By Bulldog Drummond
Yes, extraordinary though it is and impossible though it must seem Arsenal have gone through the whole of December, January and February (which by my reckoning makes three months) without being defeated away from home. And they can add to that one away game in March as well.
| Date | Game | Res | Score | Competition |
| 01 Dec 2019 | Norwich City v Arsenal | D | 2-2 | 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 |
| 21 Dec 2019 | Everton v Arsenal | D | 0-0 | Premier League |
| 26 Dec 2019 | AFC Bournemouth v Arsenal | D | 1-1 | Premier League |
| 11 Jan 2020 | Crystal Palace v Arsenal | D | 1-1 | Premier League |
| 21 Jan 2020 | Chelsea v Arsenal | D | 2-2 | Premier League |
| 27 Jan 2020 | AFC Bournemouth v Arsenal | W | 1-2 | FA Cup |
| 02 Feb 2020 | Burnley v Arsenal | D | 0-0 | Premier League |
| 20 Feb 2020 | Olympiakos v Arsenal | W | 0-1 | Europa League |
| 02 Mar 2020 | Portsmouth v Arsenal | W | 0-2 | FA Cup |
Could that bode well for the game against Manchester City?
We have had 11 games and won four, drawing seven and losing none. We’ve scored in every game except two (Burnley and Everton) and in fact scored 15 goals in those 11.
In the previous eight games away from home we won just one, drew three and lost four.
| 24 Aug 2019 | Liverpool v Arsenal | L | 3-1 | Premier League |
| 15 Sep 2019 | Watford v Arsenal | D | 2-2 | Premier League |
| 19 Sep 2019 | Eintracht Frankfurt v Arsenal | W | 0-3 | Europa League |
| 30 Sep 2019 | Manchester United v Arsenal | D | 1-1 | Premier League |
| 21 Oct 2019 | Sheffield United v Arsenal | L | 1-0 | Premier League |
| 30 Oct 2019 | Liverpool v Arsenal | L | 5-5 (5-4) | League Cup |
| 06 Nov 2019 | Vitória Guimarães v Arsenal | D | 1-1 | Europa League |
| 09 Nov 2019 | Leicester City v Arsenal | L | 2-0 | Premier League |
So what is the cause of this massive turn around, and then the big question, can it continue?
Well, the obvious change was the fact that between the defeat to Leicester and the away draw with Norwich Freddie Ljungberg was appointed acting manager and he started the current unbeaten away run, which Mr Arteta took over when he was appointed manager in Freddie’s place.
And is this a real improvement?
Not exactly, because in the League this season we have still only won two away games. Against Newcastle in August and West Ham in December. At that rate we’ll be due another away win in April.
We currently have 14 points from 13 away games. Last season under Mr Emery after this number of games away from home we had 18 points.
But we are better off than 2018 when we only had 13 points from 13 away games. In 2017 we had 21 points from 13 away games. So better than the worse, but still not that good.
So 13 or 14 points from 13 away games does not bode well for Arsenal, especially as the next game is away to Manchester City.
They have played 13 games at home – the same number of games as we have played away. And they have got 29 points at home (against our 14 points away).
They have scored 33 and conceded 12 at home, we have scored 14 and conceded 16 away from home.
Looking at these numbers a win for us is going to be a stunning achievement since they have only lost two and drawn two. And we’ve only won two away.
Indeed a win for Arsenal away to Manchester City would be the upset of the season. But then, it’s a funny old game.
Seems City’s highly talented but this season, injury prone types like KDB and Sane are in training to face us, having missed the last game, unless they are getting them ready for the CL.
Things have certainly improved in recent months, without spectacular improvement. Just seems more cohesiveness with the players, perhaps Arteta can relate and get through to them more effectively