- 35 Arsenal transfers in this summer and 10 players leaving
- Arteta now the fourth longest serving manager in the PL, and the danager that reveals
By Tony Attwood
We’ve seen it multiple times before, and here it was again. The media proclaim a match as a “must win” for Arsenal, getting the knives ready to dig into Arsenal should anything other than a win follow.
But what to do if Arsenal do win? No problem, there’s always a story without any source or background that can knock the fans and diminish the fact that Arsenal are once again top of the league. From “Mikel Arteta knows biggest problem Arsenal face” from Football London on 1 January to “Mikel Arteta facing trust issue” in the Standard a couple of weeks back It’s always there.
So no surprise when along comes, “Arsenal put seven players up for sale ahead of summer transfer window” It appeared first in the Mirror and then was shamelessly reproduced in Daily Mail-owned Metro both places where ne’re-do-wells and good-for-nothing scallywags are constantly desperate to come up with something that might counteract the rejoicing of yet another Arsenal victory.
Meanwhile, there is a rather bigger and more factual story around: Arsenal’s away record – which the media are ignoring.. Seven wins and one draw in the last eight games. 22 goals scored, three goals conceded.
Now I know that looks a bit like a misprint in terms of +19 GD so I better write out the list of matches.
| Date | Game | Res | Score |
| 30 Jan 2024 | Nottingham Forest v Arsenal | W | 1-2 |
| 11 Feb 2024 | West Ham United v Arsenal | W | 0-6 |
| 17 Feb 2024 | Burnley v Arsenal | W | 0-5 |
| 31 Mar 2024 | Manchester City v Arsenal | D | 0-0 |
| 06 Apr 2024 | Brighton and Hove Albion v Arsenal | W | 0-3 |
| 20 Apr 2024 | Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal | W | 0-2 |
| 28 Apr 2024 | Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal | W | 2-3 |
| 12 May 2024 | Manchester United v Arsenal | W | 0-1 |
Of course, there is no mention of such an achievement in the media – nor of the historical context of this. And I do hope you will stay with me in this article for another moment or two, because this is something that I think is another rather fine achievement, and one again not being reported.
We know that Arsenal have had three away defeats this season, and rather obviously in the unbeaten season there were, well, not to put too fine a point on it, none.
But in the unbeaten season, Arsenal won 11 away games and drew eight, thus earning 41 points. This season Arsenal won 13, drew three and lost three, thus generating 42 points. Better away form than the unbeaten season!
What’s more this season away from home Arsenal scored 43 away goals – ten more than in the unbeaten season. At the same time this season Arsenal conceded 13 games. Now in that regard, the unbeaten campaign was better, conceding only 12 away goals, but the goal difference this season for away games was still nine goals better than 2003/4.
An utterly extraordinary achievement. – not least because just two years ago, in 2021/2 Arsenal won nine and lost nine away games, scoring 17 goals fewer than this season and conceding 18 more.
So in 2021/2 the Arsenal away goal difference was -5. Last season it was +17 and this season it is +30.
This growth in the away form is phenomenal and of course, passed over by the media. But it is interesting to note that Arsenal’s away form could still be overtaken by Manchester City who have one game left to play and are one point behind away from home with a GD of five goals worse.
So as ever, Arsenal are battling Manchester City. But we should not ignore the way these two clubs have pulled away from the rest of the league. Again the away table has an interesting perspective on offer.
At this moment only three teams have a positive goal difference away from home: Arsenal (+30), Manchester City (+25) and Liverpool (+13). In fourth place in the away table Aston Villa have a goal difference of zero and everyone else is in negative numbers. Last season there were four teams with a positive goal difference away from home, and once again one with zero.
This dominance in away games by a few teams has not always been there. As recently as 2020/21 over half the clubs in the league (including Arsenal) had a positive away goal difference.
Only twice in the past nine years has the league been won by just one or two points. This looks like being the third occasion, and that away form looks like continuing.
Well wrote Tony. I have been saying for two years that there is an anti Arsenal smear campaign by some well known media sites, namely London,Evening Standard and the mirror and a few other sites that do not contain and Arsenal linked name in their title. I tend not to open their sites as this gives them click time credit.
