By Tony Attwood
In the worst case scenario when Aston Villa and Chelsea have played their games in hand Arsenal could sink down to sixth. Villa are away to Tottenham and Chelsea are away to Manchester United with a new load of razzamatazz at the ready.
Arsenal are still better off than they were at this point in 2021 and 2020, but of course what we were hoping for was an improvement on those years in order to challenge once more at the top.
Here’s the list of Arsenal after ten games across the Arteta reign.- he joined in December 2019, (data from 11v11), so after the ten games at the start of the 2019/20 season. That’s just included for comparison.- it is the table for 1 November
| Year | Pos | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 11 | 6 | 18 |
| 2023 | 2 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 23 | 8 | 15 | 24 |
| 2022 | 1 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 24 | 10 | 14 | 27 |
| 2021 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 13 | -1 | 17 |
| 2020 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 12 | -2 | 13 |
| 2019* | 5* | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 14 | 1 | 16 |
*Under Unai Emery
So yes there is a bit of a worrying sign here, in that under Arteta this season Arsenal are only two points, two more goals scored, and three goals fewer conceded than Emery in the season he was kicked out.
In that season, in which Emery was kicked out, Arsenal’s defeats in the first ten games were to Liverpool and Sheffield United (both away). Aftter 10 games Sheffield United were eighth. The rot that led to the dismissal set in match number nine – the away defeat to Sheffield United
| Date | Match | Res | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Oct 2019 | Sheffield United v Arsenal | L | 1-0 |
| 27 Oct 2019 | Arsenal v Crystal Palace | D | 2-2 |
| 02 Nov 2019 | Arsenal v Wolverhampton Wanderers | D | 1-1 |
| 09 Nov 2019 | Leicester City v Arsenal | L | 2-0 |
| 23 Nov 2019 | Arsenal v Southampton | D | 2-2 |
| 01 Dec 2019 | Norwich City v Arsenal | D | 2-2 |
| 05 Dec 2019 | Arsenal v Brighton and Hove Albion | L | 1-2 |
Emery was sacked on 29 November 2019 after the run of two defeats and three draws, and his problem was of course that he succeeded Arsene Wenger. But that wasn’t a problem because Wenger was doing so well at the end – there were many fans who wanted Wenger out, and indeed there were banners and helicopters proclaiming this. The problem was that on 29 November 2019 Arsenal were eighth having spent rather a large amount of money on transfers, including what had increasingly come to look like an insane amount of money on Pepe.
And diverting from my main theme for a moment, after Pepe played his last game for Arsenal in 2022, he had a season-long loan to Nice and then went on to Trabzonspor in Turkey on a free transfer. He he now, age 29, without a club, as far as I know.
But while we may still wonder what on earth made Unai Emery spend a fortune on Pepe, we might also recall that one of the clubs that is hoping to profit from Arsenal’s current poor run is Aston Villa, who are indeed managed by the man who spent all that money on Pepe. Emey has just passed his second anniversary at Villa.
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 6 | 13 | 25 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 21 | 11 | 10 | 23 |
| 3 | Nottingham Forest | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 19 |
| 4 | Arsenal | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 11 | 6 | 18 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 11 | 5 | 18 |
| 6 | Chelsea | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 11 | 8 | 17 |
A win for either Villa at Tottenham or Chelsea at Manchester United will move Arsenal down to fifth – or sixth. A draw for Villa and a win for Chelsea will have the same effect.
The question then is will the people who on 10 December 2023 were calling for Arteta to be sacked, return to make the same demands?
In 2023 Arsenal went on a run of seven games which saw one win, two draws and four defeats which led to those demands for Arteta’s removal, particularly as I recall, because he had wasted the entire transfer budget on the wrong player (Havertz in that case).
The current poor run consists of (and I’m omitting the league cup as that doesn’t really count in these things) one win, two defeats and a draw. So not quite as bad as the 2023 run. And we might recall that after that run ended Arsenal went on a five-match winning run in the league scoring 21 and conceding three.
So the point is one that we have made before. Arsenal don’t get occasional defeats, they get dips, where suddenly form deserts them for a run of games. That is the problem the club needs to overcome. It was there twice last year – the last bringing two wins in eight.
Thus we can see the return of the accursed “dip” in which Arsenal don’t just lose one match but have a bad run. And obviously it is still not something the club has found a way around. It undoubtedly stops the club from winning the league, but it doesn’t mean we don’t get the regular top-four place – quite possibly (judging by recent times) reaching as high as second.
Personally I think we are fine, it’s just a few things have conspired to take the wind out of our sails.
1: Red cards
This is the big one because there are actually a few consequences to these.
a) The direct and immediate effect of playing with 10 men.
b) It takes an extra physical toll on the 10 men.
c) The resultant suspensions.
e) Knowing that our every action is under the microscope like no other team affects how you play
2: Injuries
3: A couple of key players not quite at their best.
