- We said “Maybe this is the moment” a couple of days back and maybe this just is.
- Uefa defeated and St Totteringham’s day all in one.
By Tony Attwood
We’ve all felt that this season Arsenal have been thrown off course by the seemingly endless array of injuries that the club has suffered. And that is before we even start looking at the statistics (not just the general comments) concerning the way Arsenal are treated by referees compared with other clubs.
And even that is before we contemplate why the media denigrate Arsenal fans who point out the oddities of the statistics concerning what happens to Arsenal on the pitch (as for example in the recent revelations about the number of penalties Arsenal get awarded and the number they concede compared with other top teams.)
But although we have talked a lot about the way referee decisions are different for Arsenal than for other clubs, and have produced those statistics, but we haven’t looked at the range of Arsenal injuries compared with other teams this season.
A table based on injuries this season shows Arsenal top of the injuries list by a long way, with 27 injuries. This is almost double the number of injuries that Liverpool have sustained (14) and over four times as many as West Ham who have had six.
Injuries of course have an impact on teams, and it is interesting to note that the other members of the top six in the League at the moment all have had significantly fewer injuries to contend with than Arsenal. The nearest challenger on the injury front from the top six clubs is Manchester City with 18. In short, Arsenal are suffering a third more injuries than ManC even though there has been so much talk about ManC’s campaign this season being hindered by injuries!
And that commentary is interesting because in Arsenal’s case, the commentary in the media and elsewhere has been about the manager’s supposed failure to bring in a new centre forward. But really we should spend a moment just contemplating the difference between Arsenal’s 27 injuries and 14 for Liverpool, and then just 10 for Nottingham Forest.
Of course, I am not going to feel sorry for Tottenham Hots or ManU but they have had 22 and 20 injuries respectively this season, and that must have affected their causes.
No, the key point here is that Arsenal have had a lot of injuries (as I say they are top of the league in that regard) but they have also had significant success this season (as you may have noticed, not only in beating Real Mad yesterday but also sitting second in the league yet again, despite these injuries).
Now if you believe that injuries happen by chance and that some seasons one club gets a lot of injuries and some seasons it is another club that is hit, then you probably look forward to next season with joy and excitement. If however, you think it is all down to Arteta’s fault for the way he trains the players (in the same way that many people blamed Wenger’s training methodologies when his sides got hit by injury, then you’ll be calling for a new manager (as some have this season) and extra players (forgetting the issue of what happens to them when no one is injured).
But there is more to it than that, because football changes over the years, as does football punditry. Recent accusations have been that players are being micro-managed and over-coached, and this is restricting flair. Although a look at the games such as Arsenal last night ensures that thought fades. And speaking of that you might like to watch the video of Paul Merson commentating – particularly on the second goal. It really is worth five minutes of your time (see below for the link).
And I guess we might contrast this with what a Mr G Neville said about ManU, “This robotic nature of not leaving our positions, of being micro-managed within an inch of our lives, of not having any freedom to take a risk to try to win a football match is becoming an illness in the game, it’s becoming a disease in the game.” (Although obviously not last night with Arsenal).
There is however a general perception that things are simply getting more boring, although the number of goals per game doesn’t suggest this. The last major change to the offside rules came in 1990 with a declaration that an attacker level with the second-last defender is onside not offside, so comparisons need to be made with other seasons since then.
Especially as in 1889/1900 the goals per game in the league averaged 4.62, and we’ve never got anywhere near that since then, but looking at goals scored since 1990 we see that the average goals per game through the season have been consistently lower. The best season since 1990 was in fact last season, with 2.945 goals a game in the Premier League just beating the 947/48 season. The sixth best season was 2022/23 (2.826 per game) Near the bottom end comes 2006/07 with 2.45 goals a game.
My point here is that we are not seeing more or fewer goals per game season on season – things vary. But what you very rarely see is Paul Merson leap out of his chair while commentating on a match, extolling the brilliance of a goal. You can see a video of that at https://www.skysports.com/football/arsenal-vs-real-madrid/report/528753 and really if you have five minutes spare do watch it. It is great fun.
Tony,
Thanks for the Merson link. Did he move that fast on the pitch, lol? Even our old friend Amy Lawrence had positive things to say about the Real victory in The Athletic.