I did mention yesterday on the untold Arsenal blogg section how the game would pan out against Manu and I was 100% correct about the Manu playing style, the lenient ref and the Manu players preserving themselves for the cup game, as no half injured player was brought on. What I mean is, that this Arsenal team is willing to play through there injuries where as Manu was not. Wayne Rooney summed it up by repeating my comments from yesterday morning on your site.
Let’s hope Saka can still play through his injury as I believe their are a lot of Arsenal players not quite 100 % due to their injuries and the blind sided lenient Refereeing, but that these Arsenal players wear their hearts on their selves and despite the injuries and pain, are still willing to give their 100% effort on the pitch for the club and the fans. Now that is what positive journalist should be writing. Thank you untold Arsenal for being brave enough to print the truth.
Remarkable performance.
And another thing that keeps getting passed over is our phenomenal form since the turn of the year.
I have mentioned this before, but it is worth mentioning again because our form since the turn of the year has been remarkable.
Now, even though City have 1 match more than us to play, by coincidence we have still both played 17 games in 2024, which makes this a great comparison.
ARSENAL P=17 W=15 D=1 L=1 F=52 A=6 GD= +46 Pts= 49
MAN CITY P=17 W=14 D=3 L=0 F=46 A=11 GD= +35 Pts= 45
Won more. Scored more. Let in less. Better GD. More points.
Despite how the media endlessly mention how many City steam roller teams in the second half of the season as in this headline:
‘Manchester City’s history of accelerating in second half of a season ominous for rivals’,
Arsenal have out Citied City.
Even if we both win our final games we would of still amassed more points in the second half of the season than Man City, with Arsenal finishing on 52 points and Man City finishing on 51 points.
To of done that and still not won the league is unfortunate in the extreme.
Again, I have not seen or heard this anywhere in the media. If it has been maybe someone can point it out.
Remarkable performance.
And another thing that keeps getting passed over is our phenomenal form since the turn of the year.
I have mentioned this before, but it is worth mentioning again because our form since the turn of the year has been remarkable.
Now, even though City have 1 match more than us to play, by coincidence we have still both played 17 games in 2024, which makes this a great comparison.
ARSENAL P=17 W=15 D=1 L=1 F=52 A=6 GD= +46 Pts= 49
MAN CITY P=17 W=14 D=3 L=0 F=46 A=11 GD= +35 Pts= 45
Won more. Scored more. Let in less. Better GD. More points.
Despite how the media endlessly mention how many City steam roller teams in the second half of the season as in this headline:
‘Manchester City’s history of accelerating in second half of a season ominous for rivals’,
Arsenal have out Citied City.
Even if we both win our final games we would of still amassed more points in the second half of the season than Man City, with Arsenal finishing on 52 points and Man City finishing on 51 points.
To of done that and still not won the league is unfortunate in the extreme.
Again, I have not seen or heard this anywhere in the media. If it has been maybe someone can point it out.
I’m sure some of you have read this by now but, in answer to Nitram’s post above, the Independent have done themselves proud by writing exactly the article he suggested was missing from the national media. Credit where credit’s due. Maybe the Independent sports journalists read Untold, the best source for reliable, quality content on The Arsenal. Actually a very good read, along with Nitram’s post:
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-mikel-arteta-win-league-title-b2543929.html
And then to think I will be in the Emirates for the last match of the season……. together with 3 other lucky Arsenal Belgium members to cheer on this amazing and still young team. No matter the outcome they gave us plenty of joy during this (and the last season) and deserve all the applause they can get.
Sally Pally
Thank you so much for that link. What a pleasant surprise, and as you say, what a great article.
I like what he says about the money, because, yes we have spent big but it is still different to the circumstances at Man City, as he points out with:
“It has already been remarked that, for all the pace of this run-in, it hasn’t so far felt that entertaining. That is because of the knowledge that City are highly unlikely to slip up. They’re too good. There’s too much long-term power and strength. Perhaps the greatest manager of all time has been put in almost perfect conditions, with little expense spared, so he has this team almost exactly as he wants it. That is the scale that Abu Dhabi’s City have been able to work to”.
To repeat:
” There’s too much long-term power and strength. Perhaps the greatest manager of all time has been put in almost perfect conditions, with little expense spared, so he has this team almost exactly as he wants it.”
