A dramatic headline for dramatic times my friends.
Today, we’re announcing our partnership with YouGov and their fancy new ‘Chat’ service. YouGov is all about consumer research. If you work in advertising, your media team has used them to tell you what type of biscuits northerners like. If you’ve seen a poll for the elections, it’s usually them. They are the best in the business, so I’m happy to have them on the site. The tool they’ve given us is called Chat. It’s a little button in the bottom corner of the site. Click it and then follow along. It’ll ask you to answer some very specific questions related to Arsenal. Your reward? It’ll tell you what fans are thinking across those topics instantly. The hope is that we can get a more accurate view of what Arsenal fans are thinking, and it’ll give me some extra content to work with.
My main point of excitement here is tracking fan sentiment around the club in real-time.
We have a little bit of exclusive fresh data (sample 461) to share with you today based around Arsenal, and it might ladder back to why we’re seeing more gaps in the stadium, and why people 27,000th on the waiting list are being offered season tickets after just 3 years of waiting list time.
Before the start of the season,YouGov ran a survey and asked ‘How confident are you in the football team.’ They found that Arsenal fans were confident but hardly bullish. Only 10% of fans felt very confident, 44% felt somewhat confident. ‘Not very confident‘ sat at 36% and ‘Not at all confident‘ was 8%.
Quite staggering that Arsenal fans could feel so low despite unleashing so much cash this summer.
Fast forward 3 games of pain…
Things have taken a dramatic shift for the worse. After only 3 games 33% of our fans are fully ‘Not at all confident‘ about the team (Only 8% registered here before the start of the season). 37% of fans are ‘Not very confident.’
Team positive only makes up 29% of the fanbase as of this week. Where are my people?!
Confidence in the manager has also cratered over the 3 Premier League games. 60% of the fanbase is Not Very Confident or Not at All Confident in the manager. At the start of the season, amazingly, 66% of the fanbase registered Very Confident or Somewhat confident. This is a dramatic decline and shows you how much danger Arteta is in with the fans as we head into a group of fixtures that lead us to a massive derby game against Spurs one game before the international break. No doubt the club will be keeping an eye on this one, and if results are poor, there won’t be much protection for Arteta from the numbers.
Things don’t get much better for Arsenal when fans are asked where they think the club will finish come the end of the season. Now this question is very much wrapped in the emotion of the moment, losing 3 games doesn’t help with clarity, and no fan will listen to the word ‘context’ when they are being lampooned by their mates in the group chat for supporting a relegation fodder side. However, it’s notable that 0% of fans thought we’d finish near the bottom of the table at the start of the season, now 23% do! At the start of the season, a whopping 33% of us thought we’d finish top 4, after 3 games, that’s down to 13%. A massive 60% of us think the club will finish midtable… that’s after spending the largest amount of cash in the league this summer.
So in short, after two surveys, Arsenal fans are in the absolute gutter. We don’t rate the team, we don’t rate the manager, and most of us think Arsenal are heading for another season of midtable mediocrity.
Is that important? Yes. It’s important. That sort of sentiment stops fans from going to games that are midweek. It lessens the appetite for away day season tickets. It starts to break the habit of attending and supporting through thick and thin. This is dangerous territory for KSE because the fans are at the apathy stage with Arsenal before the winter weather has arrived. That spells difficult times for Arteta and it likely means there’s going to be more turbulence at the club if he doesn’t get his act together. We all know it was the empty stadiums that terminated Wenger and Emery. Mikel needs to shape up, get the team playing some sexy football, and he needs to put some results on the board.
I also think the club needs to do a far, far better job of communicating the vision for the future. Where is the football going? Why should I believe in this new project? When do we exit the transition? What is going to stop the next manager arriving and ripping up this plan? Wenger was the master at selling tomorrow, the current crop can’t sell out a home game against the European Cup Finalists.
What a mess we’re in. Let’s hope we can see a solid reaction this weekend. Arteta needs a result and so do the fans.
So, that’s the first of the data runs. Let me know what you think in the comments. I’ll have more time to spend with the next round of data, so I’ll make the charts fancier and do a deeper analysis of the numbers. Also, have a play with the chat feature and answer the questions!
P.S. Get involved in the latest podcast and video.
Tony,
Thanks for that,very kind thing to say. I enjoy this blog very much, Pedro should be very proud of the ensemble of characters he has attracted here,never a dull moment. It makes a difference when I sit down for a cup of tea and I have this site to visit,I love reading the contributions by everyone, your own as I’ve told you many times are essential breakfast reading for me, just know your thoughts are appreciated in this corner of Ireland!
Great stuff again Almunia earlier 😂
Kroenkephobe,
Very impressive, is that a sword in Tet’s hand as he rallies the troops? I’m glad you’re not suggesting a round of Shakespeare, currently doing Romeo and Juliet, it’s torture!!!!
