Sunday’s clash at the Emirates Stadium pits the Premier League’s meanest defence against its most explosive attack. Arsenal have yet to concede a goal this season, continuing exactly where they left off in May, while Chelsea have raced out of the blocks with seven goals in their opening two matches. Here’s a closer look at the numbers behind Arsenal’s defensive excellence, the instant impact Morgan Rogers has made at Chelsea, and the rest of this week’s must-know Premier League storylines.
Just How Good Is Arsenal’s Defence Right Now?
Arsenal are not the only side with back-to-back clean sheets to their name this season Hull have matched that feat too. The difference is in how those clean sheets have been earned. While Hull have relied on a string of big saves from goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis, Arsenal’s David Raya has barely been tested, with a header from Jack Rudoni his only shot on target faced so far.
The underlying numbers back up the eye test. Since the start of last season, Arsenal have allowed fewer than 0.50 expected goals in 20 of their 40 Premier League matches a run that includes both of their opening fixtures this season. No other club comes close to matching that consistency: Liverpool are next on the list with eight such matches, last season’s runners-up Manchester City have managed it only twice, and Chelsea have done so on just four occasions. Whatever frustration Arsenal supporters feel about the club’s lack of attacking reinforcements this summer, the numbers make clear just how far ahead of the rest of the league Arsenal remain out of possession.
It also speaks to the strength of the collective structure that the absences of William Saliba and Jurrien Timber have barely registered so far. Arsenal have added cover Ezri Konsa has featured for just 11 minutes so far, with Cristhian Mosquera deputising well alongside Gabriel and Ben White filling in at right-back while new signing Bruno Guimaraes adds further steel in midfield, even though he too has been eased in gradually. The real foundation of Arsenal’s defensive record, though, lies in Mikel Arteta’s tactical setup: remarkably, the back four of White, Mosquera, Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori had never started a Premier League match together before this season’s opening two games. That solidity offers real encouragement for Arsenal’s title defence, even as they prepare to face their toughest test yet against a free-scoring Chelsea side.
Morgan Rogers Making an Instant Impact at Chelsea
Chelsea’s visit will give Arsenal supporters a first-hand look at exactly what they missed out on. Before failed pursuits of Vinicius Junior and Julian Alvarez, Arsenal had also tried and failed to sign Morgan Rogers, who instead chose to join Chelsea. Watching him operate from close range during Chelsea’s 4-3 win over Brighton was a reminder of the power and incisiveness that made him such a coveted target.
Playing on the left precisely the area where Arsenal appear light following their unsuccessful summer pursuits Rogers drove past two Brighton defenders to set up Chelsea’s second goal, before producing a clever turn and through-ball to launch the counter-attack that led to their third. Similar moments stood out in Chelsea’s opening-day win over Fulham too. Plenty of observers felt Chelsea had overpaid at £117million for Rogers, but his start to the season suggests he is determined to prove that assessment wrong he already has a goal and an assist, and only Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes has produced a higher combined total of shots and chances created across the opening two rounds of fixtures. Fellow Chelsea forwards Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro rank just behind him on that list, and with a tougher test now awaiting against Arsenal, Rogers may well feel extra motivation given his history with the north London club.
Hull’s Unsung Hero: John Egan Doing the Dirty Work
Hull’s own defensive resurgence owes plenty to goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis, who has kept out shots worth a combined expected-goals value of 1.92 the best underlying numbers of any goalkeeper in the league’s opening two rounds. But centre-back John Egan deserves real credit too. The 33-year-old, formerly of Sheffield United, might reasonably have thought his Premier League days were behind him before Hull’s surprise promotion, yet he was among six Hull players to sign new and improved contracts this week, and his performances on the pitch back up that faith.
Egan made a remarkable 17 clearances in Hull’s opening-weekend win over Manchester United, following that up with another 10 against Coventry an average of 13 per match that comfortably leads the entire division. It isn’t the most eye-catching statistic in the league, but it has been highly effective, and Hull will need more of the same when they host Aston Villa this weekend.
Player to Watch: Everton’s One-Man Strike Force
Spare a thought for Everton’s Thierno Barry as he leads the line alone against Manchester United this weekend. Between the sale of Beto and failed moves for alternative striker options, Everton enter the game with Barry as their only recognised out-and-out forward a tough ask after a difficult transfer window for the Toffees up front.
This Weekend’s Premier League Fixtures on Sky Sports
Four Premier League matches are being shown live this weekend. The action gets underway with Ipswich hosting Liverpool on Friday night, before Hull welcome Aston Villa in Saturday’s evening kick-off. Sunday brings a double-header, starting with Everton against Manchester United at 2pm, followed by the standout clash of the weekend as Arsenal host Chelsea at 4:30pm.
Frequently Asked Questions: Arsenal’s Defence and This Weekend’s Premier League Action
Has Arsenal conceded a goal this season?
No. Arsenal have started the new Premier League season with back-to-back clean sheets, continuing their strong defensive form from the end of last season.
How has Morgan Rogers performed since joining Chelsea?
Rogers has made an immediate impact, contributing a goal and an assist in his first two matches and ranking second in the league for combined shots and chances created behind only Bruno Fernandes.
Why is John Egan important for Hull City?
The 33-year-old centre-back leads the Premier League in clearances, averaging 13 per game, and has been central to Hull matching Arsenal’s record of back-to-back clean sheets to open the season.
When do Arsenal play Chelsea?
Arsenal host Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, with kick-off at 4:30pm, live on Sky Sports.
Final Word
Arsenal’s defensive numbers make for remarkable reading, and their ability to absorb the loss of key defenders without missing a beat says as much about Mikel Arteta’s tactical foundations as it does about individual quality. But an in-form Morgan Rogers arriving at the Emirates represents by far their sternest challenge yet and offers a timely reminder of exactly what Arsenal missed out on this summer.
