By Bulldog Drummond
It is indeed a long old time since Arsenal were below being even a mid-table club in terms of home form but that is certainly what the table shows now as we lurk below Newcastle, Burnley, Palace, Wolverhampton, Sheffield Utd and even Aston Villa. Yep, two promoted teams are doing better at home than we are.
Mind you those teams don’t have to play in front of a home support and media as negative as Arsenal does.
Home form only
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Newcastle United | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 16 |
| 8 | Burnley | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 15 |
| 9 | Crystal Palace | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 15 |
| 10 | Sheffield United | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 14 |
| 11 | Chelsea | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 14 |
| 12 | Aston Villa | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 14 | -1 | 14 |
| 13 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 9 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 13 |
| 14 | Arsenal | 9 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 15 | -1 | 13 |
And to make matters worse we are up against a team with a fine away form…
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 5 | 15 | 25 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 25 | 11 | 14 | 19 |
| 3 | Chelsea | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 22 | 17 | 5 | 18 |
| 4 | Leicester City | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 22 | 9 | 13 | 16 |
| 5 | Sheffield United | 9 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 15 |
The Chelsea away defensive record is something to be feared – just five conceded in nine games. True, Sheffield United have conceded one fewer, but they play for goalless draws while Chelsea look to win.
The only thing we can find particularly in our favour is Chelsea’s recent form for two of those defeats have happened since 23 November.
| Date | Game | Res |
Score | Competition |
| 23 Nov 2019 | Manchester City v Chelsea | L | 2-1 | Premier League |
| 27 Nov 2019 | Valencia v Chelsea | D | 2-2 | Champions League |
| 30 Nov 2019 | Chelsea v West Ham United | L | 0-1 | Premier League |
| 04 Dec 2019 | Chelsea v Aston Villa | W | 2-1 | Premier League |
| 07 Dec 2019 | Everton v Chelsea | L | 3-1 | Premier League |
| 10 Dec 2019 | Chelsea v Lille OSC | W | 2-1 | Champions League |
| 14 Dec 2019 | Chelsea v AFC Bournemouth | L | 0-1 | Premier League |
| 22 Dec 2019 | Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea | W | 0-2 | Premier League |
| 26 Dec 2019 | Chelsea v Southampton | L | 0-2 | Premier League |
In these last nine games Chelsea have won just three. If we count just their last seven league games then we are down to two wins and five defeats – not a good run. But they did beat Tottenham away on 22 December. Quite how they then managed to lose to Southampton I don’t know – maybe you can tell me.
So with our new manager having had a chance to see the team in action, and the players all knowing that they are indeed playing for their future at the club maybe the new manager bounce will now kick in – we could certainly do with it.
Ignoring the games outside the League, our recent form has been pretty awful…
| Date | Game | Res |
Score | Competition |
| 06 Oct 2019 | Arsenal v AFC Bournemouth | W | 1-0 | Premier League |
| 21 Oct 2019 | Sheffield United v Arsenal | L | 1-0 | Premier League |
| 27 Oct 2019 | Arsenal v Crystal Palace | D | 2-2 | Premier League |
| 02 Nov 2019 | Arsenal v Wolverhampton Wanderers | D | 1-1 | Premier League |
| 09 Nov 2019 | Leicester City v Arsenal | L | 2-0 | Premier League |
| 23 Nov 2019 | Arsenal v Southampton | D | 2-2 | Premier League |
| 01 Dec 2019 | Norwich City v Arsenal | D | 2-2 | Premier League |
| 05 Dec 2019 | Arsenal v Brighton and Hove Albion | L | 1-2 | Premier League |
| 09 Dec 2019 | West Ham United v Arsenal | W | 1-3 | Premier League |
| 15 Dec 2019 | Arsenal v Manchester City | L | 0-3 | Premier League |
| 21 Dec 2019 | Everton v Arsenal | D | 0-0 | Premier League |
| 26 Dec 2019 | AFC Bournemouth v Arsenal | D | 1-1 | Premier League |
That is 12 matches with just two wins. We noted just now that Chelsea were on a run of two wins and five defeats in the last seven league games (thus gaining six points in seven). Arsenal have one win, two defeats and four draws (thus gaining seven points in seven).
Neither team is going to be that pleased with such a set of results, and I guess Arsenal have the advantage of the new manager bounce.
Whether that will do us any good at all, I’ve no idea. Let’s hope so, for having put their entire faith in the notion of having a new manager being the solution to the club’s problems, I am not sure if we have a plan B – other than to go back to plan A of last summer and buy another load of players (if the owner will cough up the cash).
OT just watching the BHA v Bournemouth and the VAR decides that a probable second goal by BHA is offside.
The idiots in the studio argue it over but none seem to notice that if the colour of the lines are as per the image then the player is onside. VAR got it obviously wrong as did the pundits.
The error is so obvious if one steps back and looks at the evidence – it is truly laughable.
Just to make it clear & obvious : The red line represents Bournemouth and the Blue line represents BHA. The Red line is closer to the Bournemouth goal than the Blue line so the BHA player is not offside.
Unless the Laws of the Game as per PGMOL say Red and Blue are the same colour until Sir Alex Fergie & Mike Riley says they’re different.
People have been spoilt by Wenger that they thought staying in the top 4 was easy.i remember the pundits,blogs,mainstream media and AFtv saying top 4 is not a trophy.
Now gentlemen lets see how it feels to be in the bottom half of the log.
Anyway i have faith in Arteta lets give him a good environment and things will improve.
