- Why should we assume that everything with PGMO is right and proper?
- How football journalists draw conclusions without information and why football loves it this way
By Nitram
Following our 1 – 0 win over Ipswich Town I was rather bemused by the following headline in The Daily Mirror on line:
Arsenal have Liverpool in sight but they are unconvincing title challengers
So, I thought I’d have a look back and see why they may have come to that conclusion. To make some sort of informed judgement I thought I’d look at a few parameters, going back over the last year.
- The last match.
- The past 6 matches.
- The current season.
- The calendar year.
THE LAST MATCH: Arsenal 1 – 0 Ipswich town
Well, it has to be said it actually wasn’t the most convincing display we have ever seen, but was it really that bad?
In the first half we had an astonishing 84% of the possession, but in all honestly, we struggled to turn that into real goal-scoring opportunities, creating just the 4 shots at goal, although of course, we did turn one of the two that were on target into a goal. Conversely, Ipswich created ZERO in EVERY single offensive parameter with their miserly 16% of possession.
In the second half Ipswich were much more aggressive and kept our possession down to 53%. Oddly enough, with that much-reduced amount of possession we managed over twice as many shots (nine) with three of those on target. One of the ‘off target’ efforts of course was Gabriel’s miss that was in old money, an absolute ‘sitter’. 2-0 would have been a much more realistic reflection of the match, and been the same winning margin by which Liverpool beat Leicester, which was by all accounts a thoroughly convincing performance. Hmmm!
I watched both games and although Liverpool were more efficient in front of goal, they huffed and puffed much in the same way we did.
- Liverpool had 68% possession for 19 shots with 7 on target for 3 goals
- Arsenal had 68% possession for 13 shots with 5 on target for 1 goal.
So yes, Liverpool were better in attack, but they were worse in defence. If you ask me, neither were that convincing, but that happens when teams come to your gaff with the sole intention of not losing. But we both won. Convincing or not, we move on.
So, is it on the back of that ONE performance against Ipswich Town that The Daily Mirror has come to the earth shattering conclusion that our entire title challenge is ‘not convincing’? Maybe not, so lets look back at the other statistics to see if their assessment has any basis in reality.
THE PAST 6 MATCHES
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nottingham Forest | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 15 |
| 2 | Liverpool | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 9 | +12 | 14 |
| 3 | Arsenal | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 4 | +10 | 14 |
| 4 | Chelsea | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 7 | +8 | 13 |
| 5 | Bournemouth | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 4 | +5 | 12 |
So, if Arsenal are unconvincing then so are Liverpool, having acquired exactly the same amount of points as Arsenal,
THE CURRENT SEASON
This is how the top of the table currently looks:
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 18 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 45 | 17 | 28 | 45 |
| 2 | Nottingham Forest | 19 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 26 | 19 | 7 | 37 |
| 3 | Arsenal | 18 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 35 | 16 | 19 | 36 |
| 4 | Chelsea | 18 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 38 | 21 | 17 | 35 |
| 5 | Manchester City | 19 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 32 | 26 | 6 | 31 |
So, okay Liverpool lead by eight points with a game in hand. A good lead. But as I have pointed out on here a few times, once you look behind the bare results it is not quite as impressive as it seems. Liverpool have still to visit seven of the current top 10 teams. Their fixtures, particularly away from home, have been very easy, especially in comparison to ours, which have been extremely difficult.
Given the injuries and ridiculous red cards we have had on the road, to be sitting where we are, is actually not that bad. In fact, anything other than unconvincing if you ask me. Of course, we have had the odd poor performance, but so has every team, including Liverpool.
So let us now look at the final parameter:
THE CALENDAR YEAR
As of December 28th, 2024 Arsenal were the team with the most points in the Premier league calendar year with 85 points. Liverpool have 82 points, both having played 36 matches each. We also set a new goal scoring record, scoring five or more goals six times across all competitions. The most ever by an English top flight club.
Hardly ‘Unconvincing’ is it?
So, The Daily Mirror has made its grand assessment of Arsenal being ‘unconvincing title challengers’ based on what?
- A slightly tepid performance against Ipswich?
- Current form? Can’t be that, we are above Liverpool.
- This season? Maybe, as we are nine points adrift. But, there are reasons for that. Not excuses, reasons the media seem very reluctant to acknowledge, or even explore.
- The Calendar year? It cant be that either as we are THE BEST team in the Premier League over the calendar year.
So, yes. It appears the Daily Mirror have come to the dramatic conclusion that Arsenal are ‘Unconvincing Title Challengers’ on the basis of one tepid home performance.
I think that sums up perfectly just how little thought, time, and effort, these hacks actually put in to what they write.
As this was written prior to Liverpool’s drubbing of West Ham Utd at the London Stadium I think it is worth a little update:
1: Yes, Liverpool are a very good side, who on their day can smash the poor teams. Much the same as we can, hence that scoring record of ours.
2: Liverpool have still to visit seven of the current top 10 teams.
3: Arsenal have still had an horrendous set of fixtures, especially away from home.
