Arsenal take on Crystal Palace at the Emirates later today with both sides wanting a positive result for very different reasons.
The Gunners will be hot favourites to win today’s game with the run they are currently on and three points against Tony Pulis’ side will see Arsene Wenger’s men overtake City in the top spot for at least 24 hours.
On the other end of the table, Palace will be hoping to come out with something as they slowly drag themselves up the table and away from the relegation zone since Pulis took charge in November.
So here are (courtesy of OPTA) 11 stats and facts about both sides ahead of this afternoon’s game:
1. The Gunners have lost just one of their last 20 Premier League games at home.
2. In their last seven games at the Emirates, Arsenal have kept six clean sheets.
3. Arsenal have won five and lost none of their last eight meetings with Palace in all competitions.
4. 99 – this is how much games Arsenal have drawn at home in Premier League history.
5. Seven different Arsenal players have scored headed goals so far this season – more than at any other club.
6. In the month of February, the Gunners have won 12 and drawn two of their last 14 Premier League games.
7. The Gunners average 1.84 points per game in Premier League London derbies and Palace 0.90 per match. These are the best and worst points returns respectively of any capital clubs.
8. Olivier Giroud has scored the first goal of a Premier League game six times so far – more than any other player in the league.
9. Palace have found the back of the net just five times away from home in the league, fewer than any other team and never more than once in a single match.
10. Crystal Palace head into this match in 16th place having scored only 15 goals; the fewest of any side in the Premier League this season so far.
11. Former Gunner Marouane Chamakh is Palace’s top scorer in the Premier League with five goals to his name.
