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Yellow Cards Leave Arsenal Feeling Blue
Manchester United
managed their 1000th top-flight home victory by defeating Arsenal at Old Trafford on Saturday, but the match is likely to be remembered more for disciplinary reasons.
Referee Mike Dean's performance has been put under scrutiny, having booked six Arsenal players and only three for United - this despite the Red Devils committing six more fouls.
The Gunners have now been given 17 cautions in their last three visits to Old Trafford, despite making only 44 fouls - a card for every 2.5 fouls. Interestingly, United have been given only five yellow cards in the same period, despite making 48 fouls.
Dean also awarded United a penalty following a foul on Wayne Rooney by Manuel Almunia; their fourth on the last seven occasions on which they have hosted the Gunners.
Another statistic of note from this game was that Arsenal lost their first Premier League game that they had been leading at half-time in since February 2005 - against Manchester United.
Target Practice
Bolton striker Kevin Davies scored his first goal of the season in the Trotters' 3-2 defeat to Liverpool at the weekend - his first in 11 competitive matches. Crucially for Davies and his side, it was his first shot on target all season, and his eighth in total.
Steven Gerrard answered his critics with a match-winning goal in this match - his seventh in the Premier League against Bolton. Only Aston Villa (nine) have been on the receiving end of his strikes more often.
Money Talks
Manchester City will be hoping that their huge investment in the side will be worth it come the end of the season, as they look for Premier League glory.
They have not had the worst start, winning all three of their games thus far and, including the last game of 2008/09, City have now won four successive Premier League matches for the first time since November 1992.
However, history suggests that it could be a false dawn at Eastlands, as only four of the 20 teams who have previously won their opening three games have gone onto win the Premier League.
Shooting Stars
Chelsea have made the best possible start under Carlo Ancelotti, winning four out of four in the Premier League. In fact, the Blues' two previous Premier League title wins have also seen them win their opening four games of the season.
The West London side can attribute much of their success to their shot-happy style of play. Chelsea have attempted an impressive 82 shots in their opening four matches - an average of over 20 a game. This statistic has also helped to ensure that they have scored two or more goals in each of their last eight Premier League games.
Manchester United
managed their 1000th top-flight home victory by defeating Arsenal at Old Trafford on Saturday, but the match is likely to be remembered more for disciplinary reasons.Referee Mike Dean's
performance has been put under scrutiny, having booked six Arsenal players and only three for United - this despite the Red Devils committing six more fouls.The Gunners have now been given 17 cautions in their last three visits to Old Trafford, despite making only 44 fouls - a card for every 2.5 fouls. Interestingly, United have been given only five yellow cards in the same period, despite making 48 fouls.
Dean also awarded United a penalty following a foul on Wayne Rooney
by Manuel Almunia; their fourth on the last seven occasions on which they have hosted the Gunners. Another statistic of note from this game was that Arsenal lost their first Premier League game that they had been leading at half-time in since February 2005 - against Manchester United.
Target Practice
Bolton striker Kevin Davies
scored his first goal of the season in the Trotters' 3-2 defeat to Liverpool at the weekend - his first in 11 competitive matches. Crucially for Davies and his side, it was his first shot on target all season, and his eighth in total.Steven Gerrard
answered his critics with a match-winning goal in this match - his seventh in the Premier League against Bolton. Only Aston Villa (nine) have been on the receiving end of his strikes more often.Money Talks
Manchester City
will be hoping that their huge investment in the side will be worth it come the end of the season, as they look for Premier League glory.They have not had the worst start, winning all three of their games thus far and, including the last game of 2008/09, City have now won four successive Premier League matches for the first time since November 1992.
However, history suggests that it could be a false dawn at Eastlands, as only four of the 20 teams who have previously won their opening three games have gone onto win the Premier League.
Shooting Stars
Chelsea have made the best possible start under Carlo Ancelotti,
winning four out of four in the Premier League. In fact, the Blues' two previous Premier League title wins have also seen them win their opening four games of the season.The West London side can attribute much of their success to their shot-happy style of play. Chelsea have attempted an impressive 82 shots in their opening four matches - an average of over 20 a game. This statistic has also helped to ensure that they have scored two or more goals in each of their last eight Premier League games.
Listen, don't fret and sweat, the fact of the matter is that the same thing used to happen at Anfield in the '80s. The original post was pretty clear about the statistics; argue all you want, facts are facts.
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