Tag Archives: Premier League

Ignore the Pundits – Arsenal deserve to be top

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Once more on BBC’s Match of the Day, the question came from Gary Lineker to his guests – Danny Murphy & Les Ferdinand. “Can Arsenal win the League?” And as if he was the son of Alan Hansen, Murphy answered no, giving the same reason as many pundits before him.

“That Arsenal can not win the league as they have not yet played anyone of note.”

We are now 13 games in to the 2013/14 season and it does not take me to tell you that Arsenal are 4 points clear. They have already played Liverpool, Manchester United & Tottenham, 3 of the 4 ‘Top 6’ as the press seem to have relabeled them (although can sides who have not won the league in 20+ years be considered a big side?)

The reasoning is starting to get predictable and boring. Especially when it is becoming evidently clear that this years Premier League title will go to the side who loses the least points against those ‘smaller’ sides, then those who gets the most points against those members of the ‘Top 6’.

Take Cardiff as an example. This season they have beaten Manchester City and drawn with Manchester United. Yet Arsenal beat them 3-0. That means that Arsenal could effectively lose to Manchester City and Manchester United, and only 1 point will separate the 3 based on the mini league. It does not matter how many points you gain when playing a title contender if you continue to drop points at those lower in the league. Arsenal’s lead is due to how few points we have dropped against those sides who are not a member of the Top 6. Just 5;

Arsenal – 5
Chelsea – 7
Man U – 7
Spurs – 8
Liverpool – 12
Man City – 11

If the theory go’s that ‘Arsenal have not played anyone yet’ then surely by proxy, our opponents have played against each other more. And therefore, they have had less opportunity to lose points against those outside of the Top 6.

Arsenal are top of the league, not because of their ability to beat those around them (although 2 wins from 3 against Top 6 rivals is good), but due to their ability to not drop points against those who are mid table and below.

As Liverpool showed this weekend, it is important to beat those teams outside of the Top 6. Liverpool could have got to within 4 points of Arsenal had they beaten Hull. They did not, and now sit 7 points behind. Their title challenge is over.

If Arsenal continue to beat those smaller sides, it does not really matter what happens in the match’s against the bigger sides. There are more points available against the smaller sides than the Top 6, so if they continue to win, and others continue to drop points, Arsenal’s gap at the top of the league table will only grow.

Keenos

The Importance of Mesut Ozil

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A lot has been said about Mesut Ozil in recent weeks after a couple of quiet games led a lot of Arsenal fan’s to start criticising the German midfielder. After a brilliant start to his Arsenal career, he seemed of have gone off the boil.

During the game against Cardiff City, a lot of people in the crowd were calling for his substitution, not really understanding the key contribution he was making in the attacking half of the field.

A statistic by Orbinho highlights how good his performance was;

 

38 completed passes out of 40 in the opposition half. With ability like that, he will, and has, create a lot of goals for Arsenal.

Despite being ‘under par’ and ‘struggling to acclimatise‘ since joining Arsenal, his full Premier League statistics make interesting reading:

  • Assists: 6 – Premier League Leader
  • Key Passes: 2.9pg – 1.2 more than the next top Arsenal player
  • Average Passes: 64.6pg – Only Aaron Ramsey (72.1) has averaged more
  • Pass Success: 87% – Only behind Flamini and Arteta, who’s passes tend to be less risky
  • Accurate Crosses: 1.5pg – 2nd behind Walcott (1.5)
  • Through Balls: 0.4pg – 2nd, only to Olivier Giroud (0.5)
  • Successful Dribbles: 1.6pg – More than anyone bar Chamberlain, who’s only play 1 PL game

It is clear by the statistics that even though it appears Mesut Ozil is having quiet, unproductive, game, he is actually the most important, most efficient, man in the midfield. Coming out 1st or 2nd in all important statistics for a midfielder highlights what he does.

So next time it seems he is having a quiet game, just remember, he probably isn’t.

Keenos

10 reasons why we will beat cardiff + Starting XI

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1.. As always I will start with our back 5.. Not really much to say, doing a great job every one of them and with Cardiff scoring under a goal per game another clean sheet is a big possibility.

2.. Flamini, the big question has moved on from can him and Arteta play in the same side together to just why does he take a pair of scissors to his shirts. and why someone doesn’t stop him.

3.. Ramsey;s an ex-Cardiff player, bang on form for us and will be looking forward to this one.

4.. Great game by Jack Wilshere midweek, brilliant goals, all-round performance and he just adds to Wenger’s nice to have selection headache.

5.. Ozil, I’d love to say this could be his kind of game, but I think it maybe time to give him a little breather.

6.. Even tottenh*m won at Cardiff, 0-1, even if it was a dodgy penalty (I didn’t bother to check if this is true, but i’d be surprised if its wrong)

7.. Apart from Cardiff’s strike rate their defence is not upto much either shipping in 17 goals in 12 Prem games.

8.. Giroud, first he should take all our penalty’s. Secondly he must remain fit as the Danish fella is not fit to wear our shirt.

9.. Cardiff so far this season.. played 12, won 3, drawn 5, lost 5.

10.. Wenger knows this is another tricky away game, Cardiff’s will be well up for this upto the players to get in early, silent them and take control.

Likely Starting XI – Cheseny. Sagna, Kos, Per, Gibbs, Arteta, Flamini, Santi, Ramsey, Jack, Giroud.

COME ON THE ARSENAL !!!