Written by Merlin96
A comparison of our 2015/16 season with seasons gone by is tabulated below.
Season … Finish .. W …. D …. L …… F ….. A … +/- … Points
Highbury era
1997/98 ….. 1st …. 23 ….. 9 ….. 6 … 68 … 33 … 35 … 78 points
2001/02 ….. 1st …. 26 ….. 9 ..… 3 … 79 … 36 … 43 … 87 points
2003/04 ….. 1st …. 26 … 12 ….. 0 … 73 … 26 … 47 … 90 points
Emirates era
2006/07 ….. 4th …. 19 … 11 ….. 8 … 63 … 35 … 28 … 68 points
2007/08 ….. 3rd .… 24 … 11 ….. 3 … 74 … 31 … 43 … 83 points
2008/09 ….. 4th …. 20 … 12 ….. 6 … 68 … 37 … 31 … 72 points
2009/10 ….. 3rd …. 23 ….. 6 ….. 9 … 83 … 41 … 42 … 75 points
2010/11 ….. 4th …. 19 … 11 ….. 8 … 72 … 43 … 29 … 68 points
2011/12 ….. 3rd …. 21 ….. 7 … 10 … 74 … 49 … 25 … 70 points
2012/13 ….. 4th …. 20 … 10 ….. 7 … 72 … 37 … 35 … 73 points
2013/14 ….. 4th …. 24 ….. 7 ….. 7 … 68 … 41 … 27 … 79 points
2014/15 ….. 3rd …. 22 ….. 9 ….. 7 … 71 … 36 … 35 … 75 points
2015/16 ….. 2nd …. 20 … 11 ….. 7 … 65 … 36 … 29 … 71 points – after Round
2016/17 ….. 3rd …. 22 … 10 ….. 6 … 74 … 31 … 43 … 76 points – optimistic prediction
2016/17 …… 1st …. 26 ….. 9 ….. 3 … 83 … 31 … 52 … 87 points – enough to win the title?
Having spent around £100m to buy Ozil, Alexis, Welbeck, Cech and Elneny, one interesting fact from above table is that our performance has not improved, certainly not since 2012/13 season as the team consistently clock up 7 losses and 7, 9, 10 or 11 draws! On this kind on form, we are not good enough to be a serious title-contender, only a serial top four finisher with a good chance to finish 3rd or 2nd and your Bet365 Bonus code should be used elsewhere.
My expectation for 2016/17 season?
· 26 wins and 3 losses should be sufficient to win 2016/17 title.
· KPI for Arsene Wenger is to improve from 2015/16 season with 22 wins or more, and 6 or fewer losses.
2015/16 goal scoring prowess as tabulated below:
Total Games Played … … … Games … … … … … … … Total Goal
Season … CL … FA … CC … Played _ W …. D ….. L … Scored … Average per Game
1997/98 ….. 2 … 9 ….. 5 … … 54 … … 33 … 14 … 07 ….. 89 … … ….. 1.65 goal
2001/02 … 12 … 7 ….. 3 … … 60 … … 39 … 11 … 10 … 118 … … ….. 1.97 goal
2003/04 … 10 … 5 ….. 5 … … 58 … … 37 … 14 … 07 … 113 … … ….. 1.95 goal
Emirates Era
2006/07 … 10 … 5 ….. 6 … … 59 … … 35 … 17 … 07 ….. 98 … … ….. 1.66 goal
2007/08 … 12 … 3 ….. 5 … … 58 … … 36 … 15 … 07 … 113 … … ….. 1.95 goal
2008/09 … 14 … 6 ….. 3 … … 61 … … 34 … 16 … 11 … 113 … … ….. 1.85 goal
2009/10 … 12 … 2 ….. 3 … … 55 … … 33 … 09 … 13 … 116 … … ….. 2.11 goal
2010/11 … 08 … 6 ….. 6 … … 58 … … 31 … 13 … 14 … 119 … … ….. 2.05 goal
2011/12 … 10 … 3 ….. 3 … … 54 … … 31 … 09 … 14 ….. 96 … … ….. 1.78 goal
2012/13 … 08 … 4 ….. 3 … … 53 … … 29 … 12 … 12 … 105 … … ….. 1.98 goal
2013/14 … 10 … 6 ….. 2 … … 56 … … 37 … 08 … 11 ….. 99 … … ….. 1.77 goal
2014/15 … 10 … 7 ….. 1 … … 56 … … 35 … 11 … 10 … 109 … … ….. 1.95 goal
2015/16 … 08 … 6 ….. 2 … … 54 … … 28 … 12 … 14 ….. 91 … … ….. 1.69 goal
This indicates to me that during the post Fabregas era, the team has been mediocre. It’s been knocked out of cup competitions regularly at an early stage, (the two FA Cup wins are an exception to the rule since 2005/06 season) and have played an average of 54 games per season since 2011/12.