My only tiny quibble is with “…LITTLE expense spared” which should read ‘…NO expense spared’
But other than that, a brilliant piece.
Just as an aside, following on from our remarkable 2024, and to demonstrate just how the usual endless media negativity has managed to turn so many Arsenal fans into a bunch of entitled ingrates, just read this little lot from ‘justarsenal’ following our defeat at Fulham late last year.
https://www.justarsenal.com/some-arsenal-supporters-turn-on-mikel-arteta-after-fulham-loss/356839
Unbelievable stuff. Just like AI m lets hope they’ve forever crawled back under the rock from whence they came.
Alas, 1 defeat and they’ll be back.
Thank you Miedema!! She is leaving.
Another example of uneven media reporting:-
Now there are multiple excuses for teams who have injured players, eg “depleted” Man Utd, poor Spurs, previously Liverpool having to play youth players etc.
Arsenal injuries, however, are all the club’s own fault because of poor management, bad training methods. etc
This comment is from Nitram, but technical issues prevented him posting it directly – Tony
ARSENAL’S AWAY FORM THIS CAMPAIGN, BETTER THAN THE UNBEATEN SEASON
John Lsays:
13 May 2024 at 3:01 PM
Another example of uneven media reporting:-
Now there are multiple excuses for teams who have injured players, eg “depleted” Man Utd, poor Spurs, previously Liverpool having to play youth players etc.
Arsenal injuries, however, are all the club’s own fault because of poor management, bad training methods. etc
This is my reply with the links:
Spot on.
We had a bit of an injury crisis back in 2014/15 for which Dutch fitness coach Raymond Verheijen was telling anyone who would listen that it was all Arsene Wengers fault. And of course as you’ll see bellow it didn’t take long for the entire media to jump all over it.
The Standard
“‘Dinosaur’ Arsene Wenger is to blame for Arsenal’s injury crisis, claims Dutch fitness expert”
JAMES BENGE 29 OCTOBER 2015
——
The Mirror
Arsene Wenger is to blame for Arsenal’s injury crisis, claims Dutch fitness expert Raymond Verheijen. Arsenal lost Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in their defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, meaning they now have eight players out injured.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain looks dejected as he walks off to be substituted after sustaining an injury as manager Arsene Wenger looks on
Out: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain goes off injured against Sheffield Wednesday (
By Hamish Mackay 11:52, 29 Oct 2015UPDATED15:13, 29 OCT 2015
——-
The Bleacher Report
Arsene Wenger Blamed for Arsenal Injuries by Raymond Verheijen
TOM SUNDERLAND MARCH 12, 2014
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The Metro
Arsene Wenger is to blame for Arsenal’s injury problems, says Raymond Verheijen
Will Giles Published Oct 30, 2015, 10:07am
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The Mail On Line
Arsene Wenger is behind the times! Arsenal manager blamed for injury crisis by former Wales coach Raymond Verheijen.
By MARTIN DOMIN FOR MAILONLINE PUBLISHED: 07:59, 29 October 2015
——–
Talksport
‘Old-school’ Arsene Wenger must be blamed for Arsenal’s injury problems, Raymond Verheijen tells talkSPORT
Alex Varney Published: 16:56, 29 Oct 2015Updated: 17:06, 29 Oct 2015
———
And it even went beyond our shores:
Arsene Wenger must be blamed for Arsenal’s injury problems
USA Today
Luke Kerr-Dineen November 30, 2015 2:49 pm ET
——-
So, on the word of one man, with absolutely no evidence, the entire media jumped on it and blamed Wenger.
You won’t be surprised that Untold has done many an article on this very subject. The following are a couple from around the time of Verheijen’s quotes.
As you will see some of the headlines I’ve found are referenced by Untold, and from the comments section you’ll see how certain fans couldn’t wait to jump on the band wagon.
https://untold-arsenal.com/archives/84700
https://untold-arsenal.com/archives/47765
Manchester United’s head of sports medicine is Gary O’Driscoll.
Just sayin’
Since Walter and the Belgian continent will be at the stadium , I’ll be hoping for a 3-0 scoreline ! That is of course the usual score when they come over !
Just hope that the Spuds take some pride and to Man City in .
Up the Gunners !
….opppss , sorry Belgian ‘contingent ‘ !