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It's been a quiet or rather a tragic week for the football fans all over the world with the incident that occurred during France's friendly against World champions Germany at Stade de France on November 13. The match was overshadowed by the huge number of lives lost in the attacks in Paris, including outside the stadium itself.The international fixtures for this calendar year are drawing to a close and the Premier League will be back this upcoming weekend. After 12 match weeks in the 2015/16 campaign, the season is less than a third of the way through but some records have already been set in England's top-flight.As usual, like in previous seasons, the Premier League has been a tale of the unexpected, with this term's surprise package Leicester City sitting 3rd in the league table, just 1 point adrift joint-top league leaders Manchester City and Arsenal cruising with 26 points while English Champions Chelsea are languishing in 16th, having suffered 7 defeats already.There were a few records set and intriguing statistics recorded that should provide some indication as to where the teams stand currently and what they need to do going forward to achieve their goals.
#1 Arsenal have scored league high 14 away goals
Arsenal look to be finally putting in their credible title campaign with all the momentum on their side for the first time since the Invincibles era. Arsene Wenger’s side are keeping up the pace with Manchester City, who are ahead of them in the league table on goal difference.
Much of the Gunners’ success this season has got to do with their impressive results on the road, earning five hard-fought victories from their six away matches. The side’s attacking force has been lethal, scoring a league-high 14 goals on the road.
Both Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez has found the back of the net on four occasions in their away fixtures this season. While the duo are doing their job in front of goal, playmaker Mesut Ozil has been providing the assists. The German international has registered 6 assists to his name on the road.
Meanwhile, Leicester City and Southampton are in third and seventh respectively. They are the last two teams with unbeaten away records this term.
With the addition of few players to the squad during summer and the appointment of manager Slaven Bilic, West Ham have been fared well in the 2015/16 campaign, especially on the road. The Hammers are the first side since Chelsea in 2005/06 to secure wins at Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City in the same season.
#2 Mahrez and Ighalo\'s rise to prominence
Two significant players from the ‘smaller clubs’ in the Premier League have taken the world by storm with the string of brilliant displays this season. Riyad Mahrez from Leicester City is well on course to challenge for Premier League Player of the Year award if he continues with his phenomenal form till the end of this term.
The Algeria international sits second in the league’s goalscorers chart with seven goals and he has been instrumental in his side’s creative play, recording a total of 5 assists to his name this season.
Watford striker Odion Ighalo’s performances for the newly promoted club have not been left unnoticed and he has earned his recognition through his efficiency in front of goal in this campaign.
Ighalo is tied with Mahrez in second position, with both players sharing seven goals each. The duo's rise to prominence has overshadowed Premier League’s renowned players Sergio Aguero and Alexis Sanchez this season.
#3 Jamie Vardy set to break Van Nistelrooy\'s record
Jamie Vardy’s ruthlessness in front of goal is partly responsible for Leicester City’s success this season. Vardy tops the goalscorers chart with 12 goals, five more than his nearest challengers Mahrez and Ighalo.
The England striker is on a hot streak, scoring in nine successive matches for the Foxes, thereby, making him the first player to accomplish that feat in a single Premier League season. The only player to score in more consecutive matches was former Manchester United striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy, who found the back the back of the net in 10 consecutive outings for the Red Devils.
Leicester's goal-scoring machine will be looking to equal the record in his side's away trip to St. James' Park, where they will face struggling Newcastle United on Saturday. If Vardy does manage to break the record, he will do so when Leicester face Manchester United.
#4 Chelsea record the worst title defence
It has been a nightmare season for the English Champions and they have also set a record this term, albeit not willingly. They have made the worst start to the season in 37 years. It hasn’t gone according to the script for the Blues, be it with their performances on the pitch to back room bust-ups between manager and club doctor Eva Carneiro.
Jose Mourinho grabs the headlines week after week with the rants on his post-match interviews. Many pundits and supporters have suggested the Portuguese coach has lost the plot at Stamford Bridge and along with it, the confidence of the dressing room, though everyone from Chelsea remains defiant.
Chelsea are the first Premier League title-holders to average less than a point from their first 12 matches, picking up a total of 11 points. The West London club have set a new record, breaking Blackburn Rovers’ record of 14 points in the same timeframe when defending their title in 1995/96.
#5 Kyle Walker sets a record on opening day
The season opener which saw Manchester United host Tottenham Hotspurs at Old Trafford turned out to be a dull affair between the two sides. It was a night to forget for Spurs’ full-back Kyle Walker who scored the opening goal of the season but at the wrong end.
The England international put past his own goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in the North London club’s 1-0 defeat by Manchester United. It marked the only time a Premier League campaign started with an own goal.
It was the only defeat for Mauricio Pochettino’s side this season and they have been undefeated since opening day, putting together a string of impressive performances along the way.
