Arsenal moved back to the summit on 25 April 2026 with a disciplined win that put Premier League Clean Sheets at the heart of their title bid. The Gunners halted a wobble since mid-March and gave themselves a rare head start on Manchester City.
Expected Goals of 0.64 showed few open chances, yet rehearsed set-pieces and a compact shape turned narrow margins into three points. A home test against Fulham arrives two days before City’s next fixture, offering a chance to stretch the table gap and firm up defensive records.
Arsenal
Arsenal have steadied after two league setbacks by leaning on delivery from dead balls and a disciplined mid-block. They sit top, winning again, and the schedule gifts them an early chance to build space at the top. Over three seasons they have posted 17 goals from corners in a single Premier League campaign, a competition high, and put their side 1-0 up 13 times from corner kicks. That set-piece punch steadies nights when open-play xG is thin and traffic in the box is heavy.
Key details
The Gunners have reached their highest single-season corner-goal tally in league history, converting 17 set-pieces into goals while using corners to go 1-0 up on 13 occasions. Earlier in this run only four of their last 19 league goals, excluding penalties, were set-piece born, or 21 per cent, down from 39 per cent at the start of the season (17 of 44). When progressive play is blunt, Arsenal lean on rehearsed routines and near-post schemes to unlock low-xG games.
Arsenal shape a compact block that limits central access and pushes rivals wide, where chance quality often falls. Clean sheets have become a repeatable habit, and the front office brass will bank on that discipline across a congested closing run. Salary cap pressure and rotation risks will be tested, yet the corner conversion trend offers a lever when open-play creation dips.
What is next
City still have a game in hand, but Arsenal hold a fixture edge for now. The Emirates crowd can push the side on, and the mid-block is tuned to frustrate teams that like to press hard. Based on available data, sustaining clean-sheet frequency while sharpening set-piece threat could decide the 2026 title race.
Arsenal will aim to turn tight games into wins without letting leads slip. Their ability to keep Premier League Clean Sheets while striking from dead balls has reshaped the May run and given them a rare chance to hold off a deep and talented City side.
Which team holds the Premier League record for most goals from corners in a single season?
Arsenal hold the Premier League record for most goals from corners in a single season with 17, topping prior set-piece conversion marks.
What percentage of Arsenal’s last 19 league goals, excluding penalties, came from set-pieces?
Only four of Arsenal’s last 19 league goals, excluding penalties, were scored via set-pieces, which equals 21 per cent.
How did Arsenal’s Expected Goals (xG) in this match rank at the Emirates this season?
Arsenal’s Expected Goals (xG) of 0.64 in this match was their second-lowest in a league game at the Emirates this season.