by Tony Attwood
Arsenal’s league performance at home thus far this season is everything those of us lucky enough to have season tickets could ask for…
In terms of home matches only the results look like this…
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester United | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 19 | 21 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 4 | 11 | 18 |
| 3 | Manchester City | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 4 | 20 | 16 |
| 4 | Liverpool | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 11 | 15 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 12 |
Concerning away form Huddersfield are struggling having won one, drawn one, and lost four. They have scored three goals in their six away games – one in every other game. This compares with the table above for Arsenal at home in which we are shown to have scored 2.5 goals in every game at the Ems in the League.
So roughly speaking we let in one goal in two games, and they score one goal in two games. Combine those two and the chances of them scoring is quite small. On the other hand they concede roughly two goals a game – which again seems to confirm the result. We’ll win 4-0. Except of course as we all know it never works out like that.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Southampton | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 5 |
| 14 | West Bromwich Albion | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 5 |
| 15 | Stoke City | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 15 | -7 | 5 |
| 16 | Newcastle United | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 4 |
| 17 | Huddersfield Town | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 11 | -8 | 4 |
| 18 | West Ham United | 7 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 15 | -10 | 3 |
| 19 | Everton | 7 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 16 | -11 | 3 |
| 20 | Crystal Palace | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 13 | -13 | 0 |
Huddersfield Town started in the league with some great results and got three wins and a draw in the first four games of the season, but since then have found times harder…
| Date | Game | Res | Score | Competition |
| 1 Sep 2017 | West Ham v Huddersfield Town | L | 2-0 | Premier League |
| 16 Sep 2017 | Huddersfield Town v Leicester City | D | 1-1 | Premier League |
| 19 Sep 2017 | Crystal Palace v Huddersfield Town | L | 1-0 | League Cup |
| 23 Sep 2017 | Burnley v Huddersfield Town | D | 0-0 | Premier League |
| 30 Sep 2017 | Huddersfield Town v Tottenham Hot | L | 0-4 | Premier League |
| 14 Oct 2017 | Swansea City v Huddersfield Town | L | 2-0 | Premier League |
| 21 Oct 2017 | Huddersfield Town v Manchester Utd | W | 2-1 | Premier League |
| 28 Oct 2017 | Liverpool v Huddersfield Town | L | 3-0 | Premier League |
| 04 Nov 2017 | Huddersfield Town v West Brom | W | 1-0 | Premier League |
| 18 Nov 2017 | Bournemouth v Huddersfield Town | L | 4-0 | Premier League |
| 26 Nov 2017 | Huddersfield Town v Manchester City | L | 1-2 | Premier League |
They have beaten West Brom and Man U, and indeed only went down 1-2 to Manchester City, but these were just the odd moments of hope from a period of decline.
And there is one other factor that we also know about Arsenal at home – how we have done in non-PL games thus far at the Ems. It turns out to be three more wins and a draw.
| Date | Match | Res | Score | Competition |
| 14 Sep 2017 | Arsenal v 1.FC Köln | W | 3-1 | Europa League |
| 20 Sep 2017 | Arsenal v Doncaster Rovers | W | 1-0 | League Cup |
| 24 Oct 2017 | Arsenal v Norwich City | W | 2-1 | League Cup |
| 02 Nov 2017 | Arsenal v Crvena Zvezda | D | 0-0 | Europa League |
So what do we know thus far about the teams?
Jack Wilshere could get his first start in the league, and Mohamed Elneny and Ashley Maitland-Niles could be included as we face the first situation in which members of the Arsenal I squad are required to play two games in one week.
We are told Mesut Ozil will again be missing, and Alex Iwobi might be given another chance. Danny Welbeck could play on the wing however instead. Alexandre Lacazette is not normally being used to play a full game, even when playing just one game a week, so I wonder if he might be rested and Olivier Giroud is given a chance to start.
Physioroom is showing us still with two injuries (Santi Caz and Ozil) which means Theo must be recovered. I can’t see him starting but he could be on the beach.
All the signs are looking good, and indeed if you fancy going to the match there are still tickets available on Arsenal.com. I won’t be able to make it as my flight back to Manchester airport is at a most inconvenient time (hence the need to start the match previews early). But still, I can’t complain although it is a pain not being able to sell my ticket through ticket exchange.
However it was another gorgeous sunny day today in Cyprus and more dance party events are planned for tonight and our last night tomorrow.
But enough of that. Here’s one thought to keep us jolly. So far this season Arsenal have had 100 more shots than Huddersfield.
- Why do football pundits wear jackets and ties?
- “It probably is a penalty but it was never not going to be given.”
