Most yellow cards in an EPL game, Sancho stars on CFC debut & more- Analysis from AFCB v Chelsea 2024

Chelsea’s first game after the international break saw them edge Bournemouth 1-0 at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday night. Christopher Nkunku scored a late winner for the Blues on the South Coast. Here are our talking points from the fixture.

Referee Anthony Taylor sets Premier League record for most yellow cards in a match

In terms of quality of football, this game wasn’t the greatest, but it will go down in the history books as the fixture with the most YC’s in Premier League history. Anthony Taylor issued a total of 14 yellow cards (six to Bournemouth, eight to Chelsea).

The bookings started in the 18th minute, with the first yellow card in this Bournemouth v Chelsea game going to Ryan Christie, and the last one to Semenyo in second-half stoppage time.

Players booked for Bournemouth: Smith, Senesi, Christie, Cook, Tavernier, Semenyo
Chelsea yellow cards v AFCB: Sanchez, Cucurella, Fofana, Colwill, Veiga, Jackson, Felix, Madueke

Anthony Taylor yellow cards 14 Chelsea Bournemouth

Sancho stars on Chelsea league debut

There were plenty of Chelsea fans with reservations when the Blues announced Jadon Sancho’s signing towards the end of the transfer window- another winger in a squad that has plenty of options in that position. The former Dortmund star made his CFC debut here as a half-time substitute for Pedro Neto and was a constant threat down the left flank after the interval.

He gave both Adam Smith and Julian Araujo a real working over, and most importantly, assisted Nkunku for the match winner.

Read more

xG Tottenham vs Arsenal NLD 2024 Attendance 61,645 | Expected Goals Stats THFC 0-1 AFC

TOT VS ARS 2024

Here is a look at the xG (expected goals) stats from Spurs v Arsenal (official crowd attendance of 61,645 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium) on 15 September, 2024. Arsenal won the game 1-0 thanks to Gabriel’s second half header.

Spurs’ best chance fell to Solanke in the first half, but he dithered and the chance was gone (low xG) by the time he took a shot.

Spurs had 15 shots to Arsenal’s 7, but both sides had similar shots on target numbers (Spurs 5; AFC 4)

64% of possession for Spurs in this game.

Read more

Arsenal to wear black jersey vs Spurs in NLD 2024 instead of regular red & white home kit

Arsenal will wear their black away shirt against Spurs in the North London derby later tonight (September 15, 2024)- the first time in the modern Premier League era that the Gunners have NOT worn their home kit for the marquee NLD fixture.

The Premier League thinks there’s too much white in the Arsenal home kit and that has been deemed to clash with Spurs’ home colours. AFC even offered to wear red socks and red shorts with the home jersey but that option was turned down by the league.

TOT VS ARS 2024

Arsenal’s away kit has already been worn by the Gunners in their league opener against Aston Villa- a fixture where they beat AVFC 2-0.

Read more