Statistics, Eh?!?

Arsenal's dismantling of Sheffield United on Monday evening meant a whole new set of statistical records were set; not just during the match, but reflecting the team's incredible run over the past 7 matches. If titles were won on paper, Arsenal would have this one wrapped up on all known indicators. 

My favourite stats from the night were:

• William Saliba completed 167 passes (in itself an incredible number for a centre back) during the match. That's more than the entire Sheffield United team, who completed just 142 between them. Those 167 passes comfortably eclipsed the Arsenal record of 154, previously held by Santi Cazorla

• Kai Havertz's goal was the 150,000th in English top flight football history. And Ben White's left-footed pile-driver was Arsenal's 10,000th competitive goal

• The 11-0 aggregate over two matches against Sheffield United equalled Arsenal's previous Premier League record, which was achieved against Everton in 2004/5 and then against a hapless Derby County in 2007/8. And is one short of Manchester City's 12-0 record, achieved against Watford. As an aside, I have happy memories of Arsenal facing Everton on or around the final game of the season (remember 'It's Tony Adams, put through by Steve Bould. Would you believe it?!? That sums it all up!'). I recall a 7-0, a 4-3 and a 5-1. Not an omen, but our final game of the season is... home to Everton...

• The result was Arsenal's third consecutive 5+ goal away win. Which is as remarkable as is the fact that it was also United's third consecutive 5+ goal defeat! They are doomed

• Arsenal were three goals up in 15 minutes, and 5 in 39. No wonder the home sections were half empty by half time

• Waka waka. Kai Havertz scored -and assisted - again. Oh we of little faith! As it turns out, Mikel knows...

I could go on. But - and I'll, as I usually do, preface this by pointing out that Sheffield United are terrible - this was no flash in the pan. Since their mini-break in Dubai, and with the bizarre exception of the defeat in Portugal, Arsenal have been blowing far better sides than this lot away. Newcastle are no mugs, yet they didn't have a sniff. Nobody goes to the London Stadium and hits 6. Liverpool supporters will be the first to admit that they were well beaten.

This side currently has something of the feel of The Invincibles. Now, they've clearly got a hell of a way to go to emulate that side (I'm not sure that it's even possible these days if the great Manchester City haven't achieved it), but just to see them in the tunnel prior to the game would have sent shivers up Sheffield spines. A steely look, and a little nod - both reminiscent of the magnificent Vieira-led team of 2003/4 - were enough to put the opposition away before the match had even started. And it was all over as contest in no time, as we all saw.

A goals record of 31-3 over the past 7 games is amazing. And the underlying stats reinforce the results. xG is 19, so they're over-performing that by miles (I wrote only a few weeks ago that Arsenal were under-performing against xG, and just wait until that changes - I am a prophet!)

More importantly, xGA (expected goals against) over the 7 games is 1.97 - so they're underperforming that by actually having let three goals in - but the nearest team to the Gunners, Manchester City's, comparative xGA is close to 7! Liverpool's is 10. Newcastle's is over 20! And it's this that could make the difference by the end of the season.

No team wins a title with a poor defence. Statistically, Arsenal's is the best in the division. Fewest shots on target conceded. Fewest goals conceded. Lowest xGA. And that bodes well. Provided that... the centre halves stay fit, and that Arteta can be allowed some rotation. Zinchenko, Tomiyasu and even Timber should be making it back to fitness in turn as the season builds to a climax, which will all help. Not that young Kivior isn't doing a remarkable job at left back at the moment.

As for those who'd been clamouring for a striker... eat your words! Goals are being shared all over the pitch. The team looks settled, and is playing with great belief, confidence and verve. Arteta seems to have the mix just right at the moment. But there's a long way to go yet.

Because... all of these stats are on paper. The title will - I'm pretty sure - be decided on grass, and moments may be vital. Trends are one thing, but it only takes a mometary lapse for things to go awry. As Thierry Henry pointed out on Sky Sports on Monday evening, whilst Arsenal's defensive stats are enviable, they maybe do have a weakness. Much like Manchester City, they have a propensity to concede to the first shot on target (although recently those have been few and far between). And the weakness is this, for both sides: they are intent on dominating possession, and on pushing up and strangling the opposition. But if the press is beaten, they can find themselves wide open to a swift break. Yin and yang; I'd risk it. After all, Saliba has fantastic recovery pace, but before that's needed they've got to get past Rice and Gabriel. All of which is going to make the game at The Etihad fascinating.

Arsenal are playing the most scintillating football in Europe at the moment, but that will count for nothing if they get knocked out of their stride. I'm not too worried about an injury-ravaged Brentford, who they ought to shrug aside. But they need to carry the performance through to Porto on Tuesday. Failure to qualify for the last 8 of the Champions League would be sure to hit their confidence (qualification will lead to fixture congestion, but that's the price of success). Tuesday will be an entirely different type of game - Porto will try every trick in the book - but there's a good chance that they may find themselves getting blown away at a fired-up Emirates Stadium.

After Porto, there's another of those hideous interlulls... and then Manchester City away! We'll know more about the size of the task in hand by the time City have finished their clash with Liverpool, but we'll know everything about it by the evening of March 31st. 

Meantime, let's see the momentum spill over into each game, take each one as it comes, and we shall see. This feels different to last season, when injuries were already starting to deplete the squad. What Monday's scoreline did was mean a full half for Fabio Vieira, and half an hour from Gabriel Jesus, as well as the lesser-spotted Thomas Partey (who looked rusty, but still showed flashes of what makes him such an important piece in the jigsaw). An entirely different scenario to last season.

Nonetheless, the task is enormous. Arsenal are still only in third place, with two behemoths ahead of them; players and managers who have been there, and done it. And whilst I feel that Liverpool's 'luck' may run out (there's a similar feel to what they're doing to what Arsenal did in the first par tof last season; and despite injuries their recent fixtures haven't been taxing in any case) at any minute, I'd rather not contemplate dealing with City until I have to. 

Arsenal remain the third youngest squad in the Premier League, so there's surely plenty to come from them over the next few years. But they currently look ready to step up, and this does feel like a great opportunity. 10 more matches. That's all. It has to be Full Steam Ahead. 

COYG!