Making history

This week our statistician looks at one of Arsenal's longest-standing rivalries.

Should the Gunners triumph at Goodison Park this weekend, Everton will become the first team beaten 100 times by Arsenal in all competitions.

This is the 202nd meeting between the sides, and so far Arsenal have won 99 to Everton's 58. There have been 44 draws. Of the 99 wins, 90 have come in league football, six in the League Cup, two in the FA Cup and one in the Charity Shield (in 1933).

Arsenal have won more league games and have scored more league goals against Everton than any other opposition.

Sunday's fixture will be the 186th league meeting between the sides, making it the fourth most common fixture in the history of English league football.

Arsenal's 90 wins represent 48 per cent of the total, while there have been 41 draws (22 per cent) and 54 defeats (30 per cent).

The Gunners have scored 303 league goals against Everton, since the first meeting between the sides way back in 1905.

Arsenal have met Everton home and away in each of the last 70 seasons, making it currently the longest running top-flight fixture. This season Arsenal are taking part in their 88th consecutive top-flight campaign, while Everton have been in the division ever since 1954/55.

Only three fixtures in the history of the football league have been played more often than Arsenal v Everton - they are Everton v Liverpool (190), Arsenal v Manchester United (190) and Aston Villa v Everton (198).

Football League's most common fixtures

 

 

 

Teams scored against 

 

 

 

Arsenal and Everton are two of the seven ever-present members of the Premier League (with Man United, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool) and this Sunday the sides will meet for the 44th time in the competition.

Arsenal have beaten Everton 26 times so far - more Premier League victories than they have managed against any other team - and have taken 90 points in all from the 43 games to date.

Arsenal have scored 83 goals in the 43 fixtures, nine more than they have netted against the next team on the list, Tottenham.

Some of the Premier League meetings with Everton are among the most significant Arsenal have played.

The first Premier League title, in 1997/98, was wrapped up with a 4-0 home win over Everton, while the 2001/02 title-winning season was rounded off with a celebratory 4-3 win at Highbury against the Blues.

The 'Invincibles' year of 2003/04 kicked off with another home win over Everton, and the following season Arsenal began the campaign with a 4-1 win at Goodison (in which Cesc Fabregas made his league debut). Later that same season the Gunners marked their last ever game wearing red and white at Highbury with a 7-0 thumping of David Moyes' side.

The 2009/10 season began with a 6-1 win away to Everton (notable for Thomas Vermaelen scoring on his Premier League debut - the last Arsenal player to do so), and two seasons ago, the Club's 125th anniversary was celebrated in fine style by Robin van Persie's volley in a 1-0 win on December 10, 2011.
 
Each of the last three league games have ended all square, though the most recent meeting was a 4-1 win in the FA Cup at Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal's Premier League record (Games played)

 

 

 

Teams beaten 

 

Teams scored against

 

In the Premier League era, Goodison Park has proved a happy hunting ground for the Gunners. The team have scored 33 goals there, the joint most with Villa Park, and have won 10 of the 21 PL fixtures away to Everton. Arsenal are unbeaten there in the last six visits.

The 37 points gleaned from those 21 games is the second most from any of Arsenal's away fixtures in the Premier League era (behind Aston Villa), and they have scored virtually twice as many goals as they have conceded at Goodison.

As far as points per game ratios are concerned, Molineux has been the most fruitful away ground during the Premier League era - the Gunners have won all four games there, scoring 12 and conceding just two. Ipswich's Portman Road (2.6 PPG) and Charlton's The Valley (2.4 PPG) have also proved successful away venues since 1992/93.

 

 

Stats correct as at April 2, 2014. With thanks to Opta