By Tony Attwood
Is Martin Odegaard the best player in the Premier League? asks the Telegraph.
“Will my legs start working again properly soon?” asks your author. But my woes after what was undoubtedly the best New Year’s Eve party I have ever been in my life, are of course as nothing. What matters is that, “In his last 13 league appearances, Odegaard has been involved in 12 goals,” to continue quoting the newspaper. And the fact that we are seven clear at the top.
And there was more for after his goal Odegaard notched up his fifth assist “with a glorious, swirling, defence-destroying pass into the path of Gabriel Martinelli.” And we might throw in the fact that he cost £34m. In today’s transfer climate, we might actually say “Just £34m”. No wonder the Mirror alleged yesterday that Real Mad are angling to get him back.
Of course, the Guardian has doubts. “There are vulnerabilities,” it tells us, which by and large is a bit like a property billionaire complaining that house prices only rose by five percent last year.
It was indeed a singularly bizarre way to sum up a game which results in a league table that reads as it does, and a victory of this size against a team that has lost only three of the last ten,
Indeed this might be a moment to contemplate the “last ten” league table, but since we have only played 16 games in all, that may seem premature – so we will stick to the last six and for once go right to the bottom – not least because there are some interesting heroes of the media lurking in those lower reaches.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 4 | 12 | 16 |
| 2 | Newcastle Utd | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 12 | 16 |
| 3 | Manchester City | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 13 |
| 4 | Manchester Utd | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 13 |
| 5 | Liverpool | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 12 |
| 6 | Fulham | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 10 |
| 7 | Leicester City | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| 8 | Brighton & Hove | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 13 | 1 | 9 |
| 9 | Brentford | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 10 | -1 | 9 |
| 10 | Aston Villa | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 12 | -2 | 9 |
| 11 | Crystal Palace | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 8 | -3 | 9 |
| 12 | Nottingham Forest | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10 | -6 | 8 |
| 13 | Leeds United | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 14 | -2 | 7 |
| 14 | Tottenham Hots | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 13 | -2 | 7 |
| 15 | Everton | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | -3 | 5 |
| 16 | Chelsea | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 5 |
| 17 | Wolverhampton | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 12 | -7 | 4 |
| 18 | Bournemouth | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 13 | -5 | 3 |
| 19 | West Ham United | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 10 | -6 | 3 |
| 20 | Southampton | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 14 | -9 | 1 |
For where are those eternal media favourites, Tottenham Hotspur? Oh look, lurking in 14th. Still never mind they are not the worst London club across the last six games. Chelsea and West Ham United are both down there as well. Brighton must be quite pleased that since moving on from their manager who jumped ship and went to Stamford Bridge, they ain’t doing too bad, although of course they were no match for us yesterday.
And here’s another thing. Across the last six games, we are the top scoring team and have the second best defence. And the equal best goal difference. We are indeed matching Manchester City.
Of course the Guardian finds it impossible to admit this is a glorious team despite the state of the full league table…
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 16 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 40 | 14 | 26 | 43 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 16 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 44 | 16 | 28 | 36 |
| 3 | Newcastle United | 17 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 32 | 11 | 21 | 34 |
| 4 | Manchester United | 16 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 24 | 20 | 4 | 32 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 16 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 33 | 23 | 10 | 30 |
| 6 | Liverpool | 16 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 33 | 19 | 14 | 28 |
But that is how they always are. “There are vulnerabilities,” they tell us. But curiously they don’t compare the top of the table with that after 16 games last season. Then the media’s darlings Manchester City were top of the league but instead of having won 14, drawn one and lost one, they had only won 12, drawn two and lost two. Instead of having scored 40 goals they had only scored 33. Arsenal are beating last season’s title winners on almost all fronts. The only thing they had that was better than the current Arsenal team was their defence.
The Daily Mail leads with the quirky, ‘That is Ronnie O’Sullivan in football’: quoting Paul Merson, but the top news on the Daily Mirror’s online football page is “Bale’s family caught up in ‘armed raid’ .” Ah well. Next they will focus on the “most nail-biting relegation race ever” or something like that.
But of course none of this hides the fact that our prediction yesterday of the most likely results being 0-1, 1-1 or 1-2 was hopelessly wrong. But even so we’ll carry on with the predictions based on form. We’re not always that far out.
A year ago after 16 games we had fewer than half the number of goals of the league leaders, we had a negative goal difference, and were one point above Tottenham who had two games in hand over us.