4: A very tough opening set of fixtures.
Given all that, being 5 points behind Man City is not actually that bad. It’s hard to argue that those factors above didn’t cost us 2 points against Man City, Brighton (playing with 10 men), and Liverpool (suspensions and injuries). That’s 6 points those red cards have cost us, directly and indirectly. 3 red cards I don’t believe any other team would of received. That’s without taking into account how we may of done with 11 on the pitch at Bournemouth?
Just adjusting the table for 3 wins instead of the 3 draws those dodgy reds cost us ,and it would look like this:
Liverpool 24
Arsenal 24
Man City 22
Yes Liverpool would still be top, and they are a very good side playing well, but they have had a fairly easy start.
Of the top 6 Liverpool have played 3rd, (Lost) 4th Drew) and 6th (Won). We have played 1st, (Drew) 2nd (Drew) and 5th (Won).
Liverpool have only played 5 top half teams where as we have played 7.
Liverpool have played 3 of the bottom 4, we have played 2.
Yes I know, if my Grandmother had balls she’d be my Grandfather and all that. And yes it is what it is. I’m not daft.
But my point is, circumstances have conspired to put us where we are. And those are the facts and the numbers behind those circumstances, that’s all.
And what I draw from it is the answer to Tony’s headline. No we are certainly not in decline.
In a nutshell. We haven’t been at our best but there are reasons. Red cards, playing with 10 men and resultant Suspensions. Injuries. Form of a couple of players.
We are most definitely still in the title race.
Nitram,
I agree. My view is that we have been cheated by referees this season, with the effect of costing us 6 points.
2 against 115 City, 2 against Liverpool, either 1 or 3 against Bournemouth and 2 against Brighton.
John L
Yep. Those very harsh red cards that I don’t believe any other team would of received, have turned what would of been a very good start into an okay start. It’s as simple as that.
@ Nitram
Your first post is virtually word for word what I was going to say…..thanks for saving me the time!
The only thing I would add (and building upon what John L has said) is that, yes the refs have cost us a lot already this season. Alas, I don’t see them easing up on us so “still being in a race” is one thing, whether the race is gonna be run fairly is something completely different!!
Mikey
Thanks, I couldn’t agree more, and they are not done with us yet, and nor are their partners in crime, the media.
Despite the diabolical treatment we have had from the officials, the media have still somehow managed to portray Arsenal as the villains!!
With their accusations of an ill disciplined mob that are cheating their way from game to game via the use of those mysterious Dark Arts, I’m surprised they’re not calling for us to be thrown out of the league!!!
Excuses excuses excuses
Our play is increasingly turgid
Slow ponderous unimaginative
Back line taking up to 10 passes to get over the half way line
Martinelli as predictable as a digital clock, but then so is our attack overall. It’s like we want their defenders on position and settled.
Injuries and red cards are largely Irrelevant to the clearly coached style of play
Just seen Aston Villa score at Spurs from a corner, and in the build up Aston Villas Rogers did to the Spurs keeper exactly what White does for us. Oddly enough, not a mention of Dark Arts. How utterly predictable. Maybe at half time?
Nope. Still okay when Villa do it.
Irrelevant now as Spurs ran out comfortable winners, which means of course they’ve already won the title. Well, perhaps not, but according to the post match interview and subsequent talk they are at least right back in the title race:
“By definition, we are aren’t we? So, yes we are,” Postecoglou said.
Which is odd given that Arsenal, who sit 2 points and 2 places above them are out of it:
“William Saliba responds to claims Arsenal are already out of title race after Newcastle defeat”
I think we can expect the Spurs media love-in to pick up a pace this week, as is the norm.
But to be fair they played well today.
As I had nothing better to do as I let my lovely Sunday lunch go down whilst watching the 2nd match, I’d have a look and see how they’ve been doing overall. The fixtures they’ve had. The results against the top10 teams. That sort of thing. And it was quite interesting.
HOME
They’ve only played 2 top 10 teams at home, Arsenal and Villa, and they lost 1 and won 1.
AWAY
Spurs have yet to go to:
Liverpool who sit 1st
Man City who sit 2nd
Notts Forest who sit 3rd
Chelsea who sit 4th
Arsenal who sit 5th
Aston Villa who sit 6th
(Spurs are 7th)
Bournemouth who sit 9th
They’ve been to:
Brighton who sit 8th and they lost.
Newcastle who sit 10th and they lost.
So, they’ve visited none of the top 6 and just 2 of the top 10, and they lost both of them
That means Home and Away Spurs have only played 4 of the top 10 teams and have lost 3 and won just the 1, today against Aston Villa
No wonder they are doing so well 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Compare that to Arsenal, who have played 7 top 10 sides, 5 away and just 2 at home for 2 wins, 3 draws and 2 defeats, and one of those defeats was with 9 men for over an hour.
