By Walter Broeckx
The part of fans that is never satisfied with Arsenal is rather silent for the moment. But they are waiting out there for the next dropped point to come out in full force. The first dropped point in Europe will result in the usual abuse and of course to throw all and everyone out as all our useless and not fit to wear the shirt and the coaches have no clue whatsoever about anything.
I also found it rather funny that some came out after Sunderland saying that we only won because of one decision from the ref. Forgetting that when we are suffering they shrug their shoulders and say we should focus on player this or that who is useless and the manager who should be sacked. When we show statistics over more than one year they say it has no influence. But one decision in a game we won 1-3 does. Oh well…
But what is more important in my eyes is that Arsenal despite the ‘useless players and manager’ are doing rather well. And this is not just based on the current standing in the league. After Liverpool dropping their first points on Monday they now are back on top with one point more than us.
Now we all know that the whole last season up to …well about the 1st of September the boo boys were out shouting how useless we were and how we would not even finish in the top 4 with this team. They came to Untold rubbed our noses in their truth and said what a bunch of stupid, deluded rose tinted glass wearing people we were.
But there is always something like the facts. And the facts are that Arsenal is the team of 2013. I will show you this in an instant. But first let me explain how I got to this conclusion.
I took the league table around the start of this year 2013. And then I checked when all the teams had 20 games. I took 20 games as that was what most of the teams had played at that moment. And then I made a league table from then on to the end of the season. And then you get something like this.
| GAMES |
31/12/2012 |
FINAL – 38 | 18 GAMES | |
| MU |
20 |
49 |
89 |
40 |
| MC |
20 |
42 |
78 |
36 |
| CHE |
20 |
38 |
75 |
37 |
| TOT |
20 |
36 |
72 |
36 |
| ARS |
20 |
34 |
73 |
39 |
| LIV |
20 |
28 |
61 |
33 |
And if we look at this table we see that Manchester United won the league but that since the start of the year we only got 1 point less than they got. So in the second part of the season we were the second best team of the teams I took on board in my survey.
And then all I had to do was to add the first 4 games of this season and then we get something like this:
| 18 GAMES | 4 GAMES | TOTAL 2013 | |
| MU |
40 |
7 |
47 |
| MC |
36 |
7 |
43 |
| CHE |
37 |
7 |
44 |
| TOT |
36 |
9 |
45 |
| ARS |
39 |
9 |
48 |
| LIV |
33 |
10 |
43 |
And then you can see based on the last 22 games in total that Arsenal have won more points than any other team. 48 points to be exact. We won 1 point more than Manchester United since the start of the year. And 3 points more than Tottenham who come 3rd when we look at it like that. In a way this shows that they also have been doing rather well since the start of the year. But not as good as we.
If we were extrapolate this to a whole season this would mean a total of 83 points.
In fact our ‘useless bunch’ (not my words of course) has won four points more than those with lots of cash. And even 5 points more than those with even more than lots of cash. You know those teams that have spend, spend and spend on all and everyone for years and years.
And still our boys did better than all of them. We did this with a crap back four as they said. With no defensive midfielder as is apparently a must have according to some of them. We did it with crap strikers who couldn’t even hit a barn door as some said. Of course neglecting the fact we had the second best defence and the third best attack last season. But let facts not get in the way of perception of course.
Now what I find strange is that despite nine months of talk about crisis, the worst period ever, the worst team ever, the most useless players ever… we still have won more league points than any other team in the PL.
And all that time Untold has been saying to those who came here shouting about disaster: calm down, calm down, calm down, things aren’t that bad. Well it seems that we were right after all.
This team has started growing as a unit in the last months of last season. And the defeat against Tottenham back in March was in fact the big turning point. What has happened since then provides all the evidence needed as to how this group has grown. I will now show the same thing starting from game 28 when we lost to them.
| GAMES |
9/03/2013 |
FINAL – 38 | 10 GAMES | |
| MU |
28 |
71 |
89 |
18 |
| MC |
28 |
59 |
78 |
19 |
| CHE |
28 |
52 |
75 |
23 |
| TOT |
28 |
54 |
72 |
18 |
| ARS |
28 |
47 |
73 |
26 |
| LIV |
28 |
42 |
61 |
19 |
And now we see that in those last 10 games we won 3 points more than Chelsea. And we won seven points more than Manchester City and Liverpool. And we won eight points more than Manchester United and Tottenham.
