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By Bulldog Drummond
As we have said so many times before, what has salvaged Arsenal’s season in the last few years has been an excellent home form counteracting a poor away form. Unfortunately this season our home form has diminished along with the ability to get results away.
Here’s the current league table based on home games only…
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 9 | 20 | 33 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 11 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 29 | 10 | 19 | 25 |
| 3 | Leicester City | 11 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 11 | 9 | 23 |
| 4 | Manchester United | 11 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 24 | 10 | 14 | 22 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 11 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 21 | 11 | 10 | 20 |
| 6 | Everton | 11 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 20 |
| 7 | Chelsea | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 17 |
| 8 | Sheffield United | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 17 |
| 9 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 11 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 17 | 15 | 2 | 17 |
| 10 | Brighton and Hove Albion | 11 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 16 |
| 11 | Arsenal | 11 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 16 |
As can be seen, we are now to be measured against the likes of Brighton and Hove Albion in terms of our home form, and this is the form that must improve if we are to stand any chance of creeping back into the European places.
Meanwhile Sheffield United’s away form takes them into the top six when measured on that attribute alone.
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 5 | 16 | 28 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 11 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 33 | 15 | 18 | 22 |
| 3 | Leicester City | 11 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 27 | 10 | 17 | 22 |
| 4 | Chelsea | 11 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 25 | 19 | 6 | 22 |
| 5 | Southampton | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 14 | 2 | 17 |
| 6 | Sheffield United | 11 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 15 |
Interestingly both Arsenal at home and Sheffield United away have a goal difference of zero, which suggests a draw as the result of this match. However Arsenal have scored 17 at home to Sheffield United’s 11 (and of course conceded likewise) which suggests either team could edge the victory by one goal. On these figures the best we can hope for is 2-1 to Arsenal, the worst a 1-2 defeat.
Looking at the last ten games Arsenal’s form is uninspiring
| Date | Game | Res | Score | Competition |
| 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 |
| 12 Dec 2019 | Standard Liège v Arsenal | D | 2-2 | Europa 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 |
| 29 Dec 2019 | Arsenal v Chelsea | L | 1-2 | Premier League |
| 01 Jan 2020 | Arsenal v Manchester United | W | 2-0 | Premier League |
| 06 Jan 2020 | Arsenal v Leeds United | W | 1-0 | FA Cup |
| 11 Jan 2020 | Crystal Palace v Arsenal | D | 1-1 | Premier League |
Three wins, three defeats and four draws again emphasising the suggestion of a draw in this game. But we are unbeaten in the last three.
Sheffield United’s results in the last ten give them five wins, three defeats and two draws, however their victories have all been at home except for a win against relegation threatened Norwich City.
| Date | Game | Res | Score | Competition |
| 01 Dec 2019 | Wolverhampton Wanderers v Sheffield United | D | 1-1 | Premier League |
| 05 Dec 2019 | Sheffield United v Newcastle United | L | 0-2 | Premier League |
| 08 Dec 2019 | Norwich City v Sheffield United | W | 1-2 | Premier League |
| 14 Dec 2019 | Sheffield United v Aston Villa | W | 2-0 | Premier League |
| 21 Dec 2019 | Brighton and Hove Albion v Sheffield United | W | 0-1 | Premier League |
| 26 Dec 2019 | Sheffield United v Watford | D | 1-1 | Premier League |
| 29 Dec 2019 | Manchester City v Sheffield United | L | 2-0 | Premier League |
| 02 Jan 2020 | Liverpool v Sheffield United | L | 2-0 | Premier League |
| 05 Jan 2020 | Sheffield United v AFC Fylde | W | 2-1 | FA Cup |
| 10 Jan 2020 | Sheffield United v West Ham United | W | 1-0 | Premier League |
Finally the head to head – the one set of statistics that can give Arsenal some real reason to be positive at this time, especially with the current line up problems.
| Date | Game | Res | Score | Competition |
| 17 Jan 1996 | Sheffield United v Arsenal | L | 1-0 | FA Cup |
| 23 Feb 1999 | Arsenal v Sheffield United | W | 2-1 | FA Cup |
| 13 Apr 2003 | Arsenal v Sheffield United | W | 1-0 | FA Cup |
| 19 Feb 2005 | Arsenal v Sheffield United | D | 1-1 | FA Cup |
| 01 Mar 2005 | Sheffield United v Arsenal | W | 0-0 | FA Cup |
| 23 Sep 2006 | Arsenal v Sheffield United | W | 3-0 | Premier League |
| 30 Dec 2006 | Sheffield United v Arsenal | L | 1-0 | Premier League |
| 31 Oct 2007 | Sheffield United v Arsenal | W | 0-3 | League Cup |
| 23 Sep 2008 | Arsenal v Sheffield United | W | 6-0 | League Cup |
| 21 Oct 2019 | Sheffield United v Arsenal | L | 1-0 | Premier League |
Sheffield United have not won at Arsenal in this run of games. In fact the last time they won at Arsenal’s home was a 0-1 victory on 24 August 1971, when Arsenal had just become double winners.
More on the match and the team picks, tomorrow
I hope nobody has told Martinelli that this is supposed to be a draw!
I expect him to grab his chance with both feet and head!
The U23 are in action (Premier League International Cup) against Leicester. Unlike the senior team, they got a penalty and currently lead 1-0 (courtesy to Fo.Lo).
COYYG!
Congratulations to the U23, winning their game 3-0 (2 goals in second half).
OT: Handball
From: League Managers Association
To: IFAB
Subject: Handball
We would like to point out that we do not like how the handball rule is working out.
What we propose, is that if the ball accidentally hits the hand of a player and subsequently goes into the net; that a goal be credited unless the player in question is from Arsenal (and then it is a free kick to the opposing team from that spot).
As you might expect, Arsenal is the only team who voted against this interpretation of the laws.
However, since so many other interpretations of the game by Mike Riley and PGMO have an Arsenal version and a rest of league version; we thought this would work wonderfully.
Can you believe it!
Mike Dean is going to get a medal before screwing up our game against Sheffield United.
https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/5183106/referee-mike-dean-to-be-awarded-a-medal-in-pre-match-presentation-to-mark-500th-game-in-charge/
I hope all the fans, in unison, tell the dishonest prick to get off our pitch.