1 day ago
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Home defeat to Man Utd
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Arsenal's season, in which they are still fighting on all four fronts, has been built around defensive solidity. However, things unravelled at the Emirates on Sunday, as the Gunners were beaten 3-2 at home by Manchester United after a dismal second half display. Mikel Arteta's team were unable to take the chance to regain their seven point advantage at the top of the Premier League, and are now just four points ahead of Manchester City and Aston Villa. The nerves were already showing in North London. Not only did Arsenal lose ground in the title race, but a record run that they had set came to an end.
It had been 121 games since Arsenal last conceded three goals or more in a match. The last team to score three times against Arteta's side? Luton Town, now of League One, in a 4-3 Arsenal victory at Kenilworth Road in December 2023. The Gunners hold the record as the Premier League team that have gone on the longest ever run without conceding three or more goals in history, but their run is now over. Let's take a look at the top 10 streaks and see if Arteta's team's streak will be beaten anytime soon.
The longest runs without conceding 3+ goals
As mentioned, Arsenal lead with 121 games. The team who were previously leading the way may come as a shock. Manchester United went 107 games in all competitions without conceding three or more goals, but not under the serial winning team of Sir Alex Ferguson. It was actually under José Mourinho's stewardship, as the Red Devils didn't concede three goals across a two year stint from October 2016 after a 4-0 defeat to Chelsea, and August 2018 when Brighton put three past them in a 3-2 Seagulls win on the South-coast.
Man United feature twice more in the top 10 streaks, going 76 games without conceding three or more goals between 2007-08 and 57 matches between 2006-07 - both under Ferguson. Manchester City make the top 10 twice under Pep Guardiola - a 68 game-run between 2022-23 and a 54 match-streak between 2020 and 2021. Chelsea crop up three times in the top 10 - twice under Mourinho (63 games between 2007-08 and 55 games between 2004-05), and once back in the late 1990s (65 games between 1998-99). Arsenal complete the top 10, going on a 54 match-run in their invincible season between 2003-04.