Did you hear John Cleese is putting something together in response to the ‘cancel culture ‘ getting some Fawlty Towers episodes cancelled? Can’t wait to see it. This is one cultural fad that needs annihilating….
Almunia, your stories are the only ray of sunshine from the Arsenal blogosphere, mate.
Would love you to incorporate players, locker room discussions. Think of all the possibilities with Guendouzi, Torreira, Ozil, Xhaka etc
Thanks Almunia it seems Odegaard didn’t get the memo and is in direct opposite to Edu.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-martin-odegaard-champions-league-24958416
Valentin
I actually think we will labour to a 2-0 or 2-1 win. The players we have back should be enough to boost us to getting a win although like you say, they will need time to gel. Should be enough to see off Norwich tomorrow though (I mean it bloody well better be)
V “”””:I hope that the team is roaring to go and smash them from the first whistle, but with so few training sessions together the team could be disjointed.””””” I think Arsenal win comfortably tomorrow because the new players have NOT had too many training sessions with Arteta & Round. Give these new players a few weeks with these Ex Evertonians and then they will soon be falling by the wayside.( like all the others) Players do not improve under this regime.FACT!. They regress. ( even our Saka cant score in 17 games) With Ronaldo tickets pushing on for £2000… Read more »
I am going to reserve my prediction…
I think my gut says victory but I can see us also tying.
Underrated Coq,
And that tells you all you need to know about where we are now! Imagine the joy when we get a team that can play again. Cheers, I’ll keep going as long as Arteta does.
Almunia Ouch. R and J is fine once but to go over it in the way I suspect you have to must be tough. That said I quite enjoyed the Baz Luhrman film in spite of myself. Leonardo de C taking an ‘e’ was an interesting twist. My identical twin daughters (think of the Shining and you’ll have them down to a tee! ) have just told me I’ve got to reacquaint myself with Macbeth and Of Mice and Men. Scottish nightmares meets the death of the American dream – I’m going to have one hell of a winter! I… Read more »
Playing devils advocate one might say Norwich have looked bad but consider who they’ve played so far.
Arsenal fans complaining about difficult start to a season facing Brentford away?… Norwich first four games: Pool, City , Leicester and now Arsenal.
Go back a couple of years and that would’ve been four out of top six to start their season.
Go back a couple of years and we would’ve considered it three points in the bank and licking our chops counting on making up some ground on rivals.
One thing is for sure, Norwich would rather face Arsenal than Brentford, after their 3 opening games
Im telling you for free!
I’m sure they would,
Brentford aren’t very likely to fall apart after conceding a goal.
Arsenal, on the other hand, not so sure.
Whatever savings you have lump on arsenal at 1/2 …bag gets 1500.
Arteta is firm favorite to win the Premier League Sack Race, and Planet Sport Bet make him odds-on at 4/9 to be first Premier League manager out of the door this season.
As it stands former Inter Milan and Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is still favorite to replace Arteta at 11/4
May the footballing gods listen to the bookies.
Kroenkephobe, Am currently working my way through the marvel films with my kids,far more fun. Have to do Macbeth later,don’t mind that, Hamlet is my favourite but everything is relative! Of mice and men is another in the cancel culture’s sights, grab it while you can! I don’t know the Monty Python crew as well as I think my English contemporaries do. They never took off over here, probably banned by the Church! I have seen the films and Fawlty obviously but not the Python series. I can’t give you a list of the top 5 cause I’d need pictures… Read more »
Sp*ds supporters are having a field day at Arsenal’s expense thanks to Tets. Still funny as it reflects the MOBs sentiment.
“What about the Brentford match, where they played as though someone had bought 11 dustbins, put Arsenal shirts on them, and placed them strategically around the pitch?”
“If I had a cat in the condition of Arteta’s managerial reign, I’d be off down the vets to have it put out of its misery faster than you could say ‘pentobarbital’”
It will be like “Xmas table 3rd place present” to Arsenal fans if #CONTEIN happens before October is upon us.
Football gods indeed MD gunner
@ Wengaball ✌️
OK Almunia Top 5 sitcoms. 1. Seinfeld Some very funny episodes and truly mad characters such as the soup nazi. I loved Kramer (Michael Richards?) 2. One Foot in the Grave – properly subversive comedy about an elderly couple. Richard Wilson is brilliant as Victor Meldrew – a man after my own heart. I remember one show where he ended up being wanked off by a chimpanzee in front of his neighbours at the village fete. 3. Father Ted Drink, Feck, Girls. What a holy trinity! 4. Royle Family – I agree. Pure genius. I remember Jim wriggling in his… Read more »
Will we be watching comedy or drama at the Emirates tomorrow?
Almunia
I predict tragedy!
A win for us tomorrow. The job though isn’t beating the likes of Norwich. It is beating better teams and showing consistency.
