Season review according to Opta

[T.S]

Don’t get me wrong, I’m no Statto, but seeing as there are so many differing opinions on our season, I couldn’t help noticing page 47 in the Currant Bun this morning (didn’t buy it, picked it up on the train to work, honest!). It’s got a break down of different stats for the 06/07 season and I found it interesting reading. Turns out relegation next season isn’t as much of a certainty as some Gooners think!

Here’s what I picked out:

Goals to shorts:
Gilbreto: 10 goals (31%) – 2nd place.
Gallas: is in there too.

Mins per goal:
Van Persie: 11 goals (132 m/pg) – 2nd
Henry: 10 goals (147 m/pg) – 5th

Assists:
Fabregas: 11 assists – 1st

Passing:
Djourou: 765 passes (89.5%) – 2nd
Gallas: 906 passes (87%) – 5th


So it turns out that our conversion rate (for some players) is pretty good (only Arsenal and Man Ure have two players in the top 10 for goals to shots, and our main strikers did the business whenever they played). As for assists, the stats confirm what we already knew, Cesc is the bee’s knees, and it turns out that our distribution from the back isn’t as bad as we thought. So the future’s looking good, right?

Well, in an adaptation of Harvey Keitel’s famous line from Pulp Fiction, let’s not start performing fellatio on each other right away. Yes, there are positives to draw, but there is also huge room for improvement. Tables that the Bun print which Arsenal are not included at all in are: Goals, Shooting (accuracy), Crossing and Tackling – and if you ask me, these are all pretty important if you’re going for the title. Oh, and Jens only scrapes in for 10th place in saves to shots with 71% (and he dropped more catches than any other goalkeeper).

Also, the fact that we only have Cesc making a notable contribution on the assists and that our most accurate passers are centre backs (one of whom rarely plays, and another who could well be off) is concerning. And although people like Berbatov, Drogba and Rooney aren’t in the Goals to Shots top 10, you’d ideally want one of our strikers to be in there – still, it wasn’t going to be Adebayor or The Meat Feast, was it?

So it’s there for all to see – our shooting and crossing accuracy are almost non-existent. The lack of a settled back four and a midfield nutter is apparent, too, with the lack of any player in the top 10 for tackling. I think goalscoring will be less of a problem next season, providing we keep Thierry and RVP fit (but what if we don’t?). Cesc needs some help in the midfield and our goalkeeper isn’t good enough. So…

Arsene’s shopping list;
1 goalkeeper (done)
1 experienced defender
1 midfield nutter
1 proven goalscorer (who can head the ball!)
1 nippy winger who can cross the ball
and a huge bag of never-say-die attitude

Easy, right? – Sigh, it’s going to be a long summer…

[tenementfunster5]

Didn't they have John o'Shea top for convertion rates. 4 goals at 80%.
Stats don't tell everything.

If we had our strikers fit for the mojority of the season then we would have had a far better season. Yes there is room for improvment, there always is, but we have quality in our squad and we can be great again.

[T.S]

I agree, mate. Stats don't always tell the whole story. The post was a little tongue-in-cheek, but at the same time, I do think that the stats gave some insight in to where the team is actually failing.

I don't think we're going to be great again until we strike a balance between youth and experience again. The need for a goalscoring mifielder is so obvious that even Stevie Wonder can see it.

I reckon Arsene will go out and buy a few 5 year olds from Outer Mongolia and whack them in the squad. Still, I'd love to be wrong.

[GunnerTino]

Have to say I totally agree with you about finding the right balance.
It seems strange that Wenger hasn't addressed the problem,is it a matter of a serious lack of funds or is he trying to prove a point about the youngsters? I'm just as tired of the "they are young and still learning" line as I am of Moanrinho going on about Chelski's injury problems!
I'm hoping that Wenger will eat a little bit of humble pie concerning the strength of the squad and bring some quality & experience in,but like you I don't think he will,I truely hope I'm proved wrong.