Today a guest post from Rich @AlternativeArse
It’s often been something that makes me think. How many Arsenal fans actually play/played football on a regular basis? From their apparent understanding of the game, it would appear not that many.
Now, I’m not a qualified coach, nor am I that good at football. I can run fairly fast, like to think I have an eye for a pass and understand how to play. I played to decent standard at school, have made a few cup finals in the local Sunday league divisions and even played Saturday football for a brief period.
Nowadays, I play 5-a-side in a local veterans league. I think the standard is pretty high; I’ve come up against goalkeepers who have played for Luton Town, and even teams that take part in annual international tournaments, but no matter who I’m up against, the football is often quite good.
On a Friday nights, we play a friendly match. It’s usually 6-a-side but it’s more of a practise than a full on competitive match. There is no ref, so it’s not quite as combative, but still people like to win and score plenty goals.
One chap I play with is renowned for having a very accurate left foot. He will shoot on sight from just about any distance and usually the ball will end up in the back of the net. However, one week, he couldn’t hit a barn door with a banjo.
He did hit the woodwork 3 or 4 times, but we laughed at his inability to score because of how out of the ordinary it was. The more he tried, the worse it got. His usual accuracy had deserted him for that period of 60 sweaty minutes.
Another story of randomness, would be a game I played in last Friday. My team found itself losing by about 9 goals with about 10 minutes to play. Not only were we getting pummeled, but also frustrated with our inability to hit the target as the opposing team enjoyed an almost unopposed goal fest.
That was until one of my teammates scored a halfway line belter.
That was swiftly followed by a flurry of around 10 strikes with only a couple in reply. Sure, we ended up beaten by the usual last goal wins, but the scoreline was a much more respectable and pride had been restored.
Why did all that happen? Really, we had no idea.
Football can be a funny old game.
Those of you that play or have played, I would hope are able to appreciate this viewpoint, especially if you played regularly to any standard.
The unpredictability of the game is something that can’t be explained. It’s human, it’s random and it’s something that you can’t manage or control, no matter how good the players are and no matter how assured the tactics, the human influence that is involved in football, will always affect the outcome.
My point is, that my experiences playing in the veterans league, and other’s experiences playing football, can easily be compared to how the Arsenal are playing this season.
You see, I would argue that Arsenal aren’t playing as poorly as people make out.
I would argue that Arsenal don’t need any more signings in the January window.
I would argue that Arsene Wenger is as tactically astute as the next manager.
Why? Because football really is a funny old game.
Arsene and Arsenals task is to try and effect the random elements and turn them in our favour, but there certainly isn’t any call for sackings, players being dropped to the bench or the back room staff muttering of discontent and disillusionment.
Fans need to be a bit more realistic in their assessment.
Our league form is, well…as normal…
This season, folks are getting very wound up about our position in the league and our lack of progression up the table. The latest loss to Swansea went down like a lead balloon amongst the Arsenal faithful, and subsequently we dropped from 5th to 6th.
6th position and 17 points. Ohh the terror.
With only another 27 games to play, you might think we are fighting a relegation battle, judging by some of the reaction. If you look to past seasons league positions at this stage, you might be surprised we are actually par for the course;
Premiership Table 2014 & 2013 to November 13th
statto.com
Premiership Table 2012 & 2011 to November 13th
statto.com
Our league form fluctuates in the top half of the table every year as our squad looks for form and players get on their game and grow in confidence.
Such is the way of football. It’s difficult to predict, and this happens every year, with a few exceptions of course; last season for instance.
We might not be top this season, but Arsenal are still competitive.
This season, the knives appear to be out in a big way, probably because in comparison, we had such a good start last time round and Chelski are running away a little bit. But there are plenty of games to go, and don’t forget the players we have out injured.
Injuries?!? Arsene should have prepared by buying more players!
I disagree. The players that we have already are good enough and despite the absences, Arsenal are still playing very decent football.
Those of you who aren’t convinced that we are playing well should also pay a bit more attention how we are playing, not just the results.
But the results are what matter!?
Yes they are. But we have to be playing well in the first place to achieve better results. And Arsenal are set and ready to go in that respect.