We let slip the 2015/16 title due to the lack of consistent goal scoring players as clearly shown above. Yet again, we couldn’t even manage to score in excess of 100 goals yet goal scoring prowess can and will convert draws into wins and losses into draws.
Let’s not blame our defence with only Man Utd and the Tiny Totts conceding fewer goals than us as indicated “goals conceded” below:
· 34 – ManU
· 35 – Tiny Totts
· 36 – Leicester City
· 36 – Arsenal
· 41 – Abu Dhabi City
· 41 – Southampton
· 50 – Liverpool
· 51 – West Ham United
· 53 – Chelski
During the Fabregas era, we had three deadly forwards in Van Persie, Adebayor, Eduardo, supported by Bendtner and Walcott. Plus then, we have three creative play makers in Fabregas, Hleb and Rosicky.
2015/16 season?
We had only one forward in Giroud who scores a consistent 15+ league goals per season. Alexis, Walcott and Campbell are inconsistent and our problems were compounded by Alexis and Welbeck being injured for parts of the season.
We only have one brilliant play maker in Mesut Ozil. Cazorla, out injured for a long time, didn’t manage to score a single league goal. Ramsey and OX are over-hyped and both failed to pull their weight this season. Iwobi is still too raw and not fully developed yet.
Playing Tippy-Tappy Football with languid square and backward passes to retain possession will not produce goals and imo, Arsenal need a lot more from their attacking midfielder’s. Ideally, our goals scored would be something like:
· 50% from forwards.
· 40% from midfield.
· 10% from defence and “own goal”.
One of the reasons why we failed to win 2015/16 title is the appalling failure of our midfield players to score goals, contributing a measly 19 goals in all competitions.
Strikers contributed ….. 67.03% … 61 goals.
Midfield contributed …… 20.88% … 19 goals.
Defence contributed ….. 8.79% ……. 8 goals.
“Dubious goal”……………… 3.30% ……. 3 goals.
….. 2 goals scored = 1.00 goals per game in 2 League Cup games
… 11 goals scored = 1.83 goals per game in 6 FA Cup games (including Charity Shield)
… 13 goals scored = 1.63 goals per game in 8 CL Cup games
… 65 goals scored = 1.71 goals per game in 36 League games
Maximum no. of games played = 38 + 6 FA Cup + 2 Tin Cup + (6+2) CL Cup = 54 games.
91 goals scored in 54 matches played = averaging 1.69 goal per game.
The below list is our total goals scored in all competitions and by whom:
01) Giroud………………………24 goals
02) Alexis……………………….17 goals
03) Walcott……………………..09 goals
04) Ozil ………………………….08 goals
05) Ramsey…………………….06 goals
06) Welbeck…………………… 05 goals
07) Joel Campbell ……………04 goals
08) Koscielny ………………….04 goals
09) “Dubious Goal” ………….03 goals
10) Flamini ……………………..02 goals
11) Iwobi…………………………02 goals
12) OX …………………………..02 goals
13) Gibbs………………………..01 goal
14) Gabriel ……………………..01 goal
15) Chambers………………….01 goal
16) Elneny……………………….01 goal
17) Bellerin…………………….. 01 goal
Since the start of the Arsene Wenger era, we have failed to score 120 goals or more in any one season. The closest being 119 goals!
That’s not good enough to win the Premier League, not these days…..
Transfer gossip:
Italian journalist Emanuele Giulianelli has stirred the pot on Twitter with a cracker.
“Arsenal and Leicester new meeting for Mahrez. Ranieri has asked about Walcott, but the player is not interested.”
Can’t say I blame Theo really, although the style of football Leicester play would suit his game imo, as he’s set in London, he’s on £140k a week and that’s all for having a gentle jog around on a football pitch every now and again. I’m not sure I’d want to move from the capital up north where is cold, damp and grim. I’m sure Leicester is a lovely place but it’s not London is it.
If I was him, I’d stay too but if I was Arsene Wenger, if the player is not in his plans, I’d make it very clear that he’s got to find another club, and soon.
Thanks for the post Merlin, although I’m now exhausted… 😉
The moral of the story is, we need to play better football and score more goals, especially from midfield…..
Morning all..
It’s all very well and good us saying we’ll sell this player or that player, but you can’t force out a player who doesn’t want to leave, we had it with Kanu and a few others.
Wenger may have tired of Theo, but Theo has it cushty, he’s comfortable in London with his inflated salary, why should he leave?
