- How a big club in mega debt will grasp at young players to try and find a way through
- Is the Premier League in danger of being as uncompetitive as France and Germany?
Marking 100 years since Chapman joined Arsenal: Chapman wins the league at Huddersfield
By Tony Attwood
So now we know. Arsenal will play either Feyenoord, who knocked out AC Milan, or PSV Eindhoven who beat Juventus in extra time.
Feyenoord are currently fourth in the Dutch league while PSV are second. In the Dutch League PSV are currently unbeaten at home in 12 games while Feyenoord have lost two of their home games. Away from home Feyenoord have two defeats while PSV have three.
If we put the results of home and away together we can get some sort of comparison with Arsenal, although of course the strengths of the two leagues are quite different.
| P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | PSV | 23 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 71 | 26 | 45 | 52 |
| 4 | Feyenoord | 22 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 46 | 26 | 20 | 40 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 25 | 15 | 8 | 2 | 51 | 22 | 29 | 53 |
It is interesting how closely matched the three teams are although of course what works in Arsenal’s favour is the number of weaker teams in the Dutch competition.
But we do need to be more cautious in considering this than has previously been the case, as the Dutch league shows that the bottom three clubs in that league have 14, 17 and 20 points, while in the Premier League, the bottom three have nine, 17 and 17 points – so both leagues have teams moving ahead at the top with another group of minor clubs slipping behind at the foot of the table.
PSV are obviously the stronger of the two Dutch teams, but in the Dutch league which as I suggest is a fair bit weaker than the Premier League overall, Feyenoord are some way behind Arsenal in achievements this season.
We can also compare the two teams with Arsenal in the Champions League first phase this season
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 5 | +12 | 21 |
| 2 | Barcelona | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 28 | 13 | +15 | 19 |
| 3 | Arsenal | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 3 | +13 | 19 |
| 14 | PSV Eind | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 12 | +4 | 14 |
| 19 | Feyenoord | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 21 | -3 | 13 |
So looked at from the Champions League point of view this draw doesn’t look too bad for Arsenal, although both teams are doing well in their domestic league. The draw does seem a bit fixed though, although I am sure Uefa knows what it is doing. (That’s sarcasm).
It is also interesting perhaps that although PSV have scored 71 goals in their domestic league this season in two fewer games than Arsenal have played, while in the Champions League they scored the same number of goals as Arsenal. Where the big difference came however was in defence Arsenal conceded three goals in the Champions League eight games, while PSV conceded 12 and Feyenoord 21.
In terms of other clubs making it through Liverpool will play either eternal French champions Paris St-Germain or Benfica. Aston Villa will play either Club Brugge or Borussia Dortmund.
It is perhaps also interesting to note that there will be an extra Champions League place available next season for the country with the highest level of success (or “coefficient” in Uefa jargon) in the Champions League this season, and at the moment England are running away with that race.
In fact the Premier League currently have six out of the seven clubs that initially entered Europe this season left in the competitions. Manchester City (at least as far as I understand the ever-changing rules of these tournaments) now drop out totally because of their failures in the first eight games and the playoffs. Although I wouldn’t be surprised to find that there is a special spot awarded for something or other to allow them back in. But if not the media will fully excuse them because they had such a “very tough draw”.
And we mustn’t forget that Chelsea won the Conference League part one which I am sure they are jolly pleased about.
Anyway that’s Europe done for a bit, and on Saturday Arsenal play West Ham. Now this is a most curious game because the kick off is at 3pm which seems a very odd time to me. But I am sure the people who control the league know what they are up to (!)
What is also interesting is that West Ham are one of a group of five teams that really have an awful goal difference this season – in their case it is minus 18. The only clubs doing worse in this regard are Southampton, Leicester City, Ipswich Town, and Wolverhampton Wanderers, which sort of sums up the type of club West Ham have become of late.
But more on this anon, as we approach the game.