And if we add the first four games to this we get this as a result
| 10 GAMES pts | 4 GAMES pts | TOTAL points 2013 | |
| MU |
18 |
7 |
25 |
| MC |
19 |
7 |
26 |
| CHE |
23 |
7 |
30 |
| TOT |
18 |
9 |
27 |
| ARS |
26 |
9 |
35 |
| LIV |
19 |
10 |
29 |
If we look at a possible league table counting from that game we have five points more than Chelsea, six points more than Liverpool, eight points more than Tottenham. Nine Points more than Manchester City. And believe it or not but these are the numbers : 10 points more than Manchester United.
And if we extrapolate this to a whole season it would mean that we could get some 95 points.
Call me deluded. Call me an optimist. But I just can’t help feeling that this team can reach great heights. And we then even didn’t have Özil in our team.
Crisis? What crisis? Useless? The only useless thing I have noticed is useless support from some. Instead of moaning why don’t we just get behind the boys even when things get difficult. In fact that is just the moment in time we should get even more behind them.
If you can top the league table with the last 14 games played… If you can top the league table with the last 22 games played… Then why shouldn’t we believe?
Footnotes:
To see Arsenal in crisis at the start of a season it is worth looking at today’s article on the Arsenal history blog.
Next up on Untold: preview of the Marseilles game.
—————-
The books…
- Woolwich Arsenal: The club that changed football – Arsenal’s early years
- Making the Arsenal – how the modern Arsenal was born in 1910
- The Crowd at Woolwich Arsenal FC: crowd behaviour at the early matches
No doubt Arsenal have been performing well since Bayern away last season however your analysis fails to recognise that once United won the league last season, both they and Man City dropped some points which they would have probably won if they has still been chasing the title. This is futher exaggerated with Arsenal chasing CL qualification upto the last game of the season!
Arsenal: the team of 2013/2014 says it all really.
We are now on our way and this is the year when we are going to start to write our latest phase of greatness. Our team is sprouting new branches of brilliance and is becoming a force again. Other teams will learn to fear us again. I have been waiting for this a while now(4-5 seasons) that moment when we click together and the confidence high, that not even a defeat can dent the confidence. I can now watch games with that calmness and confidence that we will do it, instead of the nail biting worry i had over the last years. Looking forward to tonight’s game.
We now have one of the most exciting teams under Wenger . we have it all to look forward too
I can’t wait.
Just crossed my mind……arent we playing some the best football ever, well may be in recent memory. I’ve always claimed that we will start winning things with Ramsey and Wilshere. Looks like that day is closer than expected..
Nice figures there Walter. And true, haven’t seen any comments from certain ‘fans’ in a long while. Certainly not complaining, am loving coming to UA these days for that reason, and long may it continue. If only some of these ‘fans’ could stay away from the ems as well then we could have a fantastic environment there too, which unfortunately hasn’t been the case lately.
Correction: aware the atmosphere was brilliant for the NLD, can we have more of that please.
Para,
same over here. I now have a feeling that no matter who we play we have enough quality to win against any team when we have our day. And I have a feeling this is also the case with the team. I see a kind of determination in each player that could be seen at times the last seasons but has been omnipresent since March.
I’m always a bit nervous before any game but I do feel very confident that our players will do all they can to get a good result.
Wait for it though. The morons will be back when we win a trophy claiming it was only because the opposition was weak.
You have absolutely no idea the atmosphere of gunners here, dude. We always support the team, win or lose it doesn’t matter. Football is our heart, so does Arsenal. After the Ozil signing, the euphoria here is remarkable. I predict a riot (in positive means) if we manage to steal EPL title this season.
Thanks Walter. The hostile elements are still around elsewhere, although less numerous. For example, an extraordinarily negative article at the Online Gooner yesterday attracted alarming support. ANR seems a bit more muted these days – but, you are right, even one draw will likely see a resurgence.
I was talking to some of the other youth coaches at my son’s club at the weekend and one of the guys – who supports a northern team but has no particular axe to grind with Arsenal (and is very prominent in the game so I won’t name him!) commented how “ungrateful” and “miserable” the Arsenal crowd are at home games. This confirms the general perception in the broader footballing community of bemusement at the demeanour of a section of the “support”.
Perhaps if we give Wenger a new contract now (which we should!) they will feel they have failed and disappear for good? Would be nice…
Mani,
You are right. Bayern Munich also decided to let Arsenal score 2 goals against them and then played for their lives in the last few minutes.