Perhaps if we gave “dubious goal” more games he could be the “fox in the box” that we have been looking for..
Agree Kev, everything is on a plate for Theo at Arsenal, including and especially, a big fat wage packet….
🙂 Leon
Good day all!
Hi Leon, we had signed Owen Goal but he is not shooting and instead passed the ball to death around the box.
The more attempts at goal, the more Owen Goal will score.
Unfortunately, he is out of favour and was benched by Arsene Wenger. 😀
Attempts at goal, now that would be a good start…..
Good Afternoon Lovelies and Hunkies.
Fine post Merlin. enjoyed reading it.
One stat is missing though…….in 38 games we have hit the post/bar no fewer than 24 times. had those gone in we would have had different results…..and been crowned champions.
Acording to NN….Xhaka has been pictured with the Arsenal shirt.
And Sissoko is the next to follow.
Good points, the numbers back up what most been saying here. Possession for the sake of possession and “tip-tip-tap ball” is not working. Btw it looks like Wenger finally replaced PV4 , Shaka (Zulu) is gonna be loved by arsenal fans; fellas just give him time to adjust. Knowing Wenger, so it looks like he’s in for MA, Elneny was for Flamini, so now he needs to replace Rosicky (get a play maker – but knowing wenger thats Iwobi), get a striker, a proper winger, CB, sell Theo and Ox. And there will be hope for next season…..OK just dreaming.
Obi….Ox will not be sold now that he is injured. so he will be with us for next season.
if AW gets Mkhitaryan than it would be for TR07
Thanks for your comments HR Devil.
I will try to keep track on shots hitting the post as well.
OX?
I believe it is best he leaves to further his career elsewhere with a playing style that suits him.
He will not make it at Arsenal FC.
Afternoon Rico and all. Seems The Granit deal is done. Just in time for the ST deadline too. 🙂
stats like that, which are painstakingly collected, will be very difficult to beat Merlin. Hat off to you mate.
besides posts/bars hit, one can also add penalties denied. example against the dippers we had a pen which we did not get. that would have given us another points.
with Xhaka signing…..is our midfield going to be as hard as GRANIT(e) or porous as Limestone??
we wait and see
and another stat which many have not taken care of……
season 13/14…..4th
season 14/15…..3rd
season 15/16…..2nd
season 16/17 ….(?)….1st
I would not put it past Arsenal to fluff it when its easier to win it and pinch it when its damn difficult .
So remember that next season is one different season
Afternoon Adam and all…
So thrilled about to hear about Xhaka, I really am….
Morata, Kante and another proper striker plus a CB and a deputy RB perhaps Rico and I might buy another season. 🙂
Mahrez Adam, I really hope we get him…
What about the left back? Surely you won’t buy another ST without him… 😉
Rico. We have Nacho and Gibbs there. Mahrez? Possibly, but I am more interested in scoring goals because that’s what killed us last season.
Mahrez scored more than Morata last season Adam….
I thought you wanted Gibbs gone?
Different leagues Rico. No, not really bothered about Gibbs though I don’t rate him as a left winger or a left sided midfielder. I like Morata. He’s a footballer.
Giroud of course scores more goals than most but I would still out him. 🙂
I know Adam, but I’m greedy, both for me… lol
Devil @ 2:15….what a trill that would be.
Me too Rico, but our anticipation is tempered with the knowledge that Arsene is our manager and he doesn’t like too many changes. It’s all interesting fantasy but I see we are linked with Sissoko who, if I remember, is a favourite of yours. 🙂
Anywhere North of Watford rico and it’s starts to get a bit cold, damp and grim lol.
Merlin, 19 measly goals from our midfield all season you say……food and drink to Freddie and Bobby.
Zelalem starts for Glasgow Rangers
Rangers take on Hibernian today in the Scottish Cup final.
Rangers starting XI: Foderingham; Tavernier, Kiernan, Wilson, Wallace; Halliday, Zelalem, Holt; McKay, Waghorn, Miller.
Rangers substitutes: Bell, Burt, Shiels, Law, Clark.
I do like Sissoko Adam, he’d be a good squad player I reckon..
Don’t know what happened to Gibbs , he’s morphed from an Ashley Cole style fast raiding fullback into a ponderous nervous player scared to cross the halfway line and when he does stops and plays the ball inside. It’s almost as if he has an earpiece and all he can hear is a French accent mumbling Possession , pass ,look inside for a man to give it too. If I recall correctly he has only gone into the opponents box once or twice . Once against Tottenham I think was quite handy.
Gibbs needs to leave and play regularly.
But we need a replacement in situ before he goes
Afternoon all.