4: Arsenal have been unforetuneately with both injuries and red cards.
All of those points still hold true.
Look, I am not blind or stupid, and it is obvious Liverpool are a very good side, and we will need 2 things to happen if we are to overtake them.
1: We need them to drop points at these tougher fixtures they have coming up in the second half of the season. I hope and believe they will.
2: We will need to drop very very few points from now until the end of the season in much the same way as we did last season. I think we can do it.
But, if Liverpool are ‘that good’ and don’t drop any points in those tougher fixtures then fine, they will win the title and deservedly so. We could well have a second half of the season like last year, but it wont be easy, especially without Saka for such a long period. But we can do it, and I’m hopeful we will do it.
Only time will tell if Liverpool are as unstoppable as their friends in the media seem to think they are, and if in fact Arsenal are as Unconvincing as The Daily Mirror says we are.
Off topic, but relating to an earlier article of mine exploring the question, ‘is Saka overplayed’.
I suggested not, and cited the reason being is that Saka at Arsenal, is no different to many other World class players around the Country and is ‘indispensable’. All these ‘indispensable’ type players are played by their managers as much as they possibly think they can get away with. As a comparison I used Salah at Liverpool as I believe they are both equally as important to their respective clubs.
Here’s the thing.
Last night Liverpool dominated West Ham pretty much from start to finish. They were 3 – 0 up by half time, arguably job done, and 4-0 up by the 54th minute. Definitely game over, as I’m sure you would agree. The final nail in the coffin was when jota made it 5-0 in the 84th minute.
Yet despite all that Slot kept Mo Salah on the pitch until the final whistle blew after 95 minutes. Why?
Arteta took Saka off in our corresponding fixture on 74 Minutes.
It just proves my point. It’s what managers do with these exceptional players. They are the heartbeat, the drive. They are often what makes them the great team they are. Often as not, no matter how many other World Class players are around them, the manager will play these type of players as often, as for as long as they can get away with.
All managers push it. All managers chance their arm. Unforetuneately for us, occasionally it bites you on the backside.
I watched the WHU v Liverpool game , very late in the game Alex Trent Arnold ( hope I got the name in the right order ) disputed a throw in , not only did he throw the match ball away he kicked the replacement ball away which sits on a cone . There was no action taken by the referee and not a comment made by the commentary team , this was a worst action than the 2 incidents which we had players 2nd yellow carded then sent off for 2 for delaying the restart of the game ,
Referees can referee a game how they want , use “ the letter of the law as a get out of jail card “ and no one will say/comment that anything is wrong in how they go about there task of refereeing .
Were we victimised by referees in the Rice and Trossard incidents?
Steve Vallins
It’s things like that, that drive me crazy because they are proof positive that referees cheat and the media are complicit.
And anyone who has a problem with the word cheat can take a hike, because you cannot tell me the referee didn’t see what he did, know exactly how it contravened the ‘Letter Of The Law’, as was banded about so freely when we were being screwed, and decided, ‘Nah, this is Liverpool, I’m going to let that go, and what’s more I know nothing will be said because it’s Liverpool”.
So he cheated and let it go, and he was right, nothing was said. No card. No problem. We move on without a whimper.
Measure that against how Arsenals corner routines are put under the microscope by the media in an effort to get them stopped by the officials. How they were labelled Dark Arts
It’s the same with how Slot was treated in the media over his ban. I didn’t read a word of criticism for his ban or the fact he admitted he tries to influence referees.
Again, measure that against how Arteta gets castigated just for celebrating.
As I have said a few times. The media have made it perfectly clear who they want to win the title, and as we are seeing the referees have taken it on board and will/are refereeing accordingly.
I’m no Chelsea lover, but it’s also worth pointing out that Liverpool’s other most likely challenger were well and truly screwed as well the other night with what is being called a ‘controversial’ penalty. Controversial, it was a joke. The Chelsea fans are quite rightly asking, ‘what is the point of VAR’.
Although in real time it looked ‘soft’, I can forgive the referee giving it, just. But it was a dive, and replays clearly showed that. VAR should of overturned it and booked Delap. They did neither and confirmed the penalty. It was a clear and obvious error ffs!!
But the media simply refuse to condemn the officials. Except when it’s Arsenal of course. We get this kind of nonsense:
“Liam Delap chased a through ball from Leif Davis into the penalty area, where he appeared to lose his balance, but the onrushing Jorgensen connected with him”.
Two things:
1-Delap didn’t appear to lose his balance. Delap dived.
2-Yes, Jorgensen did make the slightest contact. Football is a contact sport. Contact is allowed. It was not a foul. Delap dived.
But surprise surprise the Premier League back the officials:
“The referee’s call of penalty for a foul by Jorgensen on Delap was checked and confirmed by VAR, who deemed there was sufficient contact for a penalty.”
Honestly, have any of these guys ever played the game. I mean ever?
Anyway, as far as Liverpool are concerned all good. Now just screw us today and that’s job done for another weeks fixtures.