After seven games in the League, are Arsenal advancing or declining?

 

 

By Tony Attwood

 

Home team Goals Shots pg Yellows Possession%
Arsenal 10 23.3 7 56.5%
Manchester City 11 21.3 10 65.6%
Liverpool 5 17.3 7 63.1%

 

But when we look at the figures for  the away teams we find an enormous divergence in possession.  ManC and Liverpool have possession figures away from home which don’t diverge much from the possession rate at home.  But Arsenal are playing with 17% less possession away from home than at home – suggesting a totally different tactical approach.

Away teams

 

Team Goals Shots pg Yellows Possession%
Arsenal 5 7 10 39.5
Manchester City 6 16.7 7 60.6
Liverpool 8 13.8 7 58.1

6 Replies to “After seven games in the League, are Arsenal advancing or declining?”

  1. Completely agree with this Tony. I just wrote something similar (but much shorter ) in a comment on the last article.

    Let’s hope for no more injuries during the international break….

  2. We also need to keep in mind that the quality of the opposition in our 3 away games to date and the additional half (out of six in total) played with 10 men vs Man Cheaty. I looked into the respective possession stats comparing the same three away games and found that this year we are at 120 percent total – I.e 40% per game and last season 127 percent – so 42% per game. Given the above 10 vs 11 disadvantage for one half, I’m not seeing a significant shift as suggested.
    Should we fall back on possession against the lower teams as the season progresses then that’s something else.
    But riight now I don’t see a particular change other than an even better determination to get back quickly and keep shape better denying the opposition any clear cut chances.
    By the way source of the above stats was FBref.com

  3. Tony,
    Ramble on!
    It’s good to see the facts align with my perception of the team and its play. If they want to play a possession based attack they have the skill players to control the ball. If they want to play deep and defy the opposition to score they have the robust defenders to do that. Last season’s squad only conceded 29 in 38 League matches. Level with City in goal difference. So, the tactician manager with willing players. Third season like this. Isn’t it great?
    I was thinking about squad depth and realised Arsenal are now have 2 good sides in the team. Raya would start for both. The quality is up with the top in League and Europe.
    Analysing the stats on Who Scored, I noted that there’s only one Arsenal player made the top five tables (Saka) and no mention of AFC in the top 5 team stats except in the overall team rating. They perform as a team. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Probably too subtle for the mindless in the media.

  4. The stats for possession away, would’ve definitely been influenced by playing two difficult away side for more than one half down to ten men…. Brighton and ManC. I am convinced that these figures will change for the better as more matches are played….. that of course is assuming that we play on more level terms.

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