Arsenal looking for stability with away trip to Huddersfield

All is not well at Arsenal Football Club. The end of the world has not happened, either. With Unai Emery leading the Gunners in the race for Champions League, finding form has become essential.

After the shock away result on the south coast at St. Mary’s, Arsenal has stagnated. The credibility garnered from the 22-match unbeaten run has since dried up. New building blocks must be laid. Our recent form suggests that we can take nothing for granted.

In the wake of the Saints marching over us, poor outings on the road have been the hallmark of the toughest period in professional football. Sub-standard results against Brighton, Liverpool, West Ham, and Manchester City have once again thrown the fanbase into disarray. Any spirit of optimism gained from the 2-0 win at home to Chelsea has been snuffed out.

What we needed was a gift. Huddersfield now – in theory – provides us with that. A visit to the John Smith’s Stadium and new headmaster Jan Siewert is the perfect opportunity to kick back into gear.

Raw data comparison

Overall Record: Huddersfield (2-5-18; 13-46; 11pts) – Arsenal (14-5-6; 51-36; 47pts)

Form in last 5: Huddersfield (0-1-4; 1-11; 1pt) – Arsenal (3-0-2; 9-6; 9pts)

Huddersfield home record; 1-2-10; 5-20; 5pts

Arsenal away record; 4-3-5; 23-25; 15pts

Points per match (overall): Huddersfield (0.44) – Arsenal (1.88)

Goals scored per match: Huddersfield (0.52) – Arsenal (2.04)

Goals conceded per match: Huddersfield (1.84) – Arsenal (1.44)

Data trends

• Huddersfield have been held scoreless in 16 of their 25 Premier League matches
• The Terriers have not won a league fixture since 25 November, away to Wolves (0-1-11 in that timeframe)
• Arsenal’s last win away from the Emirates came on 25 November at Bournemouth
• The last time the Gunners scored more than 1 goal away from home was the 3-2 loss at Southampton
• Arsenal have failed to keep a single away clean sheet all season
• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored more league goals (15) than Huddersfield’s combined first-team player pool

Conclusions and predictions

Under normal circumstances, I would be hard pressed to say this was a straight forward result. I am happy to report that doing so here is a no-brainer. Huddersfield is trying their best to put in one of the worst seasons in Premier League history. To say they are there for the taking would be putting it mildly.

Much of Saturday’s proceedings may well be determined on how Emery intends to set us up. The nature of our reliance on our full-backs for width clearly makes the gaffer nervous. Questions surround our on-pitch identity, and how he intends to set us up could go some way to making it clear. Despite that fact, we are in need of a massive boost with which to start a mini-revival. No better opportunity to open the attacking throttle could have presented itself.

If Huddersfield’s abysmal goal record is not enough to quell the Basque’s concerns, then perhaps the notion that center-back Mathias Jorgensen (now known as Zanka, for some reason) tops their goal charts with 3 goals. To compound matters further, Siewert must try to get a tune out of a Huddersfield field side whose creative woes put ours to shame.

Ramadan Sobhi (3.97 KP90) has been loaned to El Ahly till the summer, and Aaron Mooy (1.80 KP90) is just returning from a knee injury. Should the Australian international fail to feature, it will be up to youngster Juninho Bacuna (1.20 KP90) and Alex Pritchard (1.18 KP90) to supply front-man Steve Mounie with any semblance of ammunition.

Though it is hard to be completely confident currently, I cannot see Huddersfield coming away with anything on Saturday; Mesut Ozil or not. It should be business as usual for another hopeful sighting of the Aubameyang/Lacazette duo, who’s combined 24 goals and 9 assists present a nightmare scenario for Huddersfield if they’re in the mood.

A comfortable 3-0 win to the Arsenal and confidence restored as we go into another very tricky period in the fixture list.