Stats Talk: How Arsenal overcame odds to equal the Invincibles' record

PREMIER LEAGUE Stats Talk: How Arsenal overcame odds to equal the Invincibles' record

Kiplagat Sang 12:30 - 08.05.2023

The Gunners registered an important victory at Newcastle, who are fighting for a place in the top four.

Arsenal were expected to struggle during their Premier League match against Newcastle United on Sunday.

However, the Gunners produced a classic performance that not only gave them crucial points in the title race but also got them a clean sheet.

Against the Magpies, who had won eight of their last nine games and suffered defeat just twice in their last 24 Premier League home games, the London side showed resilience to eventually win and move a point behind Manchester City.

Newcastle were unlucky given that Jacob Murphy and Alexander Isak both struck the woodwork, but Aaron Ramsdale, in Arsenal’s goal, was equally outstanding.

The scoreline would have been more favourable to Arsenal, but Nick Pope made critical saves to deny Gabriel Martinelli and Odegaard in quick succession and then stopped Bukayo Saka in a one-on-one situation.

By winning to take their tally to 81 points, Arsenal equalled a record they set during their last Premier League winning campaign. They have 81 points from 35 league games this season (W25 D6 L4); only in their unbeaten 2003-04 campaign have they ever hit 80+ points at an earlier stage in a league campaign in their history (33rd game).

According to Opta stats, the Gunners became only the third different side to beat Eddie Howe's Newcastle in the Premier League at St. James' Park in his 31 home league matches in charge (W18 D9 L4), along with Liverpool (twice) and Manchester City.

Meanwhile, Ramsdale became only the third different goalkeeper to record 10 away clean sheets in a single Premier League season, after Petr Cech (11 in 2004-05 & 10 in 2008-09) and Ederson (11 in 2018-19 and 10 in 2021-22).

Mikel Arteta’s boys also registered back-to-back wins – they had outclassed Chelsea on Tuesday – and this is expected to boost their morale, especially after dropping points against Liverpool, West Ham, Southampton, and Manchester City before.

They will host Brighton on May 13 in another game that is seen as equally tough for them.