Defending is not the issue…scoring goals is.
Some ans are currently talking about the need for a new centre back and a new midfielder, as we are apparently scoring goals with abandon through Alexis Sanchez.
But we are not.
Despite the heroics of our Chilean and his firey boots of thunder, putting the ball in the back of the net appears to be Arsenal’s undoing, again.
Our ability to convert the chances we create is letting us down, big time;
Chances created by premier league teams so far this season.
The statistics speak volumes. Second in the chances created table for the Premiership so far. It’s a a pity that the assist figure isn’t higher as if it was, we would be winning more games.
This can be reinforced further by looking at how our shooting fairs against the other sides in the premiership, as in the past, that’s always been a quandary;
Shots taken by teams in the premier league this season
Oops. Second again. Higher than all the teams above us in the league, bar Man City, and we are taking the most shots outside of the area. Plenty of shots…just not many goals. Be that because our players go boss-eyed at the sight of the sticks, or that opposition are literally sacrificing themselves to keep the ball out of the net, who knows, but if you don’t take shots, you don’t score goals.
Just to appease you, as you probably don’t believe those figures…I took a look at our defensive performance too;
Defensive performance by Premier League teams so far this season.
Huh? Third ? According to the statistics, we have a better defence than Chelsea ? How can this be ?
Well, there are several factors that can influence these figures, and this is how I interpret them;
The lower the score, the better a team is at dealing with opposition through it’s midfield, with the forward players tracking back to defend. Either that, or the defenders never really have to do much defending, because we are always attacking, or we maintain a lot of possession.
That is the best way to stop the opposition scoring – don’t let them have the ball.
But those defensive numbers don’t take possession into consideration – that’s a different statistic.
The numbers would suggest that we are actually defending very well, all over the pitch.
Of course, there will be anomalies, but what you can’t count in all these figures is the number of goals we concede through no fault of our own. Through elements out of our control. What I mean by that is the oppositions ability to fashion a chance themselves – be that from a free kick, good play or how the ball bounces.
Gylfi Sigurdsson’s epic against Swansea is a prime example, as is the Anderlect offside goal and Southampton’s Clyne strike in the Capital One cup. They aren’t errors of Arsenals making, rather the oppositions ability to capitalise on brief opportunity, and you can’t do much about that.
Arsenal are creating a world of opportunities to win matches, we simply aren’t making the most of then at the moment.
Still not convinced ?
Well how about if I show you that Arsenal are currently 12th on the list of chances created per game in Europes top 5 leagues;
Chances created – Top 5 European Leagues this season.
Or how about that statistically speaking, Arsenal are the 7th best performing team out of those same leagues ?
Team performance score so far this season – Top 5 European Leagues.
Yes so it’s a performance score…that really mean nothing, but it’s applicable to all teams and a good way of measuring how you are playing, and Arsenal are playing very well. We are not winning, but we are playing very well.
The fact is, that you can play very well in all your matches, you can create the chances and defended resolutely, but if the ball simply won’t go in the net…then it’s not going to be your day.
Scoring more goals than the opposition is what really matters.
But isn’t that just the point?
Regardless of how you play, regardless of the statistics and numbers, from veterans league, all the way up to the premiership, there is no football script. There is no “win the game” power up, nor is there a switch that turns on skills or goals.
In reality, it’s all about specific moments on the pitch and how individuals deal with them in a split second. Even the galactic mind powers of Arsene Wenger, controlling all he surveys like a zombie king, can’t stop Arsenal’s opposition from having an excellent match winning moment or give the referee sight beyond sight.
That is after all what they are are also on the pitch for and if we can’t get the ball in the net, we’re not going to beat them no matter what we do.
That is just how football goes.
Positively Arsenal 
Fine words, Shotta – fine words:
“The worse thing is the treachery of the Arsenal 5th columnists who in some twisted version of the Stockholm syndrome take the side of the assasin rather than the victim.”
The same sort of treachery that sees them delight in the perceived poor form of Ozil, or Ramsey, or Szczsney – or indeed any of our players.
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Cheers for the heads up Andrew!
Just got my ticket – Block 23, 2nd row from the front.
