The Arsenal goal stat which has been crucial in the Premier League title race
Optimism has been rife on the red half of north London since pre-season, but very few projected Arsenal to be in their current position with 11 games to go in the 2022/23 Premier League campaign.
Liverpool and Chelsea's unexpected demise combined with Erling Haaland's arrival convinced many that it'd be a procession for Man City on their way to a third consecutive league title. However, Mikel Arteta's Gunners have upset to odds to not only emerge as the Citizens' primary rival, but force Pep Guardiola into an unfamiliar state of chasing.
An array of factors have coalesced to facilitate a staggering improvement this season, with Arsenal currently five points clear at the summit. Some suspected they'd collapse after their February wobble, but they've since rattled off five straight domestic victories to reassert their supremacy at the summit.
The Gunners have recruited superbly, trusted an excellent young coach, and are harbouring a culture at the Emirates which allows them to battle back from adversity and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Their ability to score goals at critical times has proved pivotal in their 2022/23 success.
Arsenal goal stats which have been crucial in Premier League title race
Goals scored between minutes 46-60
Goalscoring rank | Team | Goals scored during interval | Goals conceded during interval | Interval goal difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Arsenal | 14 | 6 | 8 |
2. | Man City | 13 | 3 | 10 |
3. | Brighton & Hove Albion | 9 | 6 | 3 |
4. | Tottenham | 9 | 8 | 1 |
Only City (67) have scored more goals than Arsenal this season, but the Gunners' ability to net at crucial times in the second half is a major factor why they currently lead the title race by five points.
Arteta's side are able to overwhelm opponents through their intensity without possession and their fluidity with it, and we see the Spaniard's system function at its best at the start of both halves. Arsenal have scored the most goals in the opening 30 minutes of Premier League matches this season, as well as the most in the opening 15 minutes of the second half.
The Gunners have scored 14 goals during this interval which is one better than City. However, the Citizens' goal difference is superior as they've only conceded three goals, while Arsenal have let in six.
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Goals scored after the 76th minute
Goalscoring rank | Team | Goals scored during interval | Goals conceded during interval | Interval goal difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Man Utd | 11 | 7 | 4 |
2. | Arsenal | 10 | 2 | 8 |
3. | Liverpool | 10 | 5 | 5 |
4. | Brentford | 10 | 6 | 4 |
5. | Fulham | 10 | 9 | 1 |
6. | Brighton & Hove Albion | 9 | 3 | 6 |
7. | Tottenham | 9 | 7 | 2 |
While fast starts have been important in Arsenal setting the tone and getting ahead in contests, the Gunners have occasionally found themselves needing a goal in the final 15 minutes of a game to secure a deserved victory.
Their never-say-die attitude has manifested time and time again in 2023, and it's no surprise they boast the best goal difference in the Premier League this term from the 76th minute onwards. They've only conceded twice in the closing stages and have scored ten goals of their own. While Man Utd have scored one more during this interval, they've also conceded seven.
Arsenal's penchant for scoring late goals was crucial in their momentum restoration in the wake of the defeat to City in February. During their current five-game winning run, the Gunners have scored four goals beyond the 76th-minute mark, two of which - against Aston Villa and Bournemouth - were decisive in Arsenal securing three points.
The Premier League leaders also scored pivotal winners in the final 15 minutes against Fulham, Liverpool and Man Utd earlier in the season.
On the contrary, Man City boast a negative goal difference in the final period of matches. They've scored seven but conceded eight, and this has been the crucial difference between the league's current top two.