Tag Archives: Arsenal

Are Theo Walcott and Eden Hazard equals?

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On Saturday, I made a comparison between Eden Hazard and Theo Walcott on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/KeenosAFC/status/422019060184788992

Anyone who follows me knows I am a massive stats man. It is very easy to confuse a player playing well due to step overs, cute passes and plenty of skill, whilst writing off a player who plays a very simple, yet effective game.

Comparing Theo Walcott to Eden Hazard got me a lot of criticism. Perhaps rightly so. Many claimed Eden Hazard to be world class football, who will become an equal amongst Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar. Whilst Theo Walcott is no more than a (and I quote) “Yet another Englishman who has not fulfilled his potential.

To use some stats from the period highlighted earlier (that being for last season and this), in the last 2 seasons, the above mentioned have scored in all competitions:

  • Cristiano Ronaldo: 84 goals
  • Neymar: 67
  • Lionel Messi: 66
  • Theo Walcott: 27
  • Eden Hazard: 24

So the 1st thought from me is “who is crazier, me comparing Walcott to Hazard, or those people who put Hazard in the Messi/Neymar/Ronaldo bracket.’ I think the stats tell you the answer.

Moving on, the main criticism I got was that ‘I had to remember Hazard was in a new league, and that I should be comparing his first 54 Premier League games to Walcott’s 1st 54”. Firstly, this is ridiculous. Walcott was 19 when he had played 54 Premier League games. To compare a 19 year old to a 23 year old is just pointless. However, this did actually send me down another route of thinking which produced many similar stats:

  • Both Eden Hazard & Theo Walcott made their professional debut’s at 16
  • Both Eden Hazard & Theo Walcott made their international debut’s at 17
  • Theo Walcott is 24, Eden Hazard is 23
  • Both Eden Hazard and Theo Walcott’s best position is wide forward
  • Both Eden Hazard & Theo Walcott have scored 74 club goals
  • Both Eden Hazard and Theo Walcott have scored 5 international goals (Hazard has 6 more caps)
  • Eden Hazard has played 282 games for Lille & Chelsea, Theo Walcott has played 281 games for Arsenal

The big argument for Hazard is that he has only just joined the Premier League. But that can be countered fairly easy. It would not have been hard for Hazard to settle to living in England. He moved to Lille at 14, so living abroad was normal for him. Lille is based in the North West of England, and is very similar to England in terms of climate and culture. It is linked to the EuroStar. Hazard was born in Belgium. Belgium, like the Swiss, have adopted English as a second or 3rd language. The majority of the country speak it fluently. Eden Hazard spoke it fluently.

So the ‘settling’ argument is out of the window. The French league is a similar style of play to England, and Hazard would have had no trouble settling into English life. The weather would have been no problem, nor would the food, or the language. Therefore, I ask, is it so ludicrous to compare Theo Walcott to Eden Hazard?

The difference between the 2 is Eden Hazard is better on the eye. He has a trick. He has a step over. He has a shimmy. Whilst Theo Walcott is more direct. More simple. But the end product of both is the same.

A reminder of the stats:

  • Theo Walcott: 45 Premier League games in the last 2 seasons, 19 goals, 15 assists
  • Eden Hazard: 54 Premier League games in the last 2 seasons, 18 goals, 17 assists

So one plays with a bit of razzmatazz, whilst another is not that pretty on the eye, yet their output is the same.

A lot of people moan that we watch Eden Hazard for 2 seasons yet did not buy him, but surely Theo Walcott is the justification behind him? Why spend £30odd million on Eden Hazard when we have a player who scores and assists as many goals?

Theo Walcott and Eden Hazard are two players of similar age, similar experience and play in the same position. The only difference between them is they play the game in a different way. One turned left to walk around the globe, the other turned right, but they both ended up on the other side of the earth at the exact same time. One skipped their, the other walked. One did it with style, the other did it simply. Well you get my point.

So let me ask you, is it so silly for me to say that Theo Walcott and Eden Hazard are equals?

Keenos

Premier League at its tightest ever?

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Without trying to be captain obvious, it is getting tight at the top. On Christmas Day, Liverpool were top of the league. The last time a side was top of the league at Christmas and not go on to win the league was Liverpool, back in 2008/09. 17 days after Christmas, they find themselves in 6th place, not even in a Europa League spot.

Since Liverpool topped the league on Christmas Day, Arsenal, Manchester City and now Chelsea have also topped the Premier League. This just go’s to show how tight it is at the top, and it is getting closer.

