goal in his last 15 appearances.
Even so, Arsenal’s overall results have not suffered significantly. The team has been beaten only once in matches that Gyokeres has started, highlighting how collective performance has compensated for his lack of sharpness.
If Arsenal does go on to secure the title, it would end a wait stretching back to 2004 and deliver their first major trophy since Arteta’s FA Cup triumph in 2020.
New options and familiar faces returning
Arteta’s attacking choices have recently expanded with the comeback of Kai Havertz. The Germany international returned from a long spell on the sidelines, caused by serious hamstring and knee problems, during the FA Cup victory at Portsmouth.
The Arsenal manager spoke warmly about Havertz’s movement and intelligence, stressing how much the side had missed those qualities. His comments suggested that Havertz could quickly reestablish himself as a central figure once his fitness is carefully managed.
Gabriel Jesus has also rejoined the squad after recovering from an ACL injury, offering further depth up front. With three forwards now available, Arteta is no longer reliant on a single option in attack.
This variety could be crucial as Arsenal approaches the decisive months of the campaign.
History suggests goals can be shared
The lowest scoring total from a league winner belongs to Frank Lampard, who netted 13 when Chelsea won the title in 2004-05, a figure later matched by Ilkay Gundogan during Manchester City’s 2020-21 success.
Arteta has stated that his ideal scenario involves goals being distributed across the squad, while still hoping his forwards can reach significant tallies. So far, Arsenal have had 13 different players score in the league, a number surpassed only by Brighton.
Defensive strength has also been a major factor. Arsenal have conceded just 14 times in 21 matches, even while dealing with injuries to key defenders, mirroring the resilience shown by Chelsea during their famously stingy title-winning season.
Set pieces have provided another vital source of goals, with Arsenal leading the league from corners across all competitions. That threat reduces the reliance on a single striker and reinforces their status as the most complete side in the division.
With 17 league fixtures remaining and a healthy cushion at the top, Arsenal appear well placed to finally turn sustained consistency into championship glory — even without a traditional scoring talisman.
