Ahead of the 2024–25 season, Mikel Arteta set some lofty ambitions for his Arsenal side. “We want to improve in everything,” he declared. “Attacking metrics, defensive metrics, restarts, set piece.”
Arsenal suffered a decline in almost every metric. Scoring fewer goals while conceding more, the Gunners were 15 points adrift of the tally they had set in the campaign prior. Arteta’s side did, however, manage to match their second-place league position—a level of objectively impressive consistency which opposition fans have nevertheless taken great pleasure in mocking.
