How Man Utd’s 26-shot lead over Arsenal highlights their Premier League approach in 2025/26

Manchester United’s 317 attempts on goal this season are more than any other Premier League side has managed, and the gap to their nearest challengers is already telling. Arsenal sit second on 291 shots, with Manchester City third on 279, leaving United with a 26-shot cushion that manager Michael Carrick believes reflects the club’s attacking ethos rather than any profligacy in front of goal.

The numbers were reinforced on Saturday as United returned from a near-two-week hiatus to edge Everton 1-0 at Hill Dickinson Stadium. The performance was short of vintage, yet the hosts still managed 11 attempts and an expected-goals tally of 1.27, according to BBC Sport. A swift counter finished by Benjamin Sesko proved enough to claim three points and keep United atop the shots chart, a position they last occupied in 2007/08 when Sir Alex Ferguson’s star-studded forward line—featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez—propelled the club to the title.

That season Ronaldo alone registered 131 shots; the current campaign has seen Bryan Mbeumo lead United’s efforts with 49, followed by Matheus Cunha on 43. While neither has reached iconic status yet, their willingness to pull the trigger underscores a squad-wide mandate to attack whenever possible. With 11 fixtures remaining, the team is on course to surpass the shot total of that celebrated 2007/08 side.

Critics may interpret the volume of attempts as evidence of wastefulness, but inside Carrick’s camp the statistic is viewed as proof of sustained pressure and chance creation. United sit 13 points behind league-leading Arsenal but retain a match in hand, leaving ample room for a late surge. If the shot disparity persists, the Red Devils believe their relentless approach will eventually translate into goals, victories and, potentially, a long-awaited return to the summit of English football.