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#2 Languid First-half Performances
It is amazing that Arsenal have played 17 games in the Premier League this season and yet have not had a halftime lead in any of the games. They have gone on to win 10 games and draw 4 while showing amazing powers of recovery.
The stats show that they are fit and mentally sharp at the end but it also shows their distinct inability to finish off games in the first half. It is a tactic used by big clubs. They dominate the first half and gain a comfortable margin. In the second half, they boss the ball and see out the game.
Arsenal have played poorly in the first half of games this season. If games ended in the first half, Arsenal will sit on 12 points and 19th position in the table. If only the second half of games were considered, Arsenal will be second position, on 39 points and behind only Manchester City.
This shows an alarming disparity between the first half and second half displays and it was always going to catch up with them. This disparity is also proven by the fact that Arsenal have scored 27 goals in the second half and only 10 before half-time.
The generally languid first half performances by Arsenal this season is a cause for concern and eventually led them to a defeat after so long without one.
