Arsenal’s title tilt owed much to turning Emirates Stadium into a fortress. Across calendar year 2025 the Gunners played 21 home matches in all competitions, winning 18 and drawing three. They avoided defeat in every European and domestic cup fixture under the lights in north London, a run capped by the 4 to 3 Champions League quarter final thriller over Real Madrid. In the league their record read 14 wins and 2 draws for 44 points, the best home return in the division. Only late equalisers by Brighton in March and Crystal Palace in April denied a perfect haul. Opponents struggled to cope with the relentless press orchestrated by Ødegaard and Rice, while crowd noise regularly hit 100 decibels according to club acoustics data. The Emirates pitch contributed too: summer 2024 resurfacing with hybrid grass and improved drainage allowed high tempo passing even in winter rain. GPS trackers showed an average 2.3 seconds per touch in midfield, the quickest in the league. Supporter tifos became routine, the most memorable a red sea mosaic before the derby against Spurs spelling Our Home Our Rules. While away form cost Arsenal the title, the Emirates foundation is set. Expansion plans to 70,000 by 2028 promise an even more imposing fortress.
