3 positives & negatives as Premier League title charge continues

Positive #3: Eight-point lead

While we have now played a game more than Manchester City, our victory against the Eagles means that we go into the international break boasting an eight-point lead over our Premier League title rivals. As most ex-players are always so keen to remind the fans, points on the board are worth far more than games in hand.

A gap of that size means that even if we lose to City next month, and then win their game in hand, we will still have a two-point advantage over the Manchester club. With Erling Haaland currently on terrifying form, Man City will unlikely drop too many points in the league so that gap may eventually become a necessity, rather than a luxury as we continue to edge closer to the climax of the season.

Negative #3: No clean sheet

It’s difficult to critique a 4-1 victory, but it was slightly disappointing that the team were not able to secure a 13th Premier League clean sheet of the season for Ramsdale.  He currently has the joint-highest amount with 12, tied with Newcastle’s Nick Pope, and it would be a massive achievement for the 24-year-old.

This may be leaning towards nitpicking, but I am almost certain that both Arteta and the entire defence will be frustrated they weren’t able to keep Palace out, and the more clean sheets we keep between now and the end of the season, the more likely we are to win the league.