This season after 16 games we are just four goals behind Manchester City who apparently have the best goal scorer the league has ever seen, we have the second best defence in the league, and we are 13 points ahead of Tottenham.
Oh yes and we are also top of the league.
Football is being changed from without
- When the wise man points at the moon, the idiot looks at the finger
- No club is too big to fail, as lessons from Italy and Spain are starting to reveal
- In ten years time, one way or another football will be unrecognisable
Details of all our current series can be found on the home page
Can anyone explain this Newspeak idea that in the 1960 – 1961 season, in which 2 points were awarded for a win, how the spuds believe they had achieved 46 points from 16 matches? Surely such dullness in the statistical world is why the spuds really are a small club. Perhaps their history shows teams with Pele Cruyff and Maradona turning out in that turgid weak white the lilly-livers call their home kit.
As I commented last night, to me Arsenal are freaking unbelievable.
And if you look at the goal stats, it is more then 2 goals scored on average. In fact 2.5 goals.
Can’t remember when we had that kind of scoring stat.
These kids are showing a belief in themselves that may end up being more valuable then the value of the most expensive PL team ever.
Are they the perfect team ? far from it. But, they are the best so far. As for Oodegard, that guy is just incredible and Arsenal were able to pry him away for what should be considered a pitance. Yet I believe that is talent is being ‘augmented’ by the other members of this forward line. You can see they ‘grew up’ into football together. Just look at the Martinelli goal. He knew where to put the ball, he knew Gabriel would get there first. And he knew how to put it there. Kind of Ozil like if you ask me.
And Eddie, well…look look, he is doing what he is supposed to be doing
I just hope Arsenal get them all contracted for a long long period.
Tony
Happy New Year to you and everyone else on Untold.
Glad you had such a wonderful New Year Tony. Mine wasn’t so bad either, though I suspect a lot quieter!!!
Thank you for highlighting just what a glorious start to the season we have had. And last nights result was indeed a very very good result. Brighton, as they showed on many occasions last night, are a very decent side. And as you intimate, we are setting, or at least matching, all kinds of records all over the place.
And yet what does the Sun lead with on the back page? Yep, Man Utd yet again. Turn inside and its a double page spread on…..Man Utd.
And why such fawning on this New year morning?
Surely not because Man Utd won 1 – 0 at third from bottom Wolves?
Surely not because that keeps Man Utd in the much derided 4th is not a trophy spot?
Surely not because they are doing so well to maintain the 11 point gap to crappy old Arsenal?
Nope, all this levity is because Tag brought Rashford on at Half time and he scored the winner. Wow. Apparently that was genius Hag’s latest ‘Power Play’. Everyone else makes substitutions, Hag makes ‘Power Plays’! At least now we know.
Is that the soles of Sun reporters Dan King shoes I see poking out of Hag’s backside?
Look, again I know it’s not the end of the World, but it does show where the medias priorities, nay heart still lies.
They seem desperate for a United resurgence.
Maybe they’ve had enough of man City buying up everything?
Similarly Chelsea. Maybe they’ve just lost faith in them and their money?
And in any case they have a new trough to stick they greedy snouts in, in the shape of Newcastle United?
Now seems to be the time to get back on the Man Utd bandwagon? Everywhere you turn it’s another fawning reporter telling us how ‘United are back’!
And you know what worries me. The referees. As anyone who reads my ramblings will know, I am convinced the referees referee in a manner as to appease, and please the media. Referees are not in the least bit bothered how an ‘assessor’ judges them, all they care about is how SKY, MOTD, Talksport etc. judge them. If they keep them happy they’re a good referee. Simple.
So they too must be aware that the Man Utd Love-in has returned big time. And we all know how they were refereed the last time they were top of the medias love tree.
Fergie time is back. Be afraid be very afraid.
Laos – I think for many journalists, and quite a few football supporters, maths is something of a mystery
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!!
Nitram,
Agree about the referees. In yesterday’s match it sure seemed that Anthony Taylor was trying to let Brighton back into the game. Some dodgy non-calls on Brighton and ticky tacky yellows on Arsenal. Gabriel for time wasting? Come on, not terrible and not always called. Back off a central defender though. I worry about the refereeing down the stretch. I can’t imagine the PGMOL’s agenda will be to help Arsenal to the title, lol.
A happy new year to all, especially Gunners supporters.
Not so happy for poor old Spuds fans though after another home defeat to Villa. St Totteringhams Day could come quite early this year.
Today just got even better with Chelsea dropping two points at Nottingham Forest.
That makes four of our rivals lost ground on us this weekend.