Tuesday, September 8, 2026
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Arsenal Defence: How Can Opposition Teams Get Past the Gunners’ Strong Defence?

Subhadeep Roy · · 3 min read

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Arsenal Defence: How Can Opposition Teams Get Past the Gunners’ Strong Defence?
06 September 2026 – Arsenal v Chelsea – Premier League – The Emirates – London. Arsenal v Chelsea – Premier League – The Emirates – London. Arsenal s Ezri Konsa in action. Picture : Mark Pain Alamy Live News LONDON England Copyright: xMarkxPainx

The Arsenal defence is once again proving to be the best in Premier League at the start of the season. The Gunners have won three consecutive matches in the Premier League at the beginning of the season.

The Arsenal defence has let in a solitary goal in their three matches so far. Even without the injured William Saliba, the Arsenal defence is showing no signs of vulnerability. However, can it be breached in the upcoming matches?

Arsenal Defence: What Makes it Impregnable?

The Arsenal defence is marshalled by Gabriel and Ezri Konsa at the moment, both of whom are strong, physical players, and Cristhian Mosquera is their back-up. Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori are solid defenders as well.

The Gunners also have the physicality of Declan Rice in the midfield and can call upon the services of Martin Zubimendi from the bench, who is one of the best defensive midfielders in the league. Not to mention that David Raya has been top-class in goal.

When the Gunners are defending a lead, they implement the low block almost perfectly. They crowd the penalty box with five or six players, who are very close to each other.

Therefore, it is up to the opposition team to stretch the Arsenal defence wide. Unless they manage to disperse the Arsenal defence, it will be an almost impossible job for them to score goals.

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Newcastle United v Strasbourg – Pre-Season Friendly Matthias Jaissle, Manager of Newcastle United, is pictured during the Pre-season Friendly match between Newcastle United and RC Strasbourg Alsace at St, on August 16, 2026. James s Park in Newcastle, United Kingdom, on August 16, 2026. Newcastle Tyne and Wear United Kingdom Copyright: xMIxNewsx originalFilename:fletcher-newcastl260816_npN4E.jpg

How Can a Team Disrupt the Cohesion in Arsenal Defence?

The centre-forward of the team will play a crucial role in that regard. It is up to him to move to the sides and take at least a defender alongside him. Even if the defenders decide to mark the zone or the space inside the box instead of the striker himself, his sideways movement will force one of them to move with him.

That will give the defenders more space to mark, and if one of the midfielders moves forward into the space, it will disrupt the preparation of the Arsenal defence.

Another option for the opposition team will be to switch flanks very quickly. If they manage to create overloads on either flank within a quick passage of time, it will force the defence to adjust their positions quickly. They will have to shift their position to get to either side to defend against the overload on the flanks.

They might then not be able to reorganise themselves quickly enough when the ball is played to the centre of the pitch again. One of the wingers cutting inside from the flank will also disrupt the organisation of the Arsenal defence.

Another option for the opposition team will be to get past the first line of defence in the midfield and throw in numbers into the opposition penalty box. For that, they will have to take the risk of having eight or nine players inside the opposition half and will run the risk of conceding goals from counter-attacks. That will force Arsenal to go for man-for-man marking.

The above options are there for the opposition defence, but it will not be easy for them to implement them on the pitch. Chelsea failed to do so even with a brilliant front three of Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Joao Pedro.

For example, if Manchester United are to play against Arsenal, Bruno Fernandes will have to surge into the Arsenal penalty box more often. He cannot afford to rely only on playing through passes and crosses into the box.

Fernandes will have to get inside the Arsenal penalty box along with the front three of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Marcus Rashford, with someone like Kobbie Mainoo joining them. That will make the job of the Arsenal defence really hard.

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Subhadeep Roy

Subhadeep Roy is an experienced football writer with a particular interest in analysis of matches and club news. He follows the Premier League primarily and has been covering football for various websites since 2018. He has written for websites like sportskeeda.com and playing for 90 in the past. He has done his MBA in 2009 and has been following his passion for sports by writing on it for almost a decade now.

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