Well, I enjoyed doing it, and if nothing else it shows how important a bit of perspective can be before drawing any real conclusions.
I watched the Spurs/Villa game and listening to the supposed club legend Alan Smith on co-commentary duty I did not hear a single negative comment directed toward Spurs. None of your ‘haven’t won a trophy for goodness knows how many years’ negative stuff that we have to put up with. Unlike the treatment he dishes out to us, never missing an opportunity to put us down or critisize his old club. Is he a actually a Spurs supporter because he certainly doesn’t appear to support Arsenal.
mick shelly
I agree. I’ve always thought he gave us more stick than anyone else, even Spurs, who you would of thought he would give a hard time, but not as far as I’m concerned.
You try telling that to spurs fans. The Spurs fans I used to work with hated him. I didn’t agree, but it really wasn’t worth arguing with them because they used to spit feathers every time he did one of their games. And they are not alone. I remember seeing this before, and it’s still out there. Spurs fans have actually tried to get a couple of on line petitions going to ban Smith from Spurs matches.
From the Spurs blog The Fighting Cock:
“If I have to hear that fucking Gooner clunge Alan Smith commentating on a Spurs game again I will go 100% Michael Douglas ‘Falling Down’.”
From ipatitions:
” I am getting fed up with Sky constantly having Alan Smith (ex Arsenal) commentating on all Spurs games. This was totally unacceptable when he was chosen to commentate on the recent Carling cup game between Spurs and Arsenal on 21st Spetember 2010. This petition is to show our anger at Sky’s decision to allow this to happen, and for a review to take place in having former players commentating on rival teams games.”
“Totally agree that Alan Smith is always secretly biased against spurs”
From change.org
“Alan Smith, the former Arsenal player is always the pundit on the Tottenham games covered by Sky Sports. Home and away. His anti Tottenham bias as a staunch Arsenal man is clear and obvious. Spurs goals are written off as defensive errors, unawarded fouls against them, always correct decisions.” Share this petition in person or use the QR code for your own material.
I think they’re mad, but honestly, they think he is the MOST anti Spurs pundit out there.
Personally, I don’t think there’s such a thing as an ‘anti spurs’ pundit, but maybe that’s just me!!!
Also, just watched the second half ot MU v Chelsea, a game of very poor quality; Chelsea were poor and MU were very poor.
However, most interested in the ref +VAR , neither of whom were bothered about ages being taken over throw-ins, or players preventing free-kicks. Also, a blatant dive resulted in a MU penalty, checked (supposedly) in a nano-second, and a yellow card for a dangerous foul, similarly confirmed in the blink of an eys, even though Gary Nevillr. of all people, said it was a clear red.
More evidence of different rules being applied to Arsenal!
Yep again.
I got bored and watched something else for a while. When that had finished it was 1-1 so I missed the goals. I watched from then to the end and the quality hadn’t improved as you suggest.
Regarding time taken over restarts you are spot on. Same kicking, tapping the ball away delaying restarts. What we have seen second yellows for twice, happens all the time without punishment.
For anyone to deny this is ridiculous.
As for the dangerous knee high challenge.
Yes, it should of been a red. Yes, Neville said it should of been a red. Yes, it was waived away in a nanosecond by VAR.
And surprise surprise Neville then changed his mind with ‘it wasn’t as bad as I first thought’.
More evidence of different rules being applied to Arsenal! Exactly.
I’ve given up even allowing myself a moment to believe we will be treated the same.
They won’t recover from this “dip” until Odegaard is back and in form. There’s no like for like replacement. I’d rather Havertz in midfield, he played there successfully last season. Return Trossard to the forward line at the expense of Martinelli; who has no end product, gives the ball away easily and more than anyone else. Even when he’s one v one he shoots directly at the keeper. He works hard but that’s a minimum at this level.
Pepe left Turkey for Valencia in August.
@ Nitram
Regarding your take on the media, there’s something I forgot to mention before.
At the end of the first half in the Newcastle game, the commentator mentioned how well Newcastle’s “game management” had been. In fact he even stated that it had been the half of football with the ball in play the least so far this season which proved how well they’d managed the game……… No mention of time wasting, no mention of dark arts FFS! His co-commentator also then agreed on how good their “game management” had been. WTF!
So when we did it with ten men, away at the champions……EVIL; when someone does the same at home against us with 11 v 11…..EXCELLENT!!! Also, when Pope had already been booked for time wasting in the second half (with little comment from the commentators) and took an easy catch and fell to the floor and lay on the ball for a good 30 seconds, nobody says a thing.
As we all know (because the evidence is so clear) it really is one set of rules for us and a different set of rules for everybody else; both from refs and the media. If this happened in the work place, there would be an open and shut case for a charge of bullying and/or constructive dismissal. I so wish AFC would take legal action against the PGMO. I know the media would just lay into us even more, but how much worse can it get?!
Then how come it worked quite well in the two years before Al m