Arsenal appear set to end their agonising 22-year wait for the Premier League title. But it has been built upon a rock-solid defence rather than a thrilling attack.
The Gunners have finished runners-up in each of the past three seasons. And many pointed at the lack of an out-and-out goalscorer as one of the main reasons for their heartbreaks.
Viktor Gyokeres was identified as that “20 goals a season” striker needed to get Mikel Arteta’s men over the line. But that has not proven to be the case with the goals instead being spread out across the team.
Dabble sign-up offer: Bet £10+ & Receive £10 In Free Bets
Not signed up to Dabble yet? Here's how to claim the Bet £10+ & Receive £10 In Free Bets welcome offer:
- Sign up to Dabble through this link
- Register your account with accurate personal details
- Place your first bet of £10 or more
- Receive your £10 in free bets when your qualifying bet has setted
- Use your Free Bet on any eligible sportsbook market within 7 days
#AD 18+ 7-day free bet expiry. Stake not returned. Promotional Terms Apply. GambleAware.org
Arsenal are the second-highest scorers in the Premier League this season on 40 goals, five fewer than Manchester City. Gyokeres and Leandro Trossard are Arsenal’s top scorers, but they’ve only scored five goals each. For context, 20 players have scored more.
If the Gunners win the league but no single player steps up and gets into double figures, it will make English top flight history.
But which teams have won the Premier League title with the lowest top scorers? Here’s the top five.
=5. Manchester United (2000-01)
- Top scorer: Teddy Sheringham (15 goals)
Teddy Sheringham’s four-year stint at Manchester United saw the striker reach the highest of highs in 1999 when he scored the equaliser in that Champions League final just days after opening the scoring in the FA Cup final.
However, in both games, he came off the bench, which was his role for both the treble season and the campaign afterwards. If Ruud van Nistelrooy’s move to Old Trafford was not delayed a year by injury, it is likely the England international would have left in 2000.
Instead, he stayed and had a final year to remember, winning a third consecutive league title and picking up all the individual honours. Man Utd scored 79 goals with Sheringham hitting 15 – one fewer than the three previous seasons combined – in just 23 starts.
Eleven of those goals came before December, but nobody could keep up with Golden Boot winner Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
=5. Man Utd (1992-93)
- Top scorer: Mark Hughes (15 goals)
In what was the very first season of the new league, coincidentally Sheringham was the top scorer with 22 goals (one for Nottingham Forest, 21 for Tottenham Hotspur).
However, Man Utd claimed the first title and kickstarted their dominance under Sir Alex Ferguson. But it didn’t come via a flurry of goals, with fourth-placed Blackburn Rovers scoring more than the eventual champions.
Eric Cantona’s mid-season arrival was the catalyst for everything and his influence far exceeded his nine goals, but it was his strike partner Mark Hughes who top-scored with 15 from 41 starts.
3. Man Utd (1995-96)
- Top scorer: Eric Cantona (14 goals)
Cantona’s Man Utd career looked over after his eight-month ban for his kung-fu kick at Selhurst Park. But it only set the stage for arguably the best comeback in English football history.
The Frenchman scored from the spot in his first game back against Liverpool in October but it would be in the New Year that he came to the fore. He scored in six straight games, starting with the only goal in a crucial win at Newcastle United, to pip the Magpies to the title.
Cantona ended the season with 14 goals, as well as 11 assists, as Man Utd did the double. Cantona – of course – scoring the winner in the FA Cup final against Liverpool.
His tally was a massive 17 off top scorer Alan Shearer and it would not be until 1999-2000 that United won the title with a player scoring 20 goals – Dwight Yorke.
=1. Man City (2020-21)
- Top scorer: Ilkay Gundogan (13 goals)
This was a very weird time for football. And it extended to Man City.
Sergio Aguero was on his way out, playing just 12 league games for Man City in the 2020-21 season. But Erling Haaland wouldn’t arrive for a few more years. So other players had to step up. Raheem Sterling scored 10 while Gabriel Jesus, Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden all got one less as Man City got a total of 83 goals.
However, Man City’s top scorer was the unlikely figure of Ilkay Gundogan, who didn’t even score his first goal until mid-December. After missing the start of the season, the German midfielder went on a remarkable run of 11 in 12 games.
It helped Man City move clear at the top of the table and kickstarted their four-in-a-row dominance. Harry Kane top scored with 23 and Guardiola tried to sign him right after.
=1. Chelsea (2004-05)
Frank Lampard 2004/05
- Top scorer: Frank Lampard (13 goals)
Frank Lampard missed just seven minutes in the 2004-25 Premier League campaign as Chelsea won their first league title in 50 years.
Jose Mourinho’s side were incredibly strong at the back – conceding a farcical 15 goals – but their attack was still formidable even if Arsenal ironically scored 15 more.
While no Blues player could compete with Thierry Henry’s 25 league strikes, they had goals from everywhere. Eidur Gudjohnsen and Didier Drogba shared duties up front, scoring 12 and 10 respectively, while Joe Cole, Arjen Robben and Damien Duff combined for 21.
Lampard was their leading light though, scoring 13 – including two to clinch the title at Bolton Wanderers – in what was the best scoring season of his career to date.