The 2013-2014 season had been dubbed as the season of change in the English premiership. The season has lived up to or surpassed the expectations of a neutral football lover until now. This really is the season of change and the league table provides substantial evidence for it.
Gone are the days when the top four spots were almost certain even without a match played. Welcome to the most competitive league on the planet, the Barclays Premier League.
We are in the month of February and the title race is still wide open with none of the so called ‘big clubs’ being able to create a substantial gap at the top of the table.
A quick look at the league table suggests that this title race will definitely go down to the wire. Arsenal have been in the news for all the right reasons this season and that includes splashing the cash on Ozil in the summer and thus unsurprisingly finding themselves at the top of the table. So will the Gunners finally be crowned champions? I don’t think so.
Arsenal have played 24 games in the premiership and minted 55 points. They enjoy a two point lead over the second placed Manchester City and Chelsea. Over the course of these games they have managed to score 47 goals and conceded only 21 goals. Wenger’s men have definitely mounted an admirable title charge and that is reflected by the fact that they have won 71% of their contests in the league. Impressive!
The league table talks and right now it says ‘if the Gunners march on as they have, they will be the champions of England come this May’. The current top four teams on the points table are the most likely to be involved in the fight for the title till the very end. That is Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool. Everton, Tottenham and Manchester United are all vying for that 4th spot in the table to qualify for the champions league next year.
|
Team |
Played |
Won |
Draw |
Lost |
Win% |
| Arsenal |
6 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
33% |
| Liverpool |
7 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
43% |
| Manchester City |
8 |
6 |
0 |
2 |
75% |
| Chelsea |
8 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
50% |
The table above shows statistics from the matches played between the current top 7 teams of the table this season.
Unfortunately the points table can hide details that may be absolutely important in the title race. An important factor in winning the title is to secure the most points off the bigger teams in the league. This is exactly where Arsenal fail while Manchester City, Chelsea and even Liverpool shine. Arsenal have played the other current top six teams (i.e. Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Everton) in the league once each and have managed only two wins, two draws, and two losses. They have won 33% of the big clashes which is bettered even by fourth placed Liverpool. Manchester City have dominated the major title contenders outright. Chelsea cannot be overlooked for the very fact that they are the only team to beat Manchester City both the times they duked it out. The upcoming fixtures are not kind to Arsenal as they not only face the top six teams of the league again over the course of February and March but also the reigning champions of Europe: Bayern Munich in the champions league. Arsenal face Manchester United and Liverpool this month, followed by Tottenham, Chelsea and Everton in March. In contrast Liverpool will play only 5 matches against some of the top teams whereas Chelsea and Manchester City will play just four matches against the other top teams of the table. Statistics can offer only offer some insight into what might actually happen, but they often don’t lie. Arsenal may well be the current table toppers but their title charge will have to pass the stern tests over the next two months. Manchester City are scoring goals for fun and have bulldozed everyone on the way except Chelsea. On the other hand Chelsea have emerged as a tactically solid and reliable unit. It is also important to note that Chelsea sold Juan Mata to a struggling giant called Manchester United, who have to face the rest of the top teams from the table except Chelsea in the next two months. It is not surprising that Wenger questioned Mourinho’s decision to let Mata go during the January transfer window. Arsenal neither have the firepower of Manchester City nor the ‘Special one’ to see them through this exciting and intriguing fight for the title. While it might look all bright and promising for Arsenal right now, it would not take much time for this to change. Neither would it be surprising to see Arsenal fighting for a champions league spot rather than the title by the end of the season.
It surely is turning out to be the season of change.
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Ok they won’t win it just because of what you state.Arsenal have been written off all the time over the years and you know what we have done it against the grain many times.
ARSENAL CAN WIN THE LEAGUE THIS SEASON.
I think it doesn’t matter what you think sir. Infact nobody needs your opinion as to whether Arsenal wins th league or not. Let’s just keep quiet and watch the games and if there’s anything newsworthy to write then don’t bother writing at all. I’ve had enough of you prophets of doom since the season started. So spare us your opinion, we’re not interested in it!