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Tim
They also try to re-write history, implying that the pre-Wenger era was an entirely unblemished glorious one for the Club.
No disrespect to BM or GG, but our European triumphs were in the 2nd tier competitions – lovey to have, as they were.
We were not beating the likes of Real Madrid and Juventus, and matching Bayern and Barca toe to toe.
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I am in Row 15 in Block 23 DC, we can wave to each other
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glad to have sensible people going for our home games… do continue the good work of convincing those moaners around you that the team will come good… the ingredients are there… the gelling is coming along. OG IS back in training.. Walcott is back in the team
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Careful now, Andrew,
People might think were are cheerful gooners.
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DC. LOL… are we really that scarce a group? – cheerful;l gunners? glad to be one
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Cheerful Gooners; all part of the rich diversity the club embraces, even if optimism and good spirits have always been a rarity on the terraces!
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http://goonersphere.com/team-lineup/column-stillmansphere/6037-ramsey-mertesacker-aren-t-as-good-as-last-season-why …
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PG, well spotted.
The World Cup and the injuries have caused problems for a settled team formation. The analysis by Tim Stillman, of a possible sub-set of the problems that currently beset The Arsenal, is particularly well-timed in the current climate!
COTG
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Sanogo equalises for France v England……
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Spurs 2 Arsenal 2 Kane v Sanogo according to the commentator….
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That Florian Thauvin is a bit good
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that’s a well written piece by LD…. gives a lot pf perspective to what the team is going through… the balance will come ad the fitness does… it is good per has retired from international footy so i think he is nearer full recovery
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“For those like Pass and LG who may be interested there has been a release of more blocks of tickets for the Newcastle game on Saturday the 13th December – I have just scooped one up !”
Damn! Unfortunately, I cracked a few days ago and shelled out for a Club Level ticket on Ticket exchange! It will have to be my Christmas present to myself!
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This why Arsène Wenger is an exceptional human being
http://tinyurl.com/pccdsjd
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And why those who begrudge Diaby an opportunity to salvage his career are dispicable mammals
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“He was the victim of an assassin’s tackle that was never punished…If he comes back, I will keep him. I always believed in him. In football, the most important thing is health.”
There, Diaby’s career summarised by Arsene Wenger.
But toryboy is already complaining about this. For toryboy supporting Diaby is a clear indication of how Arsenal Football Club is a failing institution at this moment in time.
It’s not even an opinion I can accept. It’s simply the antithesis of this site and what we stand for…believe me I’m angry and insulted as a human being. My reaction is not about football…fundamentally. It’s about people’s lives.
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Bravo Georgaki. Very well said!
We are decent people. And Diaby deserves his chance.
The fact that he could still return to exceptional levels is secondary.
Arsene is doing the decent thing, and the right thing.
Toryboy has made himself out to be a retard too many times, but it is his rabble following of vileness that worry me more.
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Who is toryboy?
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I see David Seaman said that Szczesny is a top keeper and AFC have no need to sign anyone to replace him. But to my surprise none of those who were so quick to quote and back the likes of Merson and Robson, have not mentioned Seaman’s views on our keeper. It must not fit in with their agenda against our players, our manager and our club.
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Well done to Yaya last night in captaining the French U21s to a 3-2 win over England’s youngsters in foul weather in Brest. The boy himself scored two and was a constant target man for the French, shooting, heading and linking play from the edge of the box.
It was great to see him play with a confidence and enjoyment.
As I said on here last night the other Frenchman who caught the eye was Thauvin, a bit of the Ribery about him. We shall hear more.
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I am guessing Tory Boy is Le Grove, given his normal outpourings. The way he writes makes him sound like a Harry Enfield parody character.
I shall explore Thauvin and look out for him, and I am glad that Sanogo played well. I’ve only seen him play one relatively poor game for us, and that was the Leicester match: that he was injured not long after probably explains that. (I wonder also if he had heard the rumour that Welbeck was likely to be signed the very next day). However, should we get to January and find Welbeck and Giroud both fit it would be tempting to see if a judicious loan to a Premier Club might aid his development. Given his age and relative lack of experience it is tempting to imagine that he could well be the answer to replace Giroud when the time is right. Although obviously that is not the intention as I am told by those with more insight than me that there is no plan at Arsenal.
