Edit: sorry, I forgot to credit the sources for the stats when I sent out the email. Everything is from FBRef except for the zones of control and PPDA, which are from Opta Analyst.
Sometimes you have to rewrite articles.
I thought this was going to be about how Manchester City took control of the title race by beating Arsenal, shaking off their bad run of form and getting into a dominant run once more. City haven’t quite been themselves since the World Cup, but I thought beating Arsenal saw them kick it into a higher gear. I expected City would now go on a run the likes of which we’ve seen before, beating all in front of them as they clinched a fifth title in six years.
They still might. But dropping points against Nottingham Forest has put the title race right in the balance. FiveThirtyEight is all but throwing its hands up and saying the contest is too close to call.
Now, I really do think City were the better side against Forest, both in the data and the eye test. But we already knew they were better than the 13th-placed team in the Premier League. The problem is that they’ve put themselves in this position by dropping too many points.
What happens next? Let’s break down both teams competing for the title.