In view of the media outcry over the perceived refereeing decision leniency we have been granted in our last two games resulting in our fourth position in the table I expect a backlash from PGMOL to restore us to our rightful place behind their favoured Spurs and Liverpool.
Most of the Talksport presenters have been enraged by the decisions that have gone our way recently, Andy Jacobs even going as far as to say that yesterdays penalty decision ‘spoilt my birthday’, ahhhhh diddums, and Durham demanding Ramsey be referred to the simulation panel for a two match ban.
It is my considered opinion that Adrian Durham is a halfwit. It is mainly down to him and to a slightly lesser degree Andy Jacobs that I haven’t listened to Talksport for about three years.
As regards the penalty both pundits on MOD and on Sky this morning Shaun Goater and Dermot Gallagher all thought that it was a definite penalty. These guys are all football professionals and their opinion is worth a lot more than some radio journalist.
Graham Poll on talksport said referees should be very careful rewarding penalties so late in games when players start to get desperate.
He also in a newspaper column said Lukaku should have a three match ban fo kicking out at a Brighton player, which the FA have lived up to the name and done sweet FA..
So Graham Poll is calling Aaron Ramsey, a cheat.
Graham, a foul is a foul regardless of it being in the first minute, the 22nd minute or in time added on for stoppages.
Is Poll such a great expert anyway? Is he not the one who booked the same Serbian player twice and didnt send him off?
Maybe he takes the view that one does not send off players at the end of games, when players start getting desperate.
I think the truth is that there is a lot of pushing and shoving and short pulling going on in the goal area, especially at corners and free kicks that refs turn a blind eye to.
This was so blatant, and obvious that he must have thought that, although it was Arsenal, and they are not allowed penalties, he had no choice.
shirt pulling, not short pulling.
Poll thinks it’s OK to award 3 yellow cards to the same player in a match, so he can’t be taken too seriously John JJ
Another gorgeous sunny day in Cyprus, eh? It’s freezing here, Tony. Prepare yourself!
About the penalty – you hit the nail on the head jjgsol. It was so blatant they had to give it. Especially as they hadn’t given the one against Bellerin earlier.
Bellerin was tripped by Robbie Brady, a foul that could have easily been given by Lee Mason. Therefore, Arsenal could have been awarded two spot-kicks in the game, and there wouldn’t be any controversy about the manner of Sunday’s victory.
From Jamie Einchcomb in the Daily Cannon
I just came across an article in the Stoke Sentinel of 20 August saying we should have had three panalties against them. If even the Stoke Sentinel says it …
Well said . Even our ex players are rooting for the other teams , they just don’t like the truth and they hate Arsen wenger .They are yes men if it was city Man City they play great football so they must be allowed to have offside decisions and dodgy penalties go for them …Maybe they the media can influence some stupid Arsenal fans but we aren’t all blind to the cheating what goes on (Hate AFC ) Maybe Ma city not only buy top players but refs as well I’m fed up with all the crap….
We cannot take Huddersfield lightly, did they not take ManC to the line?
ManC plays somewhat like Arsenal so we have to be even more prepared for this game
and having ManU next, i am prepared for us losing as players may be rested for ManU
on Sat.
//
People will always “hate” those that attack things they love, it is the nature of things.
Still, i was so surprised we got that penalty, and the goalie nearly got a hand to it too.
We were lucky.
Team news will be interesting to see.
Lets hope we can come through both games as winners.
Lol, MicHazel. Their pain gives me great joy. Ref Gallagher, in his usual post-match ref assessment, stated the ref gave the correct decision because Ramsey was pushed in the back, so there was good contact to prevent him guiding the ball in a suitable direction with his head. End of.
Nice to see the stats, Tony. The one thing that is crucial from your comments is the fact we won’t field our regular 1st / strongest team on Wednesday so there should be a worry about how cohesively we will play and what damage the visitors can cause. I do hope we start with the same back 3 and Cech, tweak with one side of the wing backs and one of the starting midfielders only. Lacazette should start, alongside Welbeck and Iwobi as all 3 need game time. I guess Wenger will like to rest both Ramsey and Xhaka for Saturday, however. I will take a ground out close win, for the 3 points.
Ray I stopped listening to Talkshite years ago because of Durham he would twist anything to make it detrimental to the Arsenal
Arsenal supporters are the most reactive in downing their team on his radio show anything negative nothing positive , when he downs other teams the reaction on the telephone is nowhere as much he gets when he downs the Arsenal he’s a shite stirrer
Ray, you say “It is my considered opinion that Adrian Durham is a halfwit.”
I have to disagree with you there, as I’m certain he’s nowhere near that intelligent!