Liverpool held Arsenal to a goalless draw on Thursday, however the Gunners keep a six-point lead atop the Premier League desk that continues their standing because the group to beat for this season’s title.

Arsenal’s defensive form stood out but once more, limiting the Reds to zero pictures on track and 0.36 anticipated targets on the Emirates Stadium however the hosts didn’t fare all that a lot better in assault. Although they took 9 pictures and managed to place 4 on track, an assault that includes star Bukayo Saka and new signing Viktor Gyokeres strung collectively simply 0.52 anticipated targets by the ultimate whistle. Their low attacking output hindered their skill to increase their lead on the high of the desk to eight factors, which might have bolstered their title cost even additional.

The Gunners’ probabilities of successful their first main title in 20 years, although, didn’t take a lot of successful due to Manchester Metropolis’s 1-1 draw in opposition to Brighton and Hove Albion on Wednesday. They maintained the six-point benefit that they had over Metropolis heading into the midweek fixtures, which stays their greatest-ever lead atop the desk at this stage of the season. They presently boast a larger lead than final season’s champions Liverpool did at this level within the season, after they had a 5 level benefit over Arsenal, and are nonetheless faring higher than a number of latest champions.

Premier League champions, final 10 seasons

Arsenal are presently averaging 2.33 factors per match, which places them on tempo for 89 factors on the finish of the marketing campaign when rounding up. In the event that they keep this price, they’re faring higher than three of the final 10 Premier League champions – final season’s Liverpool aspect, which clocked in at 84 factors, the 2020-21 Manchester Metropolis that racked up 86 factors and the historic Leicester Metropolis group from the 2015-16 marketing campaign. That Leicester group really had the bottom level complete of any within the final decade, amassing simply 81 factors, ending 10 factors forward of Arsenal when all was mentioned and performed – even supposing the 2 sides had been degree on factors 21 matches into that season.

This iteration of the Gunners entered the midweek fixtures with a sizeable six-point lead, however not an unprecedented one. Eight groups within the historical past of the Premier League had seven or extra factors on the subsequent greatest group by 20 matches, a statistic led by the 2017-18 Manchester Metropolis group that had a 15 level lead over Manchester United at that stage of the season and completed the season with an 11 level hole. Of that group, two went on to lose the title – the 1995-96 Newcastle United aspect with a seven level lead after 20 video games that ultimately completed 4 factors behind Manchester United and the 2018-19 Liverpool group with a seven level benefit that fell one level behind Manchester Metropolis at season’s finish.

Premier League groups will participate in FA Cup motion over the weekend earlier than returning to league play the next week. Arsenal have an opportunity to take care of their lead with a sport in opposition to relegation contender Nottingham Forest on Jan. 17, whereas Manchester Metropolis will play in an all-important version of the Manchester derby earlier that day.