By Tony Attwood
There were some interesting statistics in yesterday’s game. Obviously Arsenal won, as we all expected them to do, but they did so not just by dominating possession (60% to Arsenal) but also by taking control of other events, such as goal attempts (20 to Arsenal, eight to Everton. Of course I know they were not all on target, but the fact is that every goal attempt pushes the opposition forces back and makes them more nervous of what is to come next.
Arsenal also knocked up 12 corners to Everton’s three, while Everton as might be expected committed more fouls than Arsenal (although to be fair not that many more).
The media made something of the fact that David Moyes just can’t win at Arsenal stadium, which seems to put the reason for the result down to him, rather than Arsenal, which is the usual media ploy, although they did manage to notice that Konsa got his first Arsenal goal, which is always a welcome milestone to pass.
So the media message is not that Arsenal were any good, but rather than Everton were rubbish, so as ever for the details we need the League table and I thought I would take it down a little way so you could see where the Totties are. Anmd also note how the gap at the top is growing. Although to be fair we must also note that Brighton hav a game in hand.
|
Club
|
p
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
8
|
7
|
0
|
1
|
20
|
9
|
11
|
|
|
|
8
|
7
|
0
|
1
|
13
|
5
|
8
|
|
|
|
7
|
5
|
1
|
1
|
23
|
5
|
18
|
|
|
|
8
|
4
|
1
|
3
|
17
|
15
|
2
|
|
|
|
7
|
3
|
3
|
1
|
9
|
8
|
1
|
|
|
|
8
|
3
|
2
|
3
|
9
|
12
|
-3
|
|
|
|
7
|
2
|
4
|
1
|
13
|
8
|
5
|
|
|
|
7
|
2
|
4
|
1
|
9
|
6
|
3
|
|
|
|
8
|
2
|
4
|
2
|
8
|
9
|
-1
|
|
|
|
8
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
12
|
16
|
-4
|
|
|
|
7
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
8
|
7
|
1
|
|
|
|
8
|
2
|
3
|
3
|
8
|
10
|
-2
|
One of the things we have learned to live with from the media is that reports generally contain phrases such as “this was not a vintage performance from Arsenal…” but that is just the text that drops onto the journalist’s computer as he or she types in the word Arsenal, but the fact is whatever the quality of the game, it is still a game that has to be won against teams that will come to defend and referees that will be influenced by newspaper claims that Arsenal are a dirty cheating side.
Everton are not quite the poor side that they have been in some seasons past, but they are certainly not challengers for the title, so they come to away grounds to defend, and the way to beat them by stopping them getting an early goal and then putting 13 men (their 11 plus ref and one linesperson) behind the ball. And the Everton manager has managed a win at Arsenal once (when managing WHAM).
He didn’t make it and this time blame the bench – presumably the seats were too hard for his men to sit on. But we know we tend to beat Everton, so there really wasn’t much to worry about (reports say they have won twice in 35 games in North London, but I am not sure if that includes Tottenham and Leyton Orient. Oh yes and they had injuries which of course Arsenal never have.
But at least the Guardian did come up with one bit of statistics that I had not seen elsewhere, and that is that this is only the third time in the Premier League or the old First Divsion that two teams have won seven of the first eight. It was also done by Preston and Sunderland just before the first world war.
And I must say that I am glad that Arsenal are keeping up the pressure on Manchester Finance, so that when the League give them their fulsome and much deserved punishment for fraud (which will probably be two points deducted at the end of the season) we will be able to claim the league title for the second season running.
Anyway, here’s another stat in case you feel the need for one: it was Moyes 400th defeat in his career as a manager. Just under eight percent of these have been achieved by Arsenal.
On the other hand this was a rare occasion in which the referee put BOTH managers in the book.
So Brighton are now five points behind Arsenal with a game in hand. But Brighton and Hove already have a goal difference that is ten better than Arsenal’s so we do need to start knocking in a few more goals in order to catch up,
Next up it is Fleetwood on 27th of the month at 8pm. Our usual previews will follow in due course.
By the way, happy Invincibles day !