By Tony Attwood
Last season Arsenal scored 20 goals away from home – fractionally over one per game. It was the prime cause of our inability to get into the top four. As a result we suggested in Untold that if only we could improve our away form this season we would stand a chance of getting back into the top four this year.
Of course at this moment we are not in the top four, but it is noticeable that in just seven away games this season Arsenal have scored 18 goals – as opposed to 19 in the whole of last season.
And not only have we scored almost the whole total of goals from last season’s away league games in just seven matches, there is something else. Arsenal have scored more away goals than any other team this season despite having played two games fewer away games than Tottenham and one fewer away game than many other clubs.
In fact our away form has been turned around – and although as yet that has not taken Arsenal back permanently to the top four (which of course we must always say is not a trophy, not that we ever said it was but it seemed very important to an awfully large number of people to say this over and over and over and over again) it has helped us stay in touch with the other clubs that ended up in the top six last season.
Here is the league table taking into account only away games thus far this season…
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 9 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 21 |
| 2 | Liverpool | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 20 |
| 3 | Manchester City | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 13 | 17 |
| 4 | Arsenal | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 12 | 6 | 14 |
| 5 | Chelsea | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 13 |
| 6 | Manchester United | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 14 | 15 | -1 | 11 |
| 7 | Leicester City | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 12 | -1 | 11 |
The point about Arsenal’s away form is that it is the place that improvement had to come, since last season we had the second best home form in the league, getting just three points fewer than Manchester City.
Last season in matches against the clubs that ended up in the top six places in the league Arsenal won one, drew three and lost six. This season with half of the ten games played against these teams we have won one, drawn two and lost two. If similar results continue through the second half of the run of games against last season’s other top six teams we’ll be at two wins, four draws and four defeats – giving 10 points, the level Liverpool reached last year coming fifth in the mini-league.
So if we are predicting the future this is clearly an area for more improvement – as indeed would be suggested by the fact that Arsenal are fifth at the moment in the league.
But on the more positive side the great run continues
| Date | Game | Res | Score | Competition |
| 25 Aug | Arsenal v West Ham Utd | W | 3-1 | Premier League |
| 02 Sep | Cardiff City v Arsenal | W | 2-3 | Premier League |
| 15 Sep | Newcastle United v Arsenal | W | 1-2 | Premier League |
| 20 Sep | Arsenal v Vorskla Poltava | W | 4-2 | Europa League |
| 23 Sep | Arsenal v Everton | W | 2-0 | Premier League |
| 26 Sep | Arsenal v Brentford | W | 3-1 | League Cup |
| 29 Sep | Arsenal v Watford | W | 2-0 | Premier League |
| 04 Oct | FK Qarabağ v Arsenal | W | 0-3 | Europa League |
| 07 Oct | Fulham v Arsenal | W | 1-5 | Premier League |
| 22 Oct | Arsenal v Leicester City | W | 3-1 | Premier League |
| 25 Oct | Sporting Clube v Arsenal | W | 0-1 | Europa League |
| 28 Oct | Crystal Palace v Arsenal | D | 2-2 | Premier League |
| 31 Oct | Arsenal v Blackpool | W | 2-1 | League Cup |
| 03 Nov | Arsenal v Liverpool | D | 1-1 | Premier League |
| 08 Nov | Arsenal v Sporting Clube | D | 0-0 | Europa League |
| 11 Nov | Arsenal v Wolverhampton | D | 1-1 | Premier League |
| 25 Nov | Bournemouth v Arsenal | W | 1-2 | Premier League |
| 29 Nov | Vorskla Poltava v Arsenal | W | 0-3 | Europa League |
| 02 Dec | Arsenal v Tottenham Hots | W | 4-2 | Premier League |
| 05 Dec | Manchester Utd v Arsenal | D | 2-2 | Premier League |
15 wins, 5 draws and no defeats.
Of course this doesn’t mean anything at all, for as Steve McManaman said, “I know Arsenal are on a 20-odd game unbeaten run, but I don’t think they are consistent enough,” and I think we should all think about that. Indeed I am still trying to think about but unfortunately the laughter keeps breaking out and I can’t really focus any more.
So improvements are appearing: a slight improvement against the other teams that ended up in the top six last season, a really significant improvement in our away record – which was exaclty what was needed and I what I rambled on about through the close season, an improvement in consistency, and perhaps most importantly of all a huge improvement in the level of laughter we can have at the expense of total turnips who are paid huge amounts of money to talk gibberish.
Given that Mr McManaman’s wife is a barrister I imagine she is taking notes when he speaks to see how she can utilise this logic and rhetoric in court argument.
