Former Chelsea captain John Terry has voiced genuine concern that Arsenal could shatter Chelsea's long-standing Premier League defensive record this season. The Blues legend admitted he's been closely monitoring the Gunners' fixtures, searching for potential weaknesses in their formidable backline.
Arsenal's Defensive Dominance Under Threat
The Gunners saw their impressive defensive streak interrupted during a dramatic 2-2 draw against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, November 8. Despite this setback, Arsenal have conceded only five goals in their opening eleven Premier League matches this campaign, putting them on track to challenge Chelsea's record of conceding just 15 goals throughout the entire 2004/05 season under Jose Mourinho.
Terry, who was instrumental in that legendary Chelsea defense, revealed his growing apprehension about Arsenal's current form. "I have to say I'm actually a little bit worried now," the former England international confessed. "I'm looking at their fixtures on a weekly basis, seeing where they're going to potentially concede goals but I have to say, I have to give them credit, they look very good at the moment."
Sunderland Clash Ends Arsenal's Streak
The match against Sunderland proved pivotal in ending several of Arsenal's impressive runs. The Gunners had maintained:
- 10 consecutive victories across all competitions
- 8 clean sheets in the Premier League
- 811 minutes without conceding a goal
The deadlock was broken in the 36th minute when former Arsenal academy graduate Dan Ballard fired Sunderland ahead, stunning Mikel Arteta's side and ending their remarkable clean sheet streak.
Arsenal responded strongly in the second half, with England international Bukayo Saka equalizing in the 54th minute following an assist from Declan Rice. Leandro Trossard then appeared to have secured all three points for the visitors in the 74th minute, sending Arsenal fans into wild celebrations.
However, in dramatic fashion, Brian Brobbey latched onto a loose ball deep into stoppage time and hooked home the equalizer, sparking wild celebrations among the home supporters and ending Arsenal's winning streak.
Premier League Standings and Manager Reaction
Despite the dropped points, Arsenal maintained their position at the top of the Premier League table with 26 points, while Sunderland climbed to third place with 19 points, level with Manchester City according to Sky Sports.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed clear disappointment after the match, admitting the result felt like a missed opportunity. The Spanish tactician revealed he felt "pain in his tummy" after conceding Ballard's opening strike, emphasizing that he never wanted his team to concede any goals throughout the campaign.
As the Premier League season progresses, all eyes will be on whether Arsenal can maintain their exceptional defensive standards and potentially rewrite the history books by breaking Chelsea's legendary record.
