Mikel Arteta is right to suggest Arsenal have had a historic season | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta is right to suggest that Arsenal have had a historic season, even if his exact claim was somewhat of a misrepresentation.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND: Martin Odegaard, Gabriel and Jorginho of Arsenal celebrate victory as they walk towards their fans after defeating Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal FC at Old Trafford on May 12, 2024. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Speaking after Arsenal’s win over Manchester United on Sunday, Mikel Arteta pointed out that the Gunners have now won 27 Premier League matches in 2023/24, a club record.

“It’s 27 wins in the Premier League, it’s the most in the history of this football club in 130 years,” Arteta said. “That’s not progress, that’s history.

“That’s very, very difficult to do, especially in the league that we are playing now. So, big compliment to all the players and the staff for what they’ve done.”

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND: Leandro Trossard of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammate Kai Havertz during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal FC at Old Trafford on May 12, 2024. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Arteta is absolutely correct that this is the most wins Arsenal have ever achieved in a Premier League season, surpassing even the 2003/04 and 2001/02 title-winning campaigns on that front.

Of course, the Premier League hasn’t existed for 130 years, so it’s a misrepresentation to suggest the record applies to Arsenal’s entire history.

A look at that history shows that Arsenal won more games in 1970/71 (29 wins) and 1930/31 (28 wins). Yet the spirit of Arteta’s statement stands true.

Though the Gunners did win more games in those two seasons, they also played more games. The league campaign was 42 matches long, compared to the current 38.

If you look at the ratio of wins to games played, the 2023/24 campaign tops them all, even if the Gunners fail to beat Everton on the final day. A win against Sean Dyche’s side would extend the gap even further.

Arsenal’s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta reacts on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium in London on February 24, 2024. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

So whilst it’s not correct to suggest Arsenal have won more league games this season than ever before, it’s true that this is a historic season in terms of the club’s win ratio.

The Gunners may yet concede the title to Manchester City all the same, with Pep Guardiola’s side still favourites and their fate in their own hands.

But that’s out of Arsenal’s control. Arteta has helped the team to win league games at a greater rate than ever before, and that’s worthy of praise in itself.