BBC SPORT | FOOTBALL | Arsenal v Ipswich Town Statistical Preview

BBC Sport Online: Football

Friday, 9 February, 2001, 11:05 GMT

Arsenal v Ipswich Town Statistical Preview

FA Carling Premiership
at Highbury - Sat Feb 10, 2001

Most significant stats

Arsenal, who have won their last 3, are unbeaten at home in the Premiership this season

This is Arsene Wenger's 250th game in charge of Arsenal

If Arsenal win, it will be the Gunners 100th Premiership victory under Wenger

Arsenal have not conceded in 6 hours 28 minutes of senior football

Ipswich have lost their last 4. Another defeat here will be their 100th under George Burley

Ipswich, who knocked Arsenal out of the Worthington Cup in November, have never beaten the North London giants in the Premiership

ARSENAL

Current League position
2nd 47 points - 15 points off the pace

Best Scenario at final whistle
Gap closed on leaders Manchester United to 12 points
If win, and United lose at Chelsea

Worst Scenario at final whistle
Down 1 to 3rd
If lose, and Liverpool win at Sunderland

Sequences

WON LAST 3

6 UNDEFEATED in all competitions [4 wins, 2 draws]

4 UNBEATEN (Premiership)

UNBEATEN AT HOME ALL SEASON IN THE PREMIERSHIP

NOT CONCEDED IN 4 GAMES (6 hours 28 mins or 388 minutes)

Recent Form

Undefeated in 19 top flight games at Highbury

Last Home League defeat:
Arsenal 0-1 Liverpool Feb 13 2000 [Almost a year]

Conceded once in 6 games

This is Arsene Wenger's 250th game in charge of Arsenal

If Arsenal win, it will be the Gunners 100th Premiership victory under Wenger

Arsenal are one draw away from 100 stalemates in the Premiership

IPSWICH TOWN

Current League position
5th 40 points - 3 places and 7 points behind Arsenal

Best Scenario at final whistle
Up 1 to 4th
If win, and Sunderland lose at home to Liverpool, with a three goal swing

Worst Scenario at final whistle
Realistically Down 3 to 8th
If lose, Leeds win at home to Derby, Leicester take maxinum points at Everton and Chelsea beat Manchester United at Stamford Bridge

Sequences

LOST LAST 4 IN ALL COMPETITIONS

LOST LOST 3 AWAY

Recent Form

Conceded 11 in last 4 defeats

With Newcastle, drawn fewest matches in the Premiership - 4

Not drawn an away Premiership game this season

Ipswich are 2nd in the Premiership Away Table - 10 points behind Man U having played one less game

Failed to score in only 2 top flight games. Only Man U share that feat

If Ipswich lose, it will be Town's 100th defeat under George Burley

Potential Career Milestones

James SCOWCROFT is a hat trick away from 50 League goals

If he plays, Alun ARMSTRONG will be making his 250th career appearance

FIXTURE HISTORY

HEAD TO HEAD

Total Meetings Arsenal
Wins Ipswich
Wins Draws

All Comps* 54 26 17 11

Premiership 7 5 2 0
League+ 49 24 15 10

* includes all games from the Premiership, Football League, FA Cup, League Cup and major European competitions
+ denotes Premiership and Football League

IPSWICH TOWN AT ARSENAL

Meetings W L D

Premiership 3 0 2 1
League+ 24 6 12 6

+ denotes Premiership and Football League

Head to Head Comments

Ipswich knocked Arsenal out of the Worthington Cup this season. Town won 2-1 in the Third Round tie at Highbury on Nov 1. Scowcroft got the winner in the last minute, after Clapham's 2nd minute goal had been cancelled out by Stepanous for the Gunners, just before half time

Ipswich have never beaten Arsenal in the Premiership

Ipswich have not won a League match at Highbury for 22 years. Their last success there was 2-0 on Aug 21 1979 in the old First Division

The reverse fixture this season on Sept 23 was a 1-1 draw with goals from Marcus Stewart for Ipswich, 4 minutes after the break, and Dennis Bergkamp, 6 minutes from time

HIGHBURY ATTENDANCES

Gate Match Cp Date

Total 660,340

Average 36,686

Highest 38,146 Arsenal 1-0 Manchester U Prem Oct 1

Lowest 26,105 Arsenal 1-2 Ipswich Town WC Nov 1

ARSENAL PREMIERSHIP ATTENDANCES

Gate Match Date

Total 493,259

Average 37,943

Highest 38,146 Arsenal 1-0 Manchester U Oct 1

Lowest 37,318 Arsenal 2-0 Bradford City Jan 30

REFEREES REPORT

MAN IN THE MIDDLE

ROB HARRIS (Oxford)

Premiership matches officated 7

Red cards shown 2

Yellow cards shown 25

Referee Comments

Mr Harris has officiated at one Premiership match involving one of these clubs

He controlled Arsenal's 1-0 win over Aston Villa on Oct 14 when Villa's Lee Hendrie was sent off for a second bookable offence. Thierry Henry was the Gunners only yellow card.

HEAD TO HEAD
	Total Meetings	Arsenal Wins	Ipswich Wins	Draws
All Comps*	54	26	17	11
Premiership	7	5	2	0
League+	49	24	15	10

IPSWICH TOWN AT ARSENAL
	Meetings	W	L	D
Premiership	3	0	2	1
League+	24	6	12	6

HIGHBURY ATTENDANCES
	Gate	Match	Cp	Date
Total	660,340
Average	36,686
Highest	38,146	Arsenal 1-0 Manchester U	Prem	Oct 1
Lowest	26,105	Arsenal 1-2 Ipswich Town	WC	Nov 1

ARSENAL PREMIERSHIP ATTENDANCES
	Gate	Match	Date
Total	493,259
Average	37,943
Highest	38,146	Arsenal 1-0 Manchester U	Oct 1
Lowest	37,318	Arsenal 2-0 Bradford City	Jan 30

MAN IN THE MIDDLE
ROB HARRIS (Oxford)
Premiership matches officated	7
Red cards shown	2
Yellow cards shown	25