Mahrez ?…………..get David Ornstein on the case !. 😀
Agree there Micko, it’s not for me….
Anthony Stokes gave Hibernian the lead.
Kenny Miller just equalised.
Dean Shiels on Rangers’ bench.
Not too happy with that last link I put up !………………rather cheap looking paving outside London Colney……..I expected Marble !.
or some Cornish Granite !……………………………none of that cheap Swiss stuff !
I like the new kit !………………..red socks………nice !
Stokes, another old Arsenal chap…
He looks good LC, nice on the eye too… 😉
Really good Scottish cup final.
Szczesny won’t be coming back if his latest comments in the press are true….
Ospina to stay then Rico?
Otherwise it’s Martinez or Macey…
Nice post merlin
Afternoon all, Ramsey having a bad season didn’t help with our goals from midfield probably missed Carzola as well.
Tsgh is going to be livid all those stats and he’s not involved.
Number crunching post. It’ll take a while (or never) till I take them all in but yeah we need goals from everywhere. Funny with all the injuries since we moved to the emirates and our goals per game numbers look good. I think all we need most is a fit squad. Can the manager learn ti rotate too and keep the players fresh? Old dog
The chap at arsenal.com doesn’t work on weekends? Waiting for the confirmation.
Theo – Mahrez. LCFC will feel cheated!
I reckon Martinez Kev, he had a good season on loan didn’t he?
🙂 Joe..
Walcott would fit in there though Marshall, well that’s if the tinkermans tactics haven’t already been sussed out…
Hmm, he started well Rico, then lost his place.
Walcott would probably do really well, imagine him and Vardy bombing on.
Not sure Leicester would pay him £140k per week…
Rico Walcott need alot of working on. As a winger Mahrez didn’t just run, he’d take on a fullback, a centre half and leave the rest to Vardy
…would never say never though.
I didn’t realise he lost his place Kev, maybe he’s not the answer then, not yet anyway…
And score himself Marshall, 17 goals or something like that I think. Imagine if our wingers/midfielders contributed so well….
We can dream eh….
Rangers 2-1
Zelalem on course for his 3rd winners medal of the season…
2-2 now Kev
Theo Pires has signed up with Arsenal. He’s 9 years old… 🙂
3-2 Hibs…
It’s all kicked off on the pitch… Not nice stuff going on…
Rangers were winning with Zelalem on the pitch. Took him off on 62 mins and Hibs win.
Hibs fans seem to like a riot…
COYEagles
Hibs deserved it imo……
You just know that ManUre are gonna get lucky… ?
Hope not.
Smalling booked, ref should have played the advantage…
Looks like Rooney is playing sweeper today ! Bodes well for Ingerlund next month.
Well done Hibs.
He’d look good with a broom….
Another Clattenburg cock up when he should have let play go on…
English referees…
Hibs won 🙂
final sub-17: Spain-Portugal 1-1 at the 75th minute
We need another central forward. Welbeck is next Diaby
Can’t see the match just lost the channel it was on 16 channels my ar*e
Hopefully we’ll get one Jm…
Looks like Rashford won’t be off to the euros….
Go Palace… ????
1-0 Palace… I’m a Palace todat
Portugal won in penalties
1-1 🙁
Clattenburg bottled giving Rooney a second booking!!
Utd down to ten, at last!
Super strike, jammy utd
Oh well, I’m off for the day.. Lucky lucky Utd but they had the ref in their pocket… Night all
Nite rico, they’ll probably announce Jose on Monday.
Palace had only to hold out for 9 minutes today to lift the cup, back in 1990 it was 7 minutes, football can be a very cruel game sometimes.
The Hayemaker was fcuking lucky tonite lol !!!
Mourinho,
boring football, controversy, insults thrown at
opponents/referees/Football Association/Wenger/Media,
touch line antics, touch line suspensions, publicity stunts,
yep, Mourinho and ManUre, a marriage made in heaven…
Morning all…
Morning Rico.
Morning Adam, nice to see the sunshine return..
Morning Rico
Morning Adam
It is Rico.
The pictures I have seen of Xhaka wearing the shirt look a bit iffy to me. Curiously and badly photoshopped. Perhaps it is just their limited quality.
I wonder who we’ll sign this week, with Granit seemingly in the bag.
With the Pernicious One going to to OT, we better get our finger out.
The Portugese Prick does have a habit of nicking players we’re after whilst Wenger fannys about… ?
Morning Kev…
Don’t say that Adam, I was all excited about those pics…. 😉
New post up now.
Morning all,
Talented family, the Xhaka’s, they can’t both play the same role internationally so I guess Taulant got the short straw of representing Albania.