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PG
Toryboy is Pedro. If I’m not mistaken this nom de guerre was coined by our very own insightful Double Cannister….
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“Hurrah for the Blackscarves” as Rothermere often says
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how come we dont get to play top european teams like madrid, barca, bayern and milan pre-wenger era? were they so shit that they dont get to meet us or we were so s*** we dont get to play them?
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It may be because until 1997 – 1998 only league champions were allowed in the CL Layks
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To be fair one of my earliest memories of supporting the good old Arsenal was watching them get tonked* by Benfica. Was that in the European Cup? Painful.
The once great Benfica who are now no more then a nursery for Mendes and other third party overseers. The Benfica nursery, currently rebuilding a new brood for market, who were dismantled and dismissed by the Arsenal Colts Campbell and Sanogo in pre-season.
*cricket slang for a “spanking”.
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That was a very painful night Fins – Sven Goran Ericsson managed the Portugese and after a decent result in Lisbon we thought we would be in for a win at Highbury – not so – it was the night Kevin Campbell torpedoed his Arsenal career. Tonked is right.
You can watch highlights of the horrible spectacle again on;
The time before that I remember us playing in the EC was Ajax, Cruyff, Neeskens et all – brilliant team
Sighs
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Manchester United published their 2013-14 financial results today.
Their revenue for the year was £433 million. AFC’s was £301m.
Despite the fact Utd. still have a mountain of Glazer debt, they are still a far far richer club than Arsenal, as are Real, Bayern & Barca.
You have to give Gazidis, Wenger and the Board huge credit for being on the same page as these football behemoths.
That is for the people who understand howcome Ozil and Alexis came to be playing at Arsenal and how we can keep Jack and Aaron at the club for the long term.
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I saw the U21’s game last night and was very taken by young Florian Thauvin.
I first saw him playing about 2 years ago and with my talent spotting ears pricked and eyes out on stalks I thought that lad is going to be snapped up by someone and soon.
As it turned out, Marseille issued a ‘hands off’ warning and, tho’ the player was reported as unsettled, nothing came of any overtures that may have been made for him.
At the time I had everything crossed, my fingers, my legs, my whatnots and my eyes, (which as I am crosseyed at the best of times, meant straightening them), that Le Boss was on his case, but all to no avail.
He is already a hell of a player and will only get better – if he leaves Marseille, I hope he joins us and not one of the ‘talent hoovers’ like Manure, Citeh or the Chavs – even if that is a rather forlorn hope.
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No Henry I was taken with Florian Thauvin !
Anyway I see the Marseilles president was arrested this morning with a number of other directors in connection with some previous transfer dealings.
They really cant keep their hands of it can they in that club ?
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DC,
Inevitably, the source of the huge income (turnover) enjoyed by Manure and others, is very much involved with the number of trophies they have won, and are likely to win in the future, and which the sponsors home in on, throwing fabulous amounts of money at them.
It is not for me to start a somewhat sterile debate regarding the Manure financial model, but back in the early ’90s when Ferguson was finding his feet, the then owners embarked on high risk acquisition of the ‘best’ (which is to say most expensive) players as they calculated that spending money they did not have, (so to speak) on Ferdinand, and Rooney etc, would result in winning titles and that would attract the type of sponsors big time sponsors mentioned above.
Subsequent owners have continued that policy, as their investment begat titles, which attracted money flow, which was invested in players, who won titles et seq. And much tho’ I hate to say it, it has paid off handsomely for ManU – in a big way.
Other clubs, like Leeds, tried the same formula and almost wrecked the club, and like all high risk strategies, it could have taken Manure down too.
Contrast that with the prudent and perhaps conservative approach of Arsenal, who had to build a new stadium, to protect the future of the club at the highest level possible, and not risk everything like Leeds and to an extent Rangers in Scotland did, and which has inevitably taken time to start yielding the fruits of the decisions made over the past 15 years.
