Arsenal got the opportunity of overtaking Tottenham Hotspurs last weekend with a late 1-0 victory over Burnley. The Gunners had just beaten the Spurs a week before their win at Turf Moor Stadium, and now Arsene Wenger men occupy the fourth spot in the league standing. Arsenal now plots to displace Chelsea in position three after securing the maximum points over Huddersfield Town. However, Arsenal could drop to position five should they fall to the league newcomers.
Huddersfield Town was on the verge of becoming the first team to down Manchester City in a Premier League match this season with the Terriers going ahead with an own goal.
However, the newcomers surrendered the lead in the second as Manchester City scored two more goals for themselves which saw the game conclude 2-1 in favor of the league leaders.
Match facts
- The last away victory that Huddersfield Town registered over Arsenal came way back in November, I954. However, the Terriers have just managed four goals in their last eight visits to Arsenal.
- The Terriers have just prevailed once in the fifteen meetings in all competitions against Arsenal. The only glory was the 2-1 home success over the Gunners in 1971 in a top-flight league.
- Arsenal met Huddersfield Town last in 2011 in an FA Cup match that the Gunners won 2-1. However, Huddersfield Town was in League One back then.
- Arsenal is unbeaten in their last thirteen home matches where the Gunners have won a massive eleven and have just drawn twice in that good run. However, Arsenal is looking for their first three league matches victories in a row this season.
- Huddersfield Town is the forty-sixth opponent in the Premier League Arsene Wenger is facing since his appointment in 1996.
- Alexis Sanchez has shown his dominance whenever Arsenal is facing league newcomers. The Chilean has been involved in seventeen out of eighteen goals against a newly-promoted team.
- Arsene Wenger has lost seven more league matches in November than in December since his appointment as the Gunners manager more than two decades ago. December remains Wenger's second-worst month in his Premier League career with the French tactician losing twenty matches.
- The last time the Terriers prevailed in an away league match was in the season opener where they stunned Crystal Palace with a 3-0 victory. However, Huddersfield Town has gone without league wins in their last five outings.
- Huddersfield Town is struggling in front of the goal while on the road as David Wagner's men have failed to score in their six trips in all competitions. The period that the Terriers have failed to score while away from the home fans in all competitions is equivalent to nine hours and twelve minutes.
Team news
Santi Carzola remains a long-term absentee for the hosts, and he's the only player that Arsene Wenger will miss for the contest.
Alex Iwobi who was withdrawn at Burnley due to dead legs is doubtful for the game while Mesut Ozil who missed the weekend's victory with illness may recover in time to feature. Theo Walcot is another doubtful case in the Arsenal's camp as the English international is fighting to pass a fitness test before the match.
Wenger will contemplate whether to pair Alexandre Lacazzatte with either Danny Welbeck or Oliver Giroud upfront but the Frenchman focus will quickly shift to the weekend face-off with Manchester United.
In the absence of Alex Iwobi, Wenger could hand Jack Wilshere a first Premier League start this season.
Jon Gorenc Stankovic, Michael Hefele, and Philip Billing will miss the trip to London due to injuries while Rajiv van La Parna will begin serving a three-match ban following his dismissal against the Citizens. Kassey Palmer could stay out of the event due to low fitness level.
Wagner could start Stevie Mounie and Elias Kachunga who both didn't feature against Manchester City at the weekend as the Terriers try to solve their goalscoring crisis.
Predictions
Huddersfield Town is visiting Emirates Stadium at the wrong time when the Gunners' display in front of the home fan is impressive as Arsenal remains unbeaten in thirteen home contests. On the contrary, the visitors are finding difficult finding net in their trip lately. Arsenal could get their twelfth win in their fourteenth league match at home while David Wagner's men away woes are expected to continue.
Full-time prediction: Arsenal 3-1 Huddersfield Town
