Liverpool v Arsenal: how we have changed in just 12 games!

By Bulldog Drummond

It is of course self-evident that a win against Liverpool today would mean far more than three points.  For the media’s utter devotion to Liverpool (which we used to symbolise by writing the club’s name always as Liverpool!) is as strong as ever.   Explanations and excuses would follow of course, but it would be a shock to the media-system, not least because none of the major publications take any real notice of recent form.

In the table of the last six matches we are five points above Liverpool – but of course, we have had some easier games of late.

Our team has changed as week.  That first game against Brentford had a lineup of

Leno

Mari    White   Chambers    Tierney

Xhaka    Lokonga    Smith Rowe

Pepe    Balogun    Martinelli

And we should note that although we have not been playing traditional big teams of late our unbeaten run of eight games in the league is the longest winning run of any Premier League side.  What’s more if we include the league cup games that takes it up to 10 games without defeat.  

We have also noted several times Arteta’s amazing statistics in terms of win percentages and noted particularly 54 wins in 100 games.  How extraordinary that the media and the AAA were all campaigning for him to be removed after three matches this season.   Arteta’s start to his period as manager has only been bettered once – and that by George Graham who got 56 wins in 100 games, and ol George did quite well before he went off  the rails.

And yet the media and some “supporters” wanted Arteta out of the club!!!

Here’s another good stat.  If our defence can hold the referee and Liverpool team at bay that would make it four away games without conceding in a row – something last achieved in May 2005.   In case you are intrigued here are the details…

Date	Match	Result	Score	Competition
12 Mar 2005	Bolton Wanderers v Arsenal	W	0-1	FA Cup
19 Mar 2005	Blackburn Rovers v Arsenal	W	0-1	Premier League
9 Apr 2005	Middlesbrough v Arsenal	W	0-1	Premier League
20 Apr 2005	Chelsea v Arsenal	D	0-0	Premier League
2 May 2005	West Bromwich Albion v Arsenal	W	0-2	Premier League

And yes of course not for the first time Untold has to admit we got it wrong in suggesting we were not going to sign Aaron Ramsdale.  His latest achievement is that he has not conceded a single goal in five of his eight Premier League games this season.

But we do have an excuse.  He had just a grand total of five games without conceding in 37 matches for Bournemouth (2019/2000) and five without conceding in 38 games for Sheffield United last season.  How were we supposed to know he was this good?????

Another nice pointer for today’s game is that Emile Smith Rowe has scored in three consecutive league games and his total of four thus far is double that of 2020/21.

Meanwhile, WhoScored tell us that there have been three or more goals in Liverpool’s last eight games in the Premier League, which might lead you to think that this could be a 0-1 to the Arsenal, not least because Liverpool have scored two or more in their last eight league games and all runs come to an end sometime.

Against that as we have noted we have not let in a goal very often of late…

Date	Match	Res	Score	Competition
11 Sep 2021	Arsenal v Norwich City	W	1-0	Premier League
18 Sep 2021	Burnley v Arsenal	W	0-1	Premier League
22 Sep 2021	Arsenal v AFC Wimbledon	W	3-0	League Cup
26 Sep 2021	Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur	W	3-1	Premier League
2 Oct 2021	Brighton and Hove Albion v Arsenal	D	0-0	Premier League
18 Oct 2021	Arsenal v Crystal Palace	D	2-2	Premier League
22 Oct 2021	Arsenal v Aston Villa	W	3-1	Premier League
26 Oct 2021	Arsenal v Leeds United	W	2-0	League Cup
30 Oct 2021	Leicester City v Arsenal	W	0-2	Premier League
7 Nov 2021	Arsenal v Watford	W	1-0	Premier League

By my counting that still makes it five goals in ten games.

But the Whoscored predictions are always worthy of a read in my view…