12 Hours of Silence at Arsenal's Goal

SUNDERLAND, FRIDAY — Arsenal has gone twelve hours of play across all competitions since they last conceded a goal. Since then, in eight matches over the past two months, their goal has remained untouched. This phenomenal record will be challenged by former player Granit Xhaka.

Xhaka will lead the promotion team Sunderland as they host the league leaders Arsenal at the Stadium of Light on Sunday (9/11/2025) at 00:30 WIB. For the first time, the former Arsenal captain will meet his old team again after parting ways in 2023.

It will be an emotional match for me. Playing against them in Sunderland will surely be very special. I hope I can enjoy it, and let's see which team is better on that day.

In the Sunderland camp, and perhaps among other teams as well, no one knows Arsenal's strengths better than Xhaka. He played for seven seasons for the North London club. Xhaka is also the foundational element of manager Mikel Arteta's grand project.

"We know the quality that Arsenal possesses," said Xhaka regarding the potential threat posed by the visiting team. "It will be an emotional match for me. Playing against them in Sunderland will surely be very special. I hope I can enjoy it, and let's see which team is better on that day," he continued.

Interestingly, Arsenal this season is markedly different from two years ago. The team coached by Arteta not only possesses exceptional squad depth with significant investment in the summer but also a change in their playing approach. They now prioritize game control above all else.

Arsenal does not mind winning with a narrow score and through less attractive means such as set pieces, as long as they can secure a victory. It is evident that 12 out of their 18 goals in the English Premier League have come from set pieces. Furthermore, Arsenal's average goal production this season is only 1.8 goals per match, still below the last season of Xhaka (2.3 goals).

Arteta is trying to minimize risks by playing the ball predominantly in their own half rather than in the opponent's area. As seen in the Opta data, Arsenal ranks only fifth in the record of the most passes in the final third with (1,025 times). They are still outperformed by the lower-tier team Nottingham Forest (1,055 times).

That more mature and cautious approach is what has kept them from conceding again since the end of September, following the goal by Newcastle United striker Nick Woltemade. Notably, Gabriel Magalhaes and his teammates have only allowed one shot on target in the league over the past two months.

Arsenal has just completed a record of eight consecutive clean sheets with a 3-0 victory over Slavia Prague last week. As a result, they have successfully matched the club's streak of clean sheets that has been maintained since 1903. "A long time emphasizes how difficult it is to achieve," said Arteta.

"The most encouraging thing is not the record itself, but the mindset of the players. They talk about how we can still perform better, looking at one or two situations that we should have handled better. Therefore, the record holds greater significance," added the Spanish manager.

For context, Chelsea during the management of Jose Mourinho in 2004-2005 is known as the team with the best defense in league history. They conceded only 15 goals in a season, averaging 0.39 goals per match. Meanwhile, Arsenal has recorded a better average so far with 0.3 goals per match.

The solid fortress that Xhaka and his teammates must face at the Stadium of Lights. Sunderland indeed surprised the entire league at the beginning of the season by breaking into the top four. However, their productivity is still far from expectations, as they are outside the top ten teams in terms of goals scored (12 goals).

Moreover, Sunderland must also struggle to stop the opponent's set-piece executions. "The Gunners" have already claimed four victims in home matches. Five out of six away goals scored by Arsenal have come from set pieces, with the majority originating from corner kick schemes.

Arsenal is unlikely to be able to utilize the services of striker Viktor Gyokeres due to a thigh injury. Nevertheless, they still have midfielder Mikel Merino, who is quite reliable when playing as an emergency striker. Merino also contributed two goals in the last match against Slavia.

Arteta was quite flattered by Merino for always being ready to play in any position. "I am very happy to have him; I always say that. His versatility on the field, the things he can do, his mindset, his leadership, and his personality," said Arteta.

On the other hand, Xhaka, who has already produced one goal and three assists in the league, also poses a threat to the visiting team. The Sunderland captain is the club's top goal contributor, alongside striker Wilson Isidor (4 goals). Xhaka also contributed a goal in the last match against Everton. (AP/REUTERS)