An anomaly which has always puzzled me and that has benefitted Barca and Real, is that they take a disproportionate amount of the TV rights money, when compared with all the other clubs in La Ligue. This largesse was somehow nodded through by all the clubs, when the TV rights contracts were awarded. Contrast that with the Premier League where the TV rights have been shared equally, with an additional weighting made for where the clubs finish.
It is a fairer system and was brought about by the clubs telling the top 3 or 4 clubs that if they did not agree to parity in the apportionment of the TV proceeds, they could go and play with or by themselves. A similar thing happened in Rugby Union when England, by far the biggest and richest of the the then 5 Nations teams tried to negotiate a better deal for themselves.
The puzzle is – why did the other clubs in La Ligue not say the same thing to Barca and Real – fair shares for all, or you two can play each other all season, and we will form another league.
Sorry for the ramble – the Interdull can make one lightheaded at the best of times. [yellow circular physog.]
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Anicoll,
Do you mean they cannot keep their hands off one ‘it’ in particular, or they can’t keep their hands of each others? Clarity is important in such delicate matters!
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I think it is more they cannot keep their hands off other people’s H
Hence the involvement of Sûreté (encore)
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Presumably, the French FA do not have a ‘fit and proper person’ standard that has to be met before someone becomes a club owner, in that case.
After all – look how well that works in the Premier League. [Shakes head – chuckling ironically]
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Henry B
You can’t trust Marseilles. Once a crook always a crook.
The Nasri deal is coming under scrutiny by UEFA.
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GP
I don’t think I can take the credit for Toryboy, however delighttfully apt it is for the Peroni beer sponsored rabble rouser at le Grove.
I think it was the late, great, Hunter13 came up with that one – in one of his more lucid moments.
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“Late” !?!
nooooooo – Say it isn’t so
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Thanks for the link ‘Coll
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France still produces a lot of talent. E.g.: Half the North African teams’ players grew up in France, and Algeria did not look awful at the WC. But agents have long held more power there then the clubs, till the petro clubs recently arrived. An even then, you have to wonder *coughs Luiz coughs*, and ask the question.
Agents and the likes of Tapie’s toupe have held the power there. So much so that I don’t think AW ever had any intention of returning to coach in France. And that consideration would also be one reasonable and rational explanation for the long healthy marriage with AFC.
This is a topic the Expert Groaners try their expert best to avoid. But they don’t because in a world where AFC consistently pay half the rate for players the petro clubs are splashing out you can’t ignore it. Personally I think it is a little bit odd that self-declared Experts in finance football and physiotherapy ignore such a strong trend, but they do try. Bless ’em.
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can anyone confirm if the rumor that AFC wage bill is bigger than Chelsea’s wage bill if true or false. Did Ivan Gazidis actually disprove the rumor at the AGM, its just that I see many of the moaners still come out with it as fact.
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Arsenal score against Scotland!
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Very decent half of football and 22 players giving it full throttle – even the referee is joining in by not giving silly fouls and dives
Slick between Ox and Jack for the opener , Danny covered every black of grass so far, Shaw still quite fat.
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I miss Hunter. He must of really been out if order to upset PG
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Scotland pull one back. Should be a good finish now
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A good contest there and thought all our lads played very well – Jack mastered a very physical battle in midfield AND kept his head throughout, the Ox ran passed and covered well and managed a goal – if he meant to nod it in at that angle the bloke is a genius. Danny was up, down backwards and forwards all night and wore the Jocks out.
Yeah – good night for Arsenal and England
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Georgaki
I don’t think it was PG he was upsetting, the meerkat’s skin is too thick for that.
I’d love to find out where he has end up on the net, someone must have let him in.
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Anicoll @ 8:54pm
freudian typo there. ‘every black of grass’.
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Eduardo
Chelsea have gotten rid of some massive costs of their wage bill – fat frank, torres, sideshow bob, etc. but have replaced them with Fabregas, Costa, Drogba, Cortouis – who are probably on cheaper wages. They are becoming much smarter with their money then they used to be – and somehow and unbelievably dodging any problems with FFP.
I was surprised to see Arsenal’s 2013/14 wage bill had gone up by 10m a year which is 300k a week moe than 12/13 season – half of that is for Ozil and the rest is pay rises for Ox, Jack, Ramsey, Santi, Giroud and so on.
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