Here’s the league table this morning…
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester City | 15 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 45 | 7 | 38 | 41 |
| 2 | Liverpool | 15 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 30 | 6 | 24 | 39 |
| 3 | Tottenham Hotspur | 15 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 28 | 16 | 12 | 33 |
| 4 | Chelsea | 15 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 31 | 13 | 18 | 31 |
| 5 | Arsenal | 15 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 34 | 20 | 14 | 31 |
| 6 | Everton | 15 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 21 | 17 | 4 | 23 |
- Live match report Manchester United – Arsenal: 2-2
- Teams, Man U’s recent run, mad dogs, fighting men and Merson tells Emery what to do!
Sorry for going off topic but I want say the followings concerning current rainbow campaign.
Since when rainbow is a symbol of everyone? I have been advocating for secular football platform free from politics, religion, racism, sexism, by my very very limited voice. That, however, doesn’t include officially endorsing one particular lifestyle and promoting it on the global scale. For me the case of homosexuals is related to the case of religion and politics instead of racism and sexism, since it is a life style and expansive. It expands at the expense of its opposite life style. People have a right to disagree with it. Therefore, in my view officially endorsing one particular life style without giving a platform for the other side and promoting it on global scale is wrong to its core. It especially hurts when presented rainbow is a symbol of everyone on football games. I, as a fan football, firmly disagree with the action PL has taken in this regard, and strongly urge the PL administrative officials to listen to the concerns of religious and straight lifestyles and cancels rainbow promotion nonsense on football platform and make football secular and truly for everyone.
Sometimes logic may seem to be warped , or insane , all depending on where you are standing , or from your position of interest .
Q – ” If a tiger attacks your mother-in-law and your wife at the same time , who will you save ?”
Husband – ” Of course the tiger , very few few are left now !’
Agree /Disagree ?
This was a message from the Save the wildlife group.
When Man U players have to rely on unofficial help from the Ref and hold opposing players’ legs and hair and play with intent to maim the opponent, to force a draw then there is sure a reason to believe they are crap all round.
Most likely, some fair minded Man U fans weren’t too pleased with what their team and their coaching crew dished out yesterday as a football match befitting of that name.
Ah, yes, two simultaneous and ridiculous stories are being spun. The mental gymnastics of the group think lot who are the media is as usual sloped to aid the NW clubs.
Plucky little ManU managed to up their game and hold off their opponents.
Inconsistent Arsenal throw away points with leaky defence.
I like the joke, Brickfields.
I suppose McManaman must be aware of the remarkable consistency shown by both Liverpool and Spurs in being unable to win the Premier League.
MickHazel
“I suppose McManaman must be aware of the remarkable consistency shown by both Liverpool and Spurs in being unable to win the Premier League.”
Of course he must be, but he, like a few posters that keep turning up here like a bad smell, simply chose to ignore it, and in fact I keep getting told they are the future, well at least their managers are.
Shall we see why anyone would think that.
Lets look at Klopp.
He joined Liverpool in time for season 2015 – 2016.
This is his record:
15/16 PL 8th Won Nothing.
16/17 PL 4th Won nothing.
17/18 PL 4th Won nothing.
In fact he’s won nothing since the German FA Cup in season 2011 – 2012, but he has LOST 4 cup finals since then.
So if he’s anything I think serial loser is probably the most accurate discription.
So it seems the future is Red the future is losing every final you ever get to.
Cant think why anyone would think that’s better than WINNING 3 FA cups and finishing 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th over 4 years, but they do.
Lets look at Pochachino (Don’t worry it wont take long)
He joined spurs in time for the 2014 – 2015 season.
This is his record:
14/15 PL 5th Won nothing.
15/16 PL 3rd Won nothing.
16/17 PL 2nd Won Nothing.
17/18 PL 3rd Won nothing.
In fact he’s won nothing since…….well forever actually.
Cant think why anyone would think that’s better than WINNING 3 FA cups and finishing 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th over 4 years, but they do.
I like both those mangers but how what they have achieved, or more accurately HAVEN’T achieved, is fawned over, is quite honestly ridiculous.
As usual whatever we do, including actually winning things it seems, somehow manages to be cast in a negative light, where as others that actually win nothing get lorded.
Alas MickHazel it has been thus for many many years now.
Nitram
Tks again for putting the facts straight but to be fair with Klopp he did take Liverpool to the CL final which should be acknowledged as an achievement. Should give credit where it is due.
However I do completely agree with your post regarding the medias anti Arsenal and Anti Wenger agenda that they never acknowledged Wenger’s achievements over his 20 years Reign at Arsenal. Wenger kept us in the CL for 20 Years on limited spending and these idiots Mock Wenger for his works.
I was wondering if Arsenal finish in top 4 this year will they celebrate? As finishing in top4 is not what these idiots wanted over the years.
Let’s see when they start the Emery out campaign.
Rosicky
Klopps CL final-reaching achievement has to be held up against Arsene Wenger’s 2006, when Arsenal got to within 15 minutes of winning it, with 10 men.
Both losing finalists but the Gunners covered themselves with glory that night.