They say that once is an accident, twice is a coincidence and three times is a pattern. After Mikel Arteta’s substitutes proved decisive yet again for Arsenal, we can say with certainty that his ability to change games from his bench is a pattern worth noting. With Arsenal labouring away at Nottingham Forest and the game drifting towards a goalless draw, Noni Madueke – introduced at half-time – won the game for the visitors, shimmying inside and striking a heavily deflected right-footed shot past Matz Sels.
It was hardly a glamorous goal but it secured three valuable Premier League points for Arteta’s side. It continued a recent trend. In each of their past three Premier League victories, Arsenal have won the game thanks to winning goals by substitutes.
Bruno Guimarães provided the decisive contributions against Sunderland (2-0) and Leeds (2-1), before Madueke repeated the trick against Forest. They are the only goals Arsenal’s substitutes have scored in the league this season. Five teams have scored more goals via their replacements, with Ipswich leading the way on five, but all of Arsenal’s substitute goals have been winners.
The record for the most winning goals scored by substitutes for a team in a single Premier League season stands at six. With three in their opening seven games, if Arsenal maintain their current rate, their subs are on track to score more than 16 winning goals. That would obliterate the record.
Clearly, that is not going to happen, but it does show how influential Arsenal’s substitutes have been in changing games so far this season. Funnily enough, that record of six winning goals thanks to substitutes is held by Arsenal themselves. They hit that tally under Arteta in 2024-25.
And therein lies the real pattern. This phenomenon is not confined to just this season – it is an area in which Arsenal have excelled since Arteta joined the club. Since his appointment in December 2019, Arsenal have scored more winning goals from substitutes than any other team.
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