Arsenal face Manchester City in the Premier League at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
With Stats Zone, you can brush up on the facts and figures behind every Gunners match this season, brought to you by Opta and the official matchday programme.
UNDER THE KOS
Fig 1
Laurent Koscielny will come up one of the Premier League's most dangerous strikers in Sergio Aguero on Saturday - but it is a task he will relish. The France international played a key role in keeping Romelu Lukaku quiet in last weekend's 1-1 draw with Everton and his pace and anticipation will be vital once more at Eithad Stadium.
The 28-year-old likes to step out of defence to press opposing forwards or make interceptions in front of the Arsenal penalty area, while Per Mertesacker drops behind him. It is a partnership that works brilliantly and Lukaku's growing frustration on Sunday was testament to their combined dominance.
As our heatmap shows, Kosicelny was most prevalent in the space between the defence and midfield and he made nine clearances (purple triangles on chalkboard), the joint-most of any player on the pitch with Sylvain Distin. Koscielny's towering performance also included a 100 per cent tackle success rate, an impressive eight interceptions (blue triangles), two defensive blocks (yellow triangles) and 11 recoveries (orange triangles).
It was an immaculate display, and one he will need to repeat if the in-form Aguero is to be kept in check.
HEAD TO HEAD - AGUERO v KOSCIELNY
Sergio Aguero v Laurent Koscielny
MANCHESTER CITY v ARSENAL - MATCH FACTS
- This match pits the two most clinical teams in the Premier League, with Man City scoring with 20.6 per cent of their shots and Arsenal 18.9%
- No team has won morePremier League games against Manchester City than Arsenal (21 along with Chelsea) or won more often at City’s own ground (10 along with Chelsea)
- There have been six red cards in the last six Premier League meetings between Man City (4) and Arsenal (2)
- There have been just seven goals scored in the last six meetings in all competitions between Arsenal and Man City
- Only two of the last eight meetings between City and Arsenal in all competitions have ended as home wins (HW2, D3, AW3)
- The last time Arsenal won at Etihad Stadium, Samir Nasri was playing for Arsenal and netted the opening goal (October 2010)
- Manchester City have conceded the highest percentage of second-half goals in this season’s Premier League (73 per cent)
- Man City have the best home attack (29 goals) and the best home defence (two conceded), while Arsenal have the joint-best away attack (14 scored) and the best away defence (five conceded)
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