Gary Neville has sung the praises of Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal team, noting how he could come close to breaking a record this year.
The former Manchester United defender has been impressed by how Arteta has gone about his business in the 2024/25 campaign - sitting pretty in fourth place in the Premier League with three wins and two draws. Arsenal have conceded just three goals in their first five games - one to Brighton in August and the other two at the weekend to reigning champions Manchester City.
The only team to have conceded fewer than Arsenal in the league are Liverpool - their only clean sheet was stripped by Nottingham Forest in a shock 1-0 loss at Anfield earlier this month. With a star-studded defence made up of the likes of Ben White, Gabriel, William Saliba and Jurrien Timber - as well as a hard-hitting Declan Rice and Thomas Partey, sitting just in front - it looks likely that Arsenal are more than capable of preventing goals this season.
And some have questioned whether Arsenal could even go on to set a new record for the least goals conceded in a Premier League campaign. During an interview with Lewis Goodhall and the Sports Agents, Neville was asked: "Comparisons drawn between that famous Chelsea team under Mourinho, who conceded just 15 goals. This Arsenal team, good enough to break that record?"
Neville responded: "Oh I don't know about that. That's a pretty amazing record. Top only concede 15 goals in 38 matches is incredible. I still can't believe to this day that they actually did it. They'll get close I think, but I don't think they'll quite break that record."
Jose Mourinho's Chelsea set the record for the fewest goals conceded in a single Premier League season back in 2004/05 - with just 15 against them across 38 games. The Blues lifted the Premier League trophy that year with a whopping 95 points and with a goal difference of 57 - thanks largely to Frank Lampard's 13 contributions from midfield, and Eidur Gudjohnsen and Didier Drogba netting 12 and 10 respectively from up top.
And their defence was incredibly tidy too - legendary goalkeeper Petr Cech enjoying 24 clean sheets, many thanks to the likes of John Terry, William Gallas, Ricardo Carvalho, Robert Huth, Wayne Bridge and Glen Johnson. Meanwhile, the big-tackling Claude Makelele provided an extra layer of defence in midfield.
Arsenal conceded the fewest goals in the Premier League across the 2023/24 campaign, with just 29 goals against them for the entire season - arguably helping them to their second-consecutive second-place finish behind Manchester City. And should Arteta manage to prevent even more this year, the Gunners will be in good stead to lift their first top flight trophy in 21 years.
Firedragon147
1
Arsenal parked the bus because they were 10 man ,if the match finished 11vs 11Man City would have lost the game,because First half they were playing well
We played 10v14 and they cry about time wasting while the only reason it came to that is because they gave us a red and equalizer after injury time
ColinsGooner
4
Arsenal parked the bus because they were 10 man ,if the match finished 11vs 11Man City would have lost the game,because First half they were playing well
YakubuAutaSaad
2
That 2004/2005 season was the the making of Chelsea FC after 50 years and since then they have sat on the helm of affairs of top EPL teams. It's just so sad that Abramovitch was scammed out of Chelsea's ownership.
infinity70
0
When Mourinho was doing at Chelsea Wenger and Arsenal supporters were complaining too much. But now nobody is complaining since it's Arteta doing it
You will be blessed with your comment. If it's Mou, another story
truthisbitter
2
Nobody likes parking bus!!! even those that praised it,let arsenal continue like that and see fans revolt, parking bus is anti-football no matter people want city's fall!
zuuaciosuz
4
When Mourinho was doing at Chelsea Wenger and Arsenal supporters were complaining too much. But now nobody is complaining since it's Arteta doing it
akiamo
0
Delusional indeed!
lisclty
1
In many sports, there are great attacking play or great defensive play. You would find them from chess, table tennis, badminton, hockey and many more. Why defensive football is not something to be embraced? We should give equal respect to such defensive ability. I believe Arteta has won many respect besides Gary after the trailing weekend encounter.
Heikal_Mahsir
1
delusional Gary.