Arteta explains what's really changed for Arsenal this season
Five wins from six in the Premier League, 21 goals scored in all competitions, and all but one of those from open play. Those are the numbers behind what has been a striking start to the season for Arsenal, and Mikel Arteta has now shed some light on exactly what has shifted behind the scenes.
Speaking to Roman Kemp in an interview for Sky Sports, Arteta discussed the factors behind the improvement in Arsenal's attacking output this term. The statistics themselves tell a clear story: a side that was often criticised in recent seasons for relying on set pieces or struggling for fluency in the final third is now scoring goals from open play with far greater regularity.
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A different look in attack
Scoring 21 goals across all competitions with only one coming from the penalty spot points to a team creating and converting chances through sustained attacking play rather than leaning on moments of individual brilliance or dead ball situations. That has been a notable talking point around the club so far this season, and it formed the basis of Kemp's conversation with the Arsenal boss.
Arteta has never been short of ideas when it comes to explaining his methods, and the interview, published by Sky Sports, gave him the platform to detail the specific adjustments that have contributed to Arsenal's form.
Building on last season
Arsenal go into the current campaign aiming to build on previous near misses in the Premier League title race, and a return of five wins from the opening six league matches represents one of the stronger starts under Arteta's tenure. The open play goal tally in particular suggests a squad that has sharpened its attacking patterns and movement in the final third.
The timing of the interview also follows a productive run in the Champions League, with Arsenal having impressed against Lille, and comes amid broader conversation around the squad, including Arteta's recent comments on including William Saliba in a new team photo.
With the season still in its early months, the challenge for Arteta and his players will be maintaining this level of attacking output as fixtures intensify across multiple competitions. The underlying numbers, for now, suggest a team that has found a more varied and reliable way of finding the net.
