Tag Archives: She Wore A Yellow Ribbon

10 Reasons why we will beat Villa + starting XI

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OK well hands up I got the 10 reasons why we will beat Villa WRONG when we played them at home this season, in my defence this was pre-Ozil.. https://shewore.com/2013/08/17/10-reasons-why-we-will-beat-aston-villa/
1.. We have Ozil now, back after his winter break/shoulder injury

2.. We have a nice 9 day break from our last game, which was a fairly easy 2-0 win against some mongs from Middlesex.

3.. Despite what http://www.arsenal.com are saying about team news I would expect Giroud to play.

4.. We haven’t lost at Villa since 1998

5.. Villa have only scored 7 home goals, we have scored 21 away goals.

6.. Theo is out till next season, but we have Gnarby ready and willing to come off the bench.

7.. Koscielny is fully fit, him and the BFG have never lost a game they have played the full 90mins since 1901

8.. Diaby is injured, which is better than him playing.

9.. Rosicky, currently in the form of his life.

10.. Wenger knows, after the first game when Villa beat us we were rock bottom, a win tonight and we are, well we are top

Likely Starting XI – Chesney, Sagna, Kos, BFG, Monreal, Wilshere, Arteta, Flamini, Rosicky, Ozil, Giroud

GC

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