What about now? Granted that Man United have played Chelsea and Liverpool (who they always have problem with) what are you going to say about Man City’s current run? By pedigree, spending and expectations, they should be topping the league with 12 points. Why aren’t they?
This Arsenal team will never get credit for anything because all that their critics (both internal and external) care about is TROPHIES. I do believe that if the team continue with the consistency, we shall succeed this season. I have seen nothing of any team this season to make me doubt Arsenal’s chances.
It’s up for grabs!
Indonesian Gunners,
I believe you, being a migrant myself. In my native country, we have no AAA. Yes, Naija Gooners get disappointed when we don’t do well but you don’t get the kind of vitriol and rabid hatred that we get from the UK ‘fans’.
I am worried about some of my friends and family at home when Arsenal wins the EPL. Some may harm themselves while over-celebrating 🙂
At least one trophy this year with this team and its attitude would be great. But I have a feeling we will win more than one trophy this year. Stunning recent history. Stunning future is forecast by me.
Only negative this season is injuries….. And wait for stoke/dean game.
@ stuart
Exactly, adding that it was when Wenger did what they proposed all 8 years…..
I believe we can do anything and beat anyone, I just really really hope the refs will be fair, that’s all I ask.
I will wait for as long as it takes but just like when I was young I saved up for a bike and bought it with my hard earned cash, how proud I was and how I loved that bike. Had my father just bought me the newest bike every year I would not have learned the lessons I have now.
Save up and buy it, budget your money for one day you might have none!
I also feel we got Ozil from Madrid cos we pay cash up front!
Our hard earned cash and we are a beacon for faith and trust, who can give that at a top club?
I honestly believe we did better than what our players COST till now, but beating the chest saying , we achieved no trophies and spent less than others is not a proud moment. I am waiting for the day we will win a trophy spending less than those around us and that day it will all be trumpets and flags and parading in my neighborhood.
Comparing/ adding/ deleting games that were part of previous seasons is a bit like saying I lost 20 kgs in 6 months , the most among my weight loss group and then finding i still weigh 20 kilos more than my target weight when others have their target weight very near to them. The target is what matters, we can achieve it in out own way but still it has to be achieved before we trumpet it.
Off topic
But i just read a mentioning of untold on wikepedia page about pgmob
Do anyone know about it? Am i late to know?
Good article. !
The defeat at home at the hand of Bayern was the turning point.
The team felt deep than anyone can realise the humiliation.
I can sense nowadays what was like the atmosphere in that changing room that dreadful night.
The team became a real team.The individual fight has intensified up to the last kick.
Hey ! Can you remind me When was the last time we lost by a late goal ?
People say this days we short of a striker and it is a kind of concern.I don’t mind to see another body there but the current team is a team not individual reliance.
Man City are packed with talents but the spirit of the team is no where near to us.
Man United won the league last season with just that team spirit. Otherwise if one takes out Van Persie who else is there that can be called.In my eyes individually they don’t count much but as a team yes.
Football is football any thing can happen. Our spirited team I have no doubt for a win tonight.
I would love to see Gnabry and Ryo and Akpom.
Best team in 2013.
I’ll be mentioning that to some of my doubting friends.
@Yassin
Thanks for the tip.
Yes, the Wikipedia entry for PGMOL has a very big write up about Untold.
Fame at last, Walter and Tony!
Do we get a trophy for that? Maybe it could be like the trophy of respect RVP once awarded us?
What is the point of this article? Why dont you do it from the last half of the 2012 season and the first half of the 2013 season?
Dont be silly it wouldn’t prove anything.
trophy hunter
Gnabry,Ryo & Akpom.Why? Two of them are not even in the squad.
Cock Hunter
HAha, shows you just how irrelevant you are Matt
and when they are found and shown up for what they are they start using abuse and when they get it back they cry how bad Untolders are…
Yes, yes but the point remains that this article is irrelevant if my sister was a boy she would be my brother.
I am a trophy hunter according to Walter and he is a cock hunter according to me. Dont see the problem.
The trouble is Matt, you clearly can’t see past the end of your cock, which isn’t very far according to your sister.
@Matt
Not for any special reason i just like them.
The underline point is not about the article is not trophy.It is more to the team spirit and give the writer a credit at least not like me that i give my point by just mentioning the starting point IMO the bayern game.
The writer went to great length to the point to create different table.
It is your opinion to disagree or agree but not me with this article .
Walter,
MAAAtt is not a trophy hunter. He is trophy junkie, a cry baby, a dim-witted liar and a fake season ticket holder.
