The incredible start to the 2009-10 has continued with just 3 drawn games from the 46 played so far.

Last season 26% of the Premier League matches ended in stalemate compared to just 6% this season.  This throws up the obvious question about what is so different this time around?

In 2008-09 Arsenal (31%) and Liverpool (29%) were in the top three draw-specialists but neither side has shared the points in their opening 5 matches.  The fact that they have lost twice may indicate that this time around the marginal sides from last season are competitive enough to win rather than draw against top opposition.

So far big-spending Chelsea and Manchester City have avoided dropping points so it will be interesting to how they fare against big-improvers like Spurs, Aston Villa and Sunderland.

Manchester City drew 13% of their games last season (the lowest in the League) so it seems the big off-season spend has already seen them convert draws into wins.  This will certainly give them a great chance to break into the Big 4.

Drawn games can turn out to be extremely damaging to a club’s success.  At the top of the EPL in 2008-09 Liverpool lost only twice (2 fewer than Champions Manchester United) but their 11 draws were the reason they failed to take home the title.

At the bottom end of the EPL, Newcastle United suffered relegation due in large part to sharing the points in 34% of their matches (the highest draw percentage in the League).

There have been some wonderful matches so far this season so let’s hope that continues and if that means fewer draws then that’s OK.

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