Arsenal’s Penalty Tally Explained By Chart-Topping Stat

By The Editor
on 21st November 2023

Arsenal’s unusual penalty tally explained…

Something odd is happening. Arsenal top the Premier League for penalties won – which is completely alien to us. We’re a club that usually have to be assaulted in the box for officials to point to the spot.

Arsenal have been awarded six penalties in the Premier League this season – all of which have been converted by four different takers.

🦶 Most touches inside the opposition box in the Premier League this season:

🥇 Arsenal – 438
🥈 Tottenham – 434
🥉 Chelsea – 423
🏅 Man City – 407
🏅 Liverpool – 400
🏅 Aston Villa – 381#WhoScoredAnswers https://t.co/bIg3s9MKxH pic.twitter.com/1mqMIWgLH5

— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) November 21, 2023

While Bukayo Saka is the designated taker, the 22-year-old often hands the ball to those feeling confident with Mikel Arteta comfortable given the amount of spot-kick specialists we have in the squad.

Following the now infamous clash at Newcastle United, many dishonest commentators have attempted to point at our favourable penalty tally as evidence of refereeing decisions evening themselves out.

However, anyone sane individual who takes a glimpse at those incidents will know that not one of those spot-kicks was a contentious decision.

In fact, you can argue that we should’ve been awarded more penalties – especially when you think back to Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez’s challenge on Gabriel Jesus at Stamford Bridge last month.

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As WhoScored reveals, Arsenal’s dominance over teams and our ability to play the game in the opponent’s half has its benefits. We have often held the ‘field tilt’ advantage in matches this season – the stat which measures the possession in the opponent’s final third.

That inevitably leads to touches in the opposition box – 438 to be exact – which would usually come from our most dangerous and devastating players.

If the likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli take a number of touches in your box, they will be fouled and spot-kicks should be given.

Should we carry on at the current rate, we’ll end the season with 19 penalties awarded – a tally that would smash the record currently held by Manchester United (of course) at 14.