To be honest, he might just be a child with access to the Internet. I have no idea who he is as he lies regularly and with such ease that he would claim to be an Arsenal board member if it helps him to win an argument.
I have nothing but sympathy for him.
@Bootoomee
Still angry i see. For a stupid liar to get under your skin as much as i do says more about you than me sofaboo.
@Stuart
Very true mate.
MAAAtt,
Your mammy is calling you. Get away from the computer.
Yassin @ 12:26 pm:
The Controversy section with reference to Untold was added in July 2012. Still recent enough if we look at the history. Great to see Walter & team’s work gaining exposure. The day for full acknowledgement will come.
Two sheep herders are flying the herd to a new farm. Suddenly, the engine fails and the plane begins to fall quickly to the ground.
SH1:Quick! Grab a parachute and jump!
SH2: What about the sheep?!?
SH1: Fuck the sheep!!!!
SH2: (pause) Do you think we have time?
alex @ 12:51 pm:
“Man United won the league last season with just that team spirit”
I beg to disagree. Look at the referee reviews:)
Oppss, sorry feeling very sheepish for posting on the wrong article .
Florian
I am with you on that note but the team spirit is was there to
brickfields, while on the topic about sheeps here’s an interesting story on sheeps & tottenham:
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/man-in-court-for-trying-to-have-sex-with-sheep-at-tottenham-training-ground-8824375.html
I do not have blind faith in anything and do not support anything blindly so I admit Arsenal have good and bads and at Sunderland, they might have benefited from the ref. regarding the goal( some argue that it wasn’t but most tend to agree that they did).
The issue that is extremely annoying is that for some so called “supporters”(I’ll just use AAA) whenever something happens, its the problem with the team.
Let’s talk about the ref issue. Arsenal suffered badly with ref. decisions. When one points that out there are bad decisions, AAA say “ya, but it can happen to any team. It can be for or against a team. Decisions will even out.”
Then one start to gather information and point out to them to those that poor decisions did cause Arsenal to drop points, they say “if the team is strong, they will take those chances and score a few goals so it decisions won’t matter.”
Then one points out that such decisions influence the spirit and form of the players on the pitch and disrrupt the rythm when the team try to development their games. AAA say that “the team should be tough and brush aside all those. Failing to do some mean they are not real man but babies.”
And then games such as the one with Sunderland comes into the picture. The team failed with a few chances, but they still scored. Then they got a decisions for them and they scored two more goals. AAA still say “this team is not good. They just got lucky.”
Applying their own words when arsenal suffered they should be saying, in order with their arguments:
1) Well, Arsenal got lucky with the decision this time because they suffered during other games. They event out.
2) Arsenal won by two goals so even if Sunderland takes that goal, it won’t make a differents to the result and points.
3) If Sunderland is any good and deserve the win, they should have put the decision behind them instead of complaining about “ref being unfair” like babies.
4) We support this team. Yes, having luck on their side helped. Let’s celebrate and be happy. You want to complain about being lucky? Don’t be a fool!!!
AAA see no right in Arsenal and its seems wrong for them to be lucky. I never heard of someone from Man U or Spur or any other fan do such thing. Most “fans” try to bend the facts to justify the ref. decision as far as they could and some try to pressure the ref. into makind decisions in favour of their team. When one talk to them, they just say “yes, we are lucky. Do you envy us?”
AAA sound like a bunch a people with psychological disorder that enjoy torturing the team they support.
Huge sums are changing hands and not just on friendly wagers. I worry about players or referees who may be threatened or even intimidated to alter their performance in some way. I wonder if the incident involving Steven Gerrard and the pitch side ranter was just about a lone and crazed hater. I don’t think I am imagining conspiracies.
Here in Singapore this week fourteen suspected members of a football match-fixing ring were arrested. The accusation is that a Singapore-based syndicate had directed match-fixing in at least 300 matches in Europe and raked in millions of pounds. These are said to include Champions League ties.
The frequency with which Arsenal have had their games turned by ‘poor’ refereeing must surely be making some people in European law enforcement want to look closer if they have come all the way to Singapore to work with the authorities here. Certainly FIFA isn’t just looking the other way.
Hello Matt still doing your best, huh?
Matt the chelski supporter…
Saw this from an article on the Telegraph website on yesterday’s match report;
“Allied to their form away from the Emirates, Arsenal also have the best Premier League record of any club in 2013.”
Spot on.