Whilst Manchester United and Spurs are out of the title race (for now) Spurs could have gone into a Champions League spot had results gone their way yesterday. As for Manchester United, they are having their worst season in Premier League history, yet find themselves just 2 points behind Liverpool, who are having one of their best seasons. Liverpool, just a few weeks ago were being considered title contenders, whilst United are a club in crisis.

Manchester City could go top today with a win over Newcastle. They could then be usurped by Arsenal if we win against Aston Villa on Monday. When was the last time the Premier League had 3 different leaders over a weekend in January?

This years title race will go down to the wire. And it is getting to a point where you look at Manchester United, in 7th place, just 9 points behind leaders Chelsea, that you have to think that they might not yet be out of the race.

The Premier League is regaining its place as the most exciting league in Europe. When I look across the major European leagues, no where is it as tight as it is in England.

  • Premier League: 9 points separate top 7, 5 points separate top 4
  • Bundesliga: 16 points separate top 7, 12 points separate top 4
  • Ligue 1: 18 points separate top 7, 14 points separate top 4
  • La Liga: 20 points separate top 7, 14 points separate top 4
  • Serie A: 23 points separate top 7, 13 points separate top 4

What it also means is that Arsenal fan’s should not get too cocky about the ‘gap’ between Spurs and ourselves. Despite Spurs sacking their manager, and buying £100m of tripe, they are currently just 5 points behind us. Taking into account that in the last few years, we have overhauled a gap of over 10 points in January to finish above them, it is certainly not a time to be too cocky.

A victory against Aston Villa will put us back on top of the table. After defeat against Aston Villa at home on the opening day of the season, every Arsenal fan would have taken being top (or even 3rd, 1/2 points behind the leaders) after 21 games.

The Premier League is at its tightest ever.

Keenos

Goodbye Bacary Sagna

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With the news breaking yesterday that Tomas Rosicky is due to stay at Arsenal after signing a new 2 year contract the realisation has now set in that this year will be Bacary Sagna’s last year at the club.

I have always been a big fan of the Frenchman. Even during his dark times when his form took a massive dip in the middle of last season I backed him. One of the most consistent right backs in the league, even when he was out of form, he was still a class act.

On top of that, he always kept his head down, worked hard, and looked honoured to play for Arsenal. With the fact that he could cover 4th choice centre back, I was firmly in the ‘offer him a good deal’ camp, with his contract due to finish this summer. In my opinion, he is still good enough to be 1st choice right back next season, and 1 more year will enable ourselves to make a judgement on Carl Jenkinson and Hector Bellerin. He would have also saved us money investing in a new 4th choice centre back.

Unfortunately, I knew deep down that this was unlikely. At best, Arsenal would offer the 31 (in February) year old a 2 year deal. Taking into consideration his form and fitness over the last 18 months, we would have been crazy to tie up more money then 2 years than that. He is also currently on £60,000 a week. He would not have got a pay rise.

It is likely he will end up in France. With either PSG on Monaco. Both clubs will offer him higher wages (£100k pw expected) and a 4 year deal. The deal he signs this summer will be his last one. either stay at Arsenal for 2 years on £60,000 a week (and thereafter sign 1 year deals) or return home to France, nearly double his money, and double his contract length.

There is no bad feeling towards Sagna. He needs to do what is best. Staying at Arsenal for the next 2 years would earn him circa £6,000,000. By returning to PSG (just 125 km from his and his wifes birth town) or Monaco, he could potentially be signing a contract worth £20,000,000. It is not greedy. It is the difference between retiring happy and retiring very happy.

I also think that Arsenal would be crazy to try to match the deals that will be on the table from PSG and Monaco. To tie up £20,000,000 who has suffered with form and injury for the next few years would be crazy. We already moan that we have too much money tied up in players. Whilst offer the next 18 months, it might have looked like a good deal, in 24 months time, we would all be complaining about the waste of wages which bench warmer Sagna would be.

The recent deal which has seen Jermaine Defoe move to Toronto is a perfect example of the situation Sagna is in. Defoe is the same age as Bacary Sagna, and has just joined the MLS side on a four year contract, rising to £90,000 a week. That is the type of retirement money that Sagna is looking for.

Between now and the summer, we will be linked with many a right back. In November, I listed five possible replacements. Personally, my favourites are still Mattia De Sciglio of AC Milan and Everton’s Seamus Coleman.

Bacary Sagna will leave this summer, and I will wish him well and thank him for the memories.

Keenos