Joke Friday A man is out at a bar one evening and meets an older woman. Although she is 57 years old, she is still very charming and sexy. They are drinking, chatting, laughing, and having a good time, when she asks him flirtatiously, “Have you ever tried a mother-daughter threesome before?” “Nope, not yet”, he says. She drinks a little more and replies, “Well darling, tonight is your lucky night.” They leave together to go to her place. When they arrive she takes out her keys, opens the door, turns on the light, and yells upstairs: “Mom! Are you… Read more »
OFFICIAL STADIUM BAG POLICY (for IQ):
If you do need to bring a small bag, please note that only bags that are smaller than A5 (21cm x 15 cm x 10cm) or clear are allowed into the stadium. Large bags or suitcases (including cabin bags), laptop bags and rucksacks will not be permitted.
Arsenal win relatively comfortably.
Nice list Almunia.
Mine would be:
1) UK Office
2) Peep Show
3) Curb Your Enthusiasm
4) Fawlty Towers
5) Black Books/Father Ted
Tits
We’ll win by 2+ goals and of course you’ll get the muppets getting carried away with it like they did when we smashed West Brom’s B team.
WE , I think it was actually West Brom’s C team.
Kroenkephobe,
I think the traffic is down across all Arsenal blogging community not just here.
I argued awhile back against assertions that negative Arsenal outlook ignites debates and builds up traffic in the comments section.
It might be true during games but not in between.
Even Pedro stays away from comments section these days. That in itself says it all.
Good morning/Evening all game day finally.What could possibly go wrong? Well, we’re in the middle of rain season where when it rains hard we lose Satellite picture and sound. Of ten it rains just around K.O. I have an internet solution, but the picture quality can vary a lot. Starting with the game I have no idea who Arteta is going to select. More chance of wining the lottery than naming the first XI for the game. Bonus balls would be the subs bench. Being reported that Arteta has hinted (he’s not normally timid) that Stan has reneged on his… Read more »
Wengerball
Thanks for the Etymology I’ve given them to my son for his reading comprehension English skill.
Thanks also Alex for the link.
We need humour these dark football days as well as interesting facts.
Here’s a little poser with facts.
What do these numbers correlate to?
3000 – less than 3 hours and 50,000 in a famous historic moment in our history.
The figures are correct to a few accounts, but could vary a little.
Hiya Tony I hope the weather stays fair where you are and you get the full 90 minutes plus some footy has-been’s scintillating punditry. Jumpers for goalposts Ron…. Hmmmmm Paradoxically, it’s much harder/’illegaler’ to watch 3 pm kick offs live in the UK although I hope my trusted site doesn’t let me down. K’phobe junior and I will be on top of it. He’ll doubtless be wearing his new 3rd shirt which he bought from China for a tenner. A quick glance at the looks on the players’ faces (esp Auba’s who’d make a terrible poker player) in the tunnel… Read more »
Can kick off hurry up already! Absolutely itching to see what tets can come up with this evening
Tony
Phew, I’ve let all that poison go to earth. Time now for some yogic hopping with Donovan on in the background followed by wholemeal porridge and some fucking decaffeinated coffee. Om… Om…Om…
Goober
Nice one mate. As an early WOB I never thought I’d ever get the chance to say this but,
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR 😉
Kroenke 😂😂
It’s one of those situations it’s probs just better put out of your misery sooner rather than later haha.
Regardless of tets, our squad should have enough for Norwich at home. But then again, our home form under the sauce has not been great.
La salsa picante
K’phobe you really get really belly laughing at your posts and especially today’s missives. So much so that I’ve pasted today’s rant, judge and jury tampering, (but in the end calling it right on Pierre. Sorry Pierre it just had to be said.), on Word and immediately dispatched it to my son’s Line where he’s on the links. He keeps thinking he’s going to jet around the world over the next few years to play courses, such as St Andrews. Not sure how he’ll feel when he finds out he’ll be playing those courses covid free on a trackman simulator.… Read more »
Bella Goober I bet the ladies love your restaurant suave latin patter.
La Salsa Picante miamour 🙂
Tony 😂
It’s the men that seem to be loving the (generational) hot sauce apparently
Morning/ afternoon Tony, Understand your ‘silver lining’ in a bad result today. I guess I would try and see it that way too. Really looking forward to the match today as it’ll be the first time myself and five of my best friends will have been able to go to a match for a very long time. Having a few beers, win, lose or draw will be the perfect post match activity. The conversation will either be ‘we can really turn this around’ or ‘it’s time for him to go – Conte in!’. Hope and expect a comfortable win today,… Read more »
Arsenal have only lost 2 of 18 (w9 d7) games against the canaries. Canaries winless in last 8 away games at arsenal. Arsenal have scored 3 or more goals in 6 of the last 7 home games against Norwich. We have only ever lost our first 4