The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast Have Arsenal built the Premier League’s best ever defence?
20 snips
Nov 20, 2025 
Liam Tharme, a tactical analyst, dives into Arsenal's impressive defensive stats and player attributes. Duncan Alexander, a football data expert, shares insights on historical trends and the challenge of matching Chelsea's record-breaking defense from 2004-05. Michael Cox, a tactics writer, discusses the importance of goal difference and balance between defense and attack. The trio debates if strong defenses win titles and reflects on how modern teams must score consistently while managing tactical intricacies. A thought-provoking discussion on the evolution of football strategy!
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Cech's Outlier Season Boosted Chelsea
- Chelsea's 2004-05 defensive record looked exceptional partly because Petr Čech overperformed as a goalkeeper that season.
- Duncan Alexander calls it an outlier despite Chelsea conceding only 15 goals overall.
Context Makes Arsenal's Defence Stand Out
- Arsenal's 2023-24 season underperformed league scoring norms yet conceded just 0.76 goals per game.
- Duncan argues that relative to a 3.3 goals-per-game era, that defensive rate is as impressive as Chelsea's 2004-05.
Underlyings Show Defensive Sustainability
- Arsenal allow the fewest touches in their box and the lowest expected goals against across Europe's big five leagues.
- Liam Tharme says those underlying metrics point to defensive sustainability.