Boxing Day stats: Best facts and figures from the Premier League

Manchester United is struggling mightily, Manchester City has had poor road performances, and Chelsea is buried toward the bottom of the table, so it would appear that Arsenal have a great chance to capture their first English Premier League title since the 2003-2004 season.

United brought captain Wayne Rooney off the bench for the second half, but could not find a way past Potters keeper Jack Butland as Mark Hughes’ men closed out a comfortable victory over his beleaguered former club.

There is, however, no illustrable pattern and the fact that 22 goals were scored in seven games last Saturday is probably a better reflection of things to come.

Therefore, despite the Blues’ turbulent start to the season, they will fancy their chances of a securing a win at home to Watford. Just how important is it to be the Premier League’s Christmas number one?

What a game this promises to be as the surprise leaders head to Anfield.

Chelsea’s Boxing Day win rate of 42.9 per cent does not bode well for their hopes of turning their season around in the aftermath of Jose Mourinho’s departure.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s final Boxing Day match as United manager saw the Red Devils win a thrilling clash against Newcastle, thanks to a last-minute strike from Javier Hernandez. They have conceded in eight consecutive home league games for the first time since October 1991 (13 games).

Ki is just the fifth different player to score for the Swans in the league this season. Arsenal is riding a wave of momentum, though, after qualifying for the Champions League knockout stage and then knocking off Manchester City in league play, rounding into form despite the loss of Alexis Sanchez to a hamstring injury.

Tom Carroll bagged his first-ever Premier League goal in his 28th appearance in the competition, coming over three years since his debut in the competition (3 November, 2012).

The second round of Premier League Boxing Day games have now finished and they have thrown up some more good news for Arsenal fans, after Manchester United possibly dropped out of the Premier League title race with a defeat away to Stoke City in the early kick-off. The German has 15 assists for the season – 11 of which came in the last nine games – while his French counterpart has netted six times in his four most recent outings for The Gunners.

Spurs have won 18 and lost none of their last 20 Premier League meetings with newly-promoted opposition since losing to QPR in April 2012.