Arsenal’s Premier League dominance: Why Mikel Arteta’s frighteningly effective side will be hard to stop
Arsenal’s rise to the summit of English football has been gradual, deliberate, and frighteningly effective.
Now, after years of near misses and rebuilding under Mikel Arteta, the Gunners have finally developed into a team capable of dominating every facet of the Premier League.
With a defensive record that borders on perfection and tactical intelligence that adapts to every opponent, Arsenal look better equipped than ever to claim their first league title in over two decades.
What makes this Arsenal side truly formidable, though, is not their attacking flair or their ability to control possession, but their evolution into one of the most complete teams in Europe.
The Gunners are now finding ways to win against every style they face, especially against teams that deploy the dreaded low block.
For years, this has been Arsenal’s Achilles heel – dominating the ball but failing to break down deep defences.
This season, however, that problem has been methodically dismantled through smart use of set pieces, clever positional play, and relentless discipline.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Ben Phillips explores what makes Arsenal the favourites for the Premier League title this season.
The set piece revolution
One of the most striking developments in Arsenal’s recent dominance has been their use of set pieces.
Under the guidance of set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, Arsenal have transformed dead-ball situations into one of their most reliable attacking weapons.
Whereas previous Arsenal teams struggled to score from corners or free kicks, this side thrives on them.
The Gunners have quite simply become masters of variation.
Sometimes they crowd the six-yard box, forcing confusion between defenders and goalkeepers.
At other times, they employ short routines that draw opponents out of position before delivering the final ball into the most dangerous area.
Players like Gabriel and William Saliba have become major aerial threats, while Declan Rice’s precision delivery adds consistent quality to every dead ball.
This focus on set pieces has made Arsenal far more unpredictable against low-block sides.
When teams sit deep and reduce space in open play, Arteta’s team can now hurt them from restarts.
Corners have become almost like penalties for Arsenal, given how often they lead to dangerous chances or rebounds.
It has turned a former weakness into a decisive strength and forced opponents to think twice about simply parking the bus.
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Breaking down the low block
Beyond set pieces, Arsenal’s positional play has also evolved.
In the past, Arteta’s side often relied too heavily on intricate passing moves through the middle. Now there is far greater variation in their attacking patterns.
The use of inverted full-backs allows Arsenal to overload central areas, but they also stretch the pitch wide through players like Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, creating two-on-one situations that wear down defences over time.
Declan Rice has been the transformative presence that ties it all together.
His ability to win the ball high up the pitch, recycle possession, and time late runs into the box has given Arsenal an extra layer of control.
Teams that drop deep against Arsenal are now faced with the constant threat of Rice or Martin Ødegaard arriving late, while Viktor Gyökeres has begun to find his rhythm as a mobile link between midfield and attack.
This mix of width, central penetration, and set-piece danger means there are no easy answers for opponents anymore – Arsenal can grind out 1-0 wins or blow teams away with fluid attacking football.
They have learned to suffer and to adapt, which is a trait that defines champions.
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The defensive wall
If Arsenal’s attack has evolved, their defence has reached elite status.
The numbers are staggering. Across their first 13 games in all competitions this season, they have conceded just three goals.
That is not only the best record in England but one of the best in Europe.
At the heart of this defensive solidity are Gabriel and Saliba, who have formed arguably the strongest centre-back pairing in the Premier League.
Saliba’s reading of the game is world-class, while Gabriel provides power and aggression. Together, they form a partnership that perfectly balances composure and physicality.
Behind them, David Raya has brought calmness and authority to the goalkeeping position, offering excellent distribution and command of his box.
But Arsenal’s defensive success is not just about individuals – Arteta’s structure ensures every player contributes.
The pressing from the front is relentless, with Saka and Martinelli tracking back intelligently and Gyökeres and Ødegaard closing passing lanes from the front.
Martin Zubimendi, meanwhile, shields the back four superbly, rarely allowing opponents to counterattack with any rhythm.
This defensive foundation gives Arsenal the freedom to dominate games as they can afford to commit numbers forward knowing they are protected behind the ball.
Opponents find themselves suffocated, unable to progress beyond midfield and forced into mistakes. It is the kind of defensive dominance that wins titles.
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Rivals in decline
While Arsenal have reached new heights, their biggest rivals appear to be weakening.
Manchester City remain a formidable force, but the aura of invincibility that carried them to treble success has long since faded.
The departure of key players like Ilkay Gündogan and Kevin De Bruyne has damaged the balance.
Even Erling Haaland, who has an unbelievable 11 goals in 9 games this season, can’t carry the rest to results.
Pep Guardiola’s side are still capable of brilliance, of course, but their usual fluency has dipped.
They have already dropped points in games they would have cruised through two seasons ago and defensively, they have looked vulnerable when pressing high.
Elsewhere, Liverpool are in transition.
After winning the league and spending upwards of £400 million in the summer, Arne Slot’s team looks unorganised.
Whilst most tipped them to sail to another Premier League title this year, their new additions of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz are yet to settle, causing an imbalance that hasn’t been present in a Liverpool side for a long time.
Key players like Mohamed Salah and Virgil Van Dijk are nowhere near their best, and pundits like Jamie Carragher are already calling it “crisis” time for Slot and the Reds.
In contrast, Arsenal look settled, stable, and hungry.
Their core is young and improving, their tactical identity is clear, and their squad depth is stronger than at any other point under Arteta.
Indeed, players like Leandro Trossard, Eberechi Eze, and Noni Madueke can slot in seamlessly, ensuring that rotation does not disrupt rhythm.
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Arteta’s masterplan
Perhaps the biggest reason Arsenal look so hard to stop is Mikel Arteta himself.
His meticulous preparation, his ability to innovate tactically, and his relentless standards have built a culture of excellence.
He has learned from the heartbreak of the last few seasons, when late collapses have cost Arsenal the title, and has fine-tuned the mentality of his squad.
This version of Arsenal does not panic when games are tight.
They control tempo, they defend leads with maturity, and they grind through tough fixtures without losing composure.
There is a steeliness about them now that mirrors the great Arsenal teams of old.
Arteta’s influence is moreover visible in every detail, from the structured pressing patterns to the set-piece routines to the body language of his players.
The connection between the manager and the squad is total, and that unity is what makes them so formidable.
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The road ahead
There will still be challenges. Injuries, suspensions, and the congested fixture list could test Arsenal’s depth.
Yet, the signs are there that this team has learned to manage adversity.
The blend of youth and experience gives them balance and their ability to win in different ways makes them resilient to setbacks.
With City showing cracks and Liverpool still finding consistency, Arsenal have a genuine opportunity to seize control of the title race early.
Their defence looks impenetrable, their attack increasingly efficient, and their mentality sharper than ever.
Arsenal are no longer the plucky challengers of last season.
They are the standard-setters of the Premier League – tactically advanced, defensively unmatched, and emotionally united.
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