Morning all.
Arsenal’s shot stats since mid November.
- Everton – 13 shots, 2 on target. (Penalty)
- Wolves – 16 shots, 2 on target. (2 OG)
- Villa – 15 shots, 9 on target. (scored 1)
- Brentford – 15 shots, 7 on target. (Scored 2)
- Chelsea – 8 shots, 4 on target. (Scored 1)
Before you say it, I know. Shots and real goal scoring opportunities aren’t often the same thing. But, the reality is, one has to go back to November when we played Totts to find a comprehensive and convincing performance and win. 17 shots, 8 on target that day which is not miles more than the fixtures listed above but the difference that day, we took our chances and Ebe Eze was outstanding.
We score against European clubs, 17 in 6 games to be precise including 3 against Bayern Munich and we don’t concede many either but when it comes to facing Premier League opposition, something is not quite clicking. At least we’re not taking our chances.
We leak goals, the defence takes a beating so when we don’t score, why shouldn’t our attacking players take some of the heat? After all, they are the ones who are meant to be scoring goals which win games.
I read somewhere, or it might have been one of the Sky Sports pundits, the suggestion that Arteta desperately needs Havertz back to add firepower to our front line. Well, considering he’s never been a great scorer of goals, I don’t see him saving the day any more than Jesus might. The best thing Arsenal as a group can do is feed the guy who with the right service will get us goals. I firmly believe that player is Gyokeres just as believe that the deeper we go into the season, the more his value will be proved. No pre season, a squad which is not used to playing with an out and out striker, it was always likely to be a slow start for our Swede. Just look at Isak who has hardly settled into the Liverpool team yet he’s been playing in the Premier League for a few years. As said before, no striker signed by Premier League clubs from overseas has set the footballing world alight. Yet.
Gyokeres is an easy target because he plays for Arsenal. He’s an easy target because of his transfer fee which is hardly his own fault. Of course I’d much rather he was scoring goals for fun but he not the first and he won’t be the last player to move to a big club and start slowly. He’s one of our own so of course I want him to be a success, every Arsenal fan should.
It wasn’t that long ago, Lacazette was struggling to score goals yet at his previous clubs he’d found it easy. I think half the problem is we were/are hoping for another Henry, Wrighty, Giroud even, although he had his fair share of critics. Gyokeres is going nowhere any time soon in my opinion so I’d rather live with hope he’ll come good, the players around him will come good for him too than to be overly critical of him.
If you/I are frustrated right now, imagine how he feels. He’s not the only player not scoring goals right now is he?
Catch up in the comments.
Morning Gooners
Morning Rico, it’s interesting to compare the narrative around Gyokeres with the narrative around Isak and more pertinently Sesko?
Where are the derogatory snide remarks and criticisms of that duo and why aren’t they also routinely compared with Haaland as is the case with Gyokeres?
If you cast your mind back to last season the same derogatory snide remarks were being aimed at Havertz and particularly after Newcastle beat us in the League Cup.
We won at Everton, the pundits and general wankers on social media hated that but in my mind they can all feck off…
Have a great day…
Brief and very much to the point. Well said Kev. 😉
G’day Rico.
Morning Kev, Cicero.
Agree, no one quite gets the criticism Arsenal players get. Certainly Viktor.
Good afternoon Lady and Gentlemen
A very straight hit on the nail’s head with your post Rico. I love Gyokeres and find it nauseatic that many keep picking on him because of lack of goals. Yes he has had a bit of a bumpy rough ride so far but fingers crossed that he turns good.
Going through various posts on FB mainly sees two persons being picked on….Gyokeres and Arteta. If its not one its the other. Its tedious but we have to keep in mind that the only way to shut them up is to keep on winning and grinding results. Keep doing that and we will get number 14.
Fingers crossed it will be number 14 who seals the 14th title. Now that will rub it in their face.
We have lost two and drawn three against the top 6 teams (we don’t play ourselves folks) We lost against Villa with their last kick, we lost to the dippers with a worldie they will need another 100 years to score one like it and drew against Chavs, City and Sunderland. The rest we won. SAF did it once with Utd. He lost/drawn against the top 4 and won the rest.
Tomorrow I think we will see Eze playing against his old club. I also have the feeling that Josh Nichols will get some time on the pitch to rest Timber.
Will this be the lineup for the game vs Palace…….Kepa; Myles Lewis-Skelly, Hincapié, Saliba, Timber/Nichols; Merino, Eze, Norgaard; Martinelli, Jesus, Madueke.
Arsenal injury and suspension update ahead of Crystal Palace.
Ben White remains sidelined with a hamstring issue and is targeting a return on January 17 against Nottingham Forest. Max Dowman is also unavailable due to an ankle problem, with no clear return date at this stage. Cristhian Mosquera is out with an ankle injury too, and could be back in contention for the Nottingham Forest game on January 17.
Gabriel Magalhães is currently out with a thigh injury but is expected to return for the clash against Brighton on December 27. Kai Havertz is also sidelined with a knee issue and is targeting the same Brighton fixture for his comeback.
As I said I missed the Everton game so I have run through the media posts to get a feel
It seems as if we are the luckiest bunch of no hopers led by a complete novice whose team has run out of ideas and ability .
We are picking the wrong players and have the wrong captain and yes we have given up scoring from open play and now rely on own goals and corners. (set piece again ole o le ).
As much as I would like to see our reserves out in force , I think it’s important to win something this year and this ine is a good place to start.
Psycologically once you have one cup in the cupboard it’s easier to get another and it is important to get the winning feeling back
For me it has to be a team sprinkled with the fringe but not weakened so much that a Palace revival gets on the cards
As I’ve said recently DG, Jesus needs minutes but I don’t expect to see him in the starting eleven tomorrow.
Afternoon Devil.
I’ve a feeling Gyokeres will start but it would make sense to me if Jesus starts.
Potter, we are doomed and might as well give up..
Isak operation for a broken Fibula , the final straw for a season where he must be wondering if he made the right decision leaving toontown .
I wonder if anyone will go back and look at Van de Ven’s scissor tackle.
No Var for this evening’s match, is that a good or bad thing?
Morning Cicero, all.
I think it’s crazy not having VAR but I guess the officials want an extra day off at Christmas.
I don’t think they can re Isak as wasn’t the challenge dealt with at the time? I agree, Isak must be wondering why he bothered making such a fuss..
New post up.