Isn’t it funny that when it suits, and when it’s all to late to matter, people are actually capable of seeing the truth, as in this short, but very revealing statement from the usually ultra critical football.london:
“The Premier League is in a strange state for Arsenal considering the fact that the title race is all but wrapped up and Liverpool are expected to win the campaign. Unfortunately circumstances have transpired with injuries and controversial decisions that have denied Arsenal a chance to put on the challenge they hoped they could achieve.”
A little bit of an understatement, but at least a concession to the facts, rather than this eternal made up crap that all our troubles are down to a lack of a ‘proper number nine’, which is utter tripe as we have shown here on Untold Arsenal many many times.
It’s actually from a pretty good analysis of how we might line up against Brentford at the weekend.
Not an insult in sight. Not a word about lack of a proper number nine. Just some decent, balanced, well thought out ideas as to what Arteta might do this weekend.
Who’d of thought.
@ Nitram
Forgive me for being slightly cynical but I can’t help feeling that elements of the media are only conceding the points about injuries and controversial decisions now because they believe the league is done and dusted….as do I. Do you really think they’d be supportive if we were still in with a chance? They’ve conspired against us all season but now they believe we don’t stand a chance they start to concede a few points.
It’s just like those refs that show us yellow cards in the first few minutes and then towards the last five minutes (as long as the result is beyond doubt) they give a couple to the other side to make it look like they’ve been even handed. Or those games were we get an early three or four goal lead and the referee then manages the game even-handedly because he believes it would be too blatant to influence the result…..unless of course its against Newcastle and your name is Phil Dowd and you’ll do absolutely anything manipulate the game.
And if you do take a peek at the Tom Canton article, it may be worth a look at his referee analysis as well, headed:
‘Missed penalty, red card irony and suspension nightmare – Arsenal vs Real Madrid referee review’
Another shockingly fair analysis. What’s going on???:
Regarding our penalty claim and resultant VAR check, he concludes:
“However, the gripe I have is that earlier in the season, Arsenal were punished for a very similar situation with proximity as Mikel Merino blocked a shot from Mehdi Taremi in the San Siro. Inter Milan were awarded a penalty and lost the game 1-0. If this was a handball, then why is this not? And vice versa. It is again the consistency of decision-making which is called into question”.
FL verdict – Correct decision, no penalty. But… let’s hope that is maintained throughout the competition more consistently”.
I couldn’t of put it better myself. Like so many decisions that have gone against us this season, both domestically and in Europe, it’s the inconsistency that really angers us.
And this is his take on the red card incident at the end:
“FL review – There is, of course, an irony to this with Arsenal having watched both Rice and Trossard get sent off this season for controversial second yellow cards, kicking (or tapping in the case of Rice) the ball away. This, though, was a genuine example of what we expect to happen, the Frenchman giving it a true, angry smash of a kick, leaving nothing to the imagination in terms of the motive.
FL verdict – Red card, correct decision. Aurelien Tchouameni will replace his countryman, having missed the first leg through suspension”.
In other words, a veiled admission that Arsenal were indeed screwed by both those second yellow cards that were crucial in ending our title challenge before it even began, along with penalties for clashes of heads, and reds for fouls on the half way line, to name but two others.
As I said above, all of a sudden clear concessions that we have been well and truly turned over by all and sundry this season. Better late than never I suppose.
Mikey
“Do you really think they’d be supportive if we were still in with a chance?”
No I don’t. You are 100% correct.
And even then, it is still one lone voice.
Mikey, I share your memory of Dowd in the 4-4 game at Newcastle. Diaby red card for reacting to violent assaults which were ignored by ref, 2 unjustified penalties given and a 5th Arsenal goal disallowed by a dubious offside verdict.
He must have been trying to impress Riley by following his example.
John L
I was at work that day but knew the score was 0-4 at HT. I then had to turn my phone off for an hour whilst I drove my lovely passengers from Tattenham Corner to Purley.
I turned my phone back on to hear it was 4-4.
To this day I have never watched the match. I have accidently caught the odd snippet, but I actively try to avoid seeing any of it, though of course through the many many discussions I have read and heard on the game, from Arsenal and non Arsenal sources, I know what a travesty it was.
I vowed I would not watch it until we won the league again. Alas that has took a tad longer than I hoped, or even expected.