Arsenal looking to defy the ‘Christmas curse’
The Gunners will be hoping to break the curse they hold in the English top flight where they fail to be crowned after leading after Christmas.
The Premier League is back after the break for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and Arsenal FC boss Mikel Arteta’s side have the chance to continue their good run at the top of the table as they face West Ham. Gunners fans too will be hoping that this will be the season when the club can defy the Christmas curse.
According to data from OptaJoe, the Emirates Stadium side have slipped up on the five times they have lead the league coming into the festive break. The first instance was back in the 1951-52 season when the Gunners ended up third. It happened again in 1986-87 and in 1989-90 when the North London outfit had to make do with a fourth place finish despite topping the table at Christmas. The 2002-03 season saw the side finish second and they ended up in third place in the in 2007-08 campaign.
Currently Arsenal have 37 points from 12 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss, with 33 goals for and 11 against. Their closest rival is Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, who have 32 points with 10 wins, 2 drawn matches and 2 losses, but a better goal difference of +26.
These two teams have not met yet in the Premier League campaign in the 2022-23 season with the Premier League clash having to be rearranged to make way for the Arsenal Europa League game against PSV Eindhoven, which in turn had been rescheduled due to protocols that followed due to the death and funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
Arsenal return to action on Boxing Day
Arteta’s side return to action on 26 December with a game against West Ham United this Monday, December 26, at 3:00 p.m. ET with a win over the Hammers set to open an eight point lead over City who return to action on Wednesday as they travel to Leeds.