It is tight at the top of the Premier League table at this early stage of the season. Just one point separates the top three as Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal do battle for the title.

It is sure to be a battle that goes right to the end of the campaign and will surely see plenty of twists and turns along the way. Liverpool lead the way currently with 18 points from seven games, one clear of City and Arsenal.

Arsenal actually have the second-best defensive record in the league, having conceded six goals in those seven games. Liverpool have the best record, with just two conceded.

But the Gunners may well count themselves a bit lucky to have only conceded that number. That is because there is one stat from the start of the season that Mikel Arteta will certainly want to improve.

According to fbRef.com, Arsenal are one of the worst teams in the division for shots conceded per 90 minutes so far this season. Only four teams in the league have a worse shots conceded per 90 minutes record this season than the Gunners.

Arsenal average conceding 14.71 shots on their goal per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season, with an average of 4.43 of those on target each match.

 

Some wayward finishing obviously helps them in that regard, as their average shots on target conceded per 90 sees them tenth in the division. However, when stacked up against Liverpool and Man City’s numbers, it makes for awkward reading.

City have the best record in the division, conceding 7.86 shots per 90, with 3.00 of those being on target. Liverpool meanwhile allow 9.14 shots on their goal per 90 minutes, with 3.43 on target.

Arsenal giving up shots so frequently is not sustainable in the Premier League title race with the two other sides and some better finishing may well have seen Arsenal concede a few more and drop a few more points – something they cannot afford to do.