Stats Talk: How Arsenal compounded Lampard’s managerial woes

PREMIER LEAGUE Stats Talk: How Arsenal compounded Lampard’s managerial woes

Kiplagat Sang • 12:15 - 03.05.2023

Lampard’s managerial reputation suffered another huge setback as Arsenal outclassed Chelsea on Tuesday.

Arsenal produced a convincing 3-1 Premier League victory over Chelsea and, in the process, compounded Frank Lampard’s managerial woes.

Lampard is yet to register a win since he took over the reins at Stamford Bridge, and the loss in the London Derby was not only an unwelcoming result, but it also meant Lampard broke an unwanted record that has been in existence since 1988.

Arsenal went back to the top and Chelsea remained 12th, but how did the Gunners’ victory put a stain on Lampard’s career?

Opta Stats

The loss at the Emirates meant that Lampard has now lost each of his last 10 matches as a manager - he is the first English manager to lose 10 in a row while in charge of a top-flight team since Arthur Cox in February 1988 with Derby.

The Blues, on the other hand, have lost four consecutive Premier League matches for the first time since March 1998, while only once have they had a longer losing run in the competition than their current one (six games in November 1993).

On a positive note, the Gunners have done the Premier League double over Chelsea for a second time in the last three campaigns (2020-21 and 2022-23), which is as many times as they managed it across all seasons between 1998-99 and 2019-20 (twice).

Odegaard and Jesus’ impressive records

Martin Odegaard has scored 14 goals in the Premier League this season for Arsenal; the only central midfielder to score more goals in a single campaign in the competition for the Gunners was Cesc Fabregas in 2009-10 (15).

Gabriel Jesus has now scored in 55 Premier League matches and never ended on the losing side when doing so (W50 D5) - this is the most times a player has scored in a game in the competition without ever losing, overtaking James Milner, who did so on 54 occasions.

Meanwhile, the Blues should be thankful to Kepa Arrizabalaga, who produced good saves; otherwise, the scoreline would have been bigger.

Lampard’s return is turning into a nightmare, even though he was brought in to steady the ship that was already rocking under Graham Potter.

As a manager, Lampard’s reputation suffered a big setback even though he had been handed a chance to prove critics wrong, especially after he was sacked by Everton.