I love statsâ¦.they can reaffirm what your opinions are, give you hope or an argument that all isn't as good or bad as others have suggested. However stats can be distorted, manipulated or misunderstood For Example - Early this season Spurs fans were saying that if games had ended at 80 mins they'd have been top when what difference does that make if you can't defend until the final whistle. I'm sure another team could argue where they stand if it ended at 70 mins or started 10 mins in⦠I'm about to put some stats up and I'm sure others might be able to take a different look at that which I welcome It's been said that our stats at this same stage last season are comparable (which they are) although I think that team had better momentum. 2011-12 PLD 25 = PTS 41 / FOR 46 / AGAINST 34 2012-13 PLD 25 = PTS 41 / FOR 49 / AGAINST 29 So without RVP we've still managed to score +3 goals and without Song to protect the back line we've conceded -5 less and have the same number of points But season over season is tough to compare as this season the competition looks much fiercer with Spurs looking more consistent, Everton still and threat, Spurs breathing down our neck, and Liverpool and Chelsea much improved Despite these stats the team was actually far better defensively last season. Kos was excellent and TV not as bad as post getting the armband. It was the 8 goals at Old Trafford which have similarly distorted the stats At the same time our goals scoring seems unaffected (we're the 3rd top scorers..only 2 behind 2nd placed Chelsea) however we've had alot of our goals come from a few high scoring games⦠57% of our Goals (28) have come from 20% (5) of our games (Reading 5, West Ham 5, Spurs 5, Southampton 6, Newcastle 7) As shown on Saturday against a "park the bus" team we've struggled and also against some of the big teams we haven't taken our chances In 60% of our Games (15) we have not scored more than 1 goal And in 24% of our Games (6) No goals scored at all (including Stoke, Sunderland, Norwich & Aston Villa) In conclusion the defence is performing far worse this season and here are a few potential reasons⦠1. No true DM, Song was far from perfect but I still think we miss him for however well Arteta has done in there 2. TV has regressed with the armband 3. Kos has had a huge drop in form 4. Santos is gone from average to terrible 5. Sagna's 2 leg breaks have taken alot out of him Regarding the attack I'm thrilled the goals are being shared around the team more which makes us less of a 1 man outfit but we need that player who'll score 25+ goals and even against a packed defence. And/or we need some off the bench of can turn a gameâ¦Man Utd as the current league leaders by 9 points have been behind in games a number of times but have players who can come off the bench and turn things around (as I'd hope David Villa might have done had we got him). Hernandez cost 6m a so why can't we have something better than a fat lazy Russian to chose from??!?!
As they say, the devil is in the detail. As for the goal scorer, i think we need to give Walcott some more time. He is looking good now and will only get better. This includes players like Cazorla, Wilshere and OXO who will only get better playing together.
The most important stat is the points tally, which stands the same, showing no real progress has been made. We also find ourselves trailing the Spurs again, and having to scrap into the 4th spot, which once again, is a repeat of the old. Progression for us would obviously mean having a better points tally, and when I say points tally, I don't mean only 1-2 points, I'm talking about serious improvement, like 8-10 points better off. It would also mean no longer having to trail Spurs for most of the season, but have them trailing us and scrapping for the 4th spot. Progression would also mean closing the gap on the top teams and making a challenge on them, we are currently 21 points behind United, that is beyond bad, I'd be interested to see how far we were from the 1st place team last season compared to now.
It sure is. According to the official Premier League site you had 43 points and had scored 48, conceded 35, after 25 games last year. Performance is relative though and as you were 4th then and are currently 6th I'd say you're not doing as well. Then again you're only 5 points off 3rd compared to 10 last season so you're not positioned all that badly for the top 4.
If Nacho can bring some stability and experience to LB, with Sagna improving bit by bit (how much his contract situation is affecting his performances we'll never know), then I think the defense will get a little more solid. Now that Arteta is back too, the midfield should be shored up a little, and although Wilshere has played a lot of minutes, Cazorla has had some rest, and obviously Arteta has too with being out. Good results at the weekend mean Arsenal are just 5 points from 3rd spot. There are CRUCIAL games coming up against Spurs, Everton & Swansea. The outcomes of those 3 games I believe will determine where in the table Arsenal finish the season.
One of my favourite stats (from Football365 in December): I think this phenomenon is explained with a good deal of clarity here: Jonathan Wilson, Sports Illustrated (14th January 2013)
