For the past four seasons the team with the best or joint-best defensive record have won the Premier League. This season Arsenal have conceded the fewest goals, and scored the most, and are top with seven games to play. There has been a renewed focus on defence under Mikel Arteta and it could pay dividends in silverware.
I spoke to Bukayo Saka after Arsenal beat Brighton last weekend and he alluded to the fact the team stay in games and possess a clean-sheet mentality. That was summed up by Gabriel Magalhaes's celebration of a blocked shot. Since the turn of the year their Opta xG against, across 11 matches, has been 4.98, while second best are Manchester City with 12.28 in 12 matches, showing Arsenal are not giving up chances.
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