Premier League data notebook: Arsenal’s offside sorcery, Newcastle’s trouble with leads, Spurs’ card frenzy

Arsenal’s title charge remains on a knife-edge after Manchester City trimmed the gap with a dramatic stoppage-time winner at Anfield, but Mikel Arteta’s side continue to set the standard for defensive control. Saturday’s 3-0 dismissal of Sunderland at Emirates Stadium extended a remarkable trend: opponents have been flagged offside only 17 times in 25 league fixtures, an average of 0.68 per game that is the lowest for any Premier League club in the past eight seasons.

The Gunners’ high line, marshalled expertly by Martin Zubimendi, rarely allows rivals even a glimpse of the whites of David Raya’s posts. Sunderland’s lone offside call arrived just before the interval when Trai Hume lofted a hopeful ball toward Brian Brobbey, who had mistimed his run behind Zubimendi. Arsenal have conceded a league-low seven through balls this term and surrender only 103.4 touches per match inside their own third, underscoring the suffocating nature of their positional play.

While Arsenal squeeze space, Newcastle United continue to squander advantage. Eddie Howe’s men have opened the scoring 15 times this season—level with Manchester United and behind only Arsenal and Manchester City—but five of those leads have turned into defeats, costing 19 points. No side has haemorrhaged more from winning positions.

Sven Botman’s header against Brentford gave Newcastle a 17th-minute cushion on Saturday, yet the Magpies again retreated into uncertainty. Dango Ouattara’s 81st-minute strike sealed a 2-1 comeback for the Bees, meaning Newcastle have dropped points in successive weeks after leading at the interval. The pattern coincides with three straight league defeats and a month without victory, a slide that threatens their European ambitions.

Brentford, by contrast, revel in simplicity. Keith Andrews’ team have drawn only three matches this term—fewest in the division—and their winner at St James’ Park showcased the direct blueprint that has carried them to seventh. A 35-yard punt from goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher was never intended for Igor Thiago; instead, the striker’s subtle impediment of Botman allowed the ball to drop invitingly for Mathias Jensen, whose first-time pass released Ouattara to finish. With 14.3 per cent of their passes classified as long, only Burnley go longer, but Brentford’s mastery of second balls turns percentage football into points.

Discipline, meanwhile, continues to undermine Tottenham’s resurgence. Cristian Romero’s straight red for a studs-up lunge on Casemiro in the 29th minute tilted Saturday’s meeting with Manchester United, who went on to win 2-0 through Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes. Romero becomes the only player dismissed twice this season—his first came in December against Liverpool—and Spurs have now collected 67 yellow or red cards, four more than any rival. Michael Oliver’s decision may grate in North London, yet Tottenham are booked once every 4.1 fouls, the most frequent rate in the league.

Elsewhere, the Premier League’s most tepid rivalry produced another tepid result as Crystal Palace edged Brighton 1-0, extending a run in which only three of the last ten meetings have surpassed two goals. The Seagulls did blood 17-year-old academy midfielder Harry Howell for 71 composed minutes, a rare beacon in a season where English players have accounted for just 24.2 per cent of top-flight minutes.

With 13 fixtures remaining, the margins are tightening at both ends of the table. Arsenal’s defensive hex, Newcastle’s lead allergy and Tottenham’s card habit could yet shape the final narrative of 2024-25.