We are back to AKBs…Arteta Knows best and the MOB….Mekil out bridgades
OT: Newcastle 0 1 Everton (half time)
This is supposedly “Brexit” football (from Everton). I guess if Everton is wanting to leave something, that means they are playing to get relegated (so they can leave the EPL?). Lee Mason is the PGMO twit. No treatments in the first half. Fouls are 8:6. Newcastle were stuck on 8 fouls for a long time, and in extra time Mason finally gives them a yellow (no foul, so must be unsporting conduct). Shots on target are about even, Newcastle blasting twice as more off target than on target. Everton having most of the possession.
OT: Newcastle 1 2 Everton
Fouls ended 14:16. Both teams ended with yellow, goal, yellow; difference is Everton started with a goal. Otherwise the teams are about the same, except that Newcastle misses the target far more than Everton. It is perhaps odd that Everton’s double scorer, was the second card to Everton. Is he in danger of being suspended on cards?
CPalace got a point. Watford clobbered AVilla 3:0.
The late games look more interesting to me. Hoping for Norwich, StateAid and Burnley to all get the home wins.
OT: StateAid 0 0 Leicester
Leicester gifted a penalty by PGMO twit Coote. Vardy not in the line-up, and Gray doesn’t score. No treatments or fouls so far, but Fabianski has a card. I think those are screwy stats.
OT: Norwich 1 0 Spuds
Fouls are 2:1, no cards or treatments. Harry and Dele Diver are in action for the spuds. Norwich score just as I finish this. Go Norwich. PGMO twit if Friend.
OT: StateAid
It sounds like Fabianski got his yellow from fouling opposition, why no foul was counted I don’t know.
OT: spuds
Norwich scored a second goal, VAR took it away. Can’t have the spuds climbing up too much of a hill, can we? The person who scored Norwich’s first goal, was carded 4m later.
Norwich’s Pukkii robbed by VAR of a good goal by offside lines placed at PGMOL choosing. Is there a relationship with the spuds?
OT: StateAid
Leicester needed a treatment as a result of that yellow to Fabianski. StateAid needed a treatment at 31m. Leicester scores, and then StateAid scores. Even 1:1 at half time. Vardy is gone because his wife had a baby girl. Fouls are 7:2 and cards are 1:0.
OT: spuds
Fouls are 6:2 and cards are 1:0. No treatments.
I guess only the home team can get cards for these later games?
Spurs getting VAR favours as usual.
Funny how certain teams get virtually every VAR decision going, LiVARpool first and foremost, but the Spuds running a fairly close second.
Norwich robbed on that mind boggling decision
@Gord Fabianski got a yellow for the foul that gave Leicester the penalty. If he had committed the same foul outside the box it would have been red. Beats me this Law of goal scoring oppertunity and when a collision has fault apportioned.
OT: spuds play
Norwich had 2 players off the field for treatments inflicted by the spuds, and in both cases Sargeant Friend Schultz seen NOTHING. The second player so inflicted, was the Norwich goal scorer. So both the twit friend and the spuds, have punished him for scoring.
And then Friend books another Norwich player.
Ha Ha Ha Ha Spuds score an own goal – lets eee VAR get them out of that!!!
OT: StateAid
Fouls are 10:2 and cards are 3:0. Is Coote accurate, Leicester hasn’t fouled more than twice? Leicester have inflicted treatments on StateAid twice (once in each half), and Sargent Coote Schult has seen NOTHING.
OT: spuds
Serves the spuds right. Getting towards the end of the game, time for Friend to start evening out the fouls and cards.
Friendly penalty for the spuds to allow them an equaliser. Will they recover to win? with the slope on the pitch they should do.
We all just have to get behind the new coach and the team am sure we are winning tomorrow
OT: StateAid
Fouls are 13:2 and cards are 4:0.
OT: spuds
VAR couldn’t fix the own goal, but Friend can give Harry Diver a penalty. Fouls are 12:7 and cards are 3:1.
OT: StateAid
Fouls are 14:2 and cards are 4:0.
OT: spuds
Friend is giving the spuds 7m of extra time?
OT: StateAid
Fouls are 15:4 and cards are 4:1.
OT: spuds
Fouls are 12:10 and cards are 3:3. Friend giving the spuds a point for Christmas, and Harry Diver a goal for the scoring race.
Spurs with the help of a Friend get a draw when in reality they lost.How can any team succeed with PGMOL controlling the field and VAR?
They are clearly doing their best, but the PGMOL clearly have their work cut out with this poor Spurs side
Fascinating the comments on french TV : Kane is talented, because he was able to get a panalty – a less talented cheater would not have gotten a penalty on a situation like this, all that being said with lots of admiration.
So that leaves the question open : does this mean that cheating is a talent ?
OT: Burnley 0 1 ManUre
Fouls are 9:2, cards are 1:0. ManUre has 2 shots on goal, both teams have 2 shots off target. At 5m, Ashley Diver is down (treatment) for ManUre. Mike Dean is the twit for PGMO.
OT: Burnley 0 2 ManUre
Fouls are 17:10, cards are 4:3. All of ManUre cards at 90m (evening up the stats).
Burnley needed a treatment at 67m, Sargent Dean Schultz sees NOTHING. Burnley inflict a treatment on ManUre at 72m, I don’t know if a foul and card are part of this or not. ManUre need another treatment at 86m. Sargent Schultz apparently sees nothing again.
Nice interview with Arteta https://www.arsenal.com/news/arteta-i-always-thought-id-come-back
StateAid sack Pellegrini. Next managers to be Larry, Moe, Curly and Shep.
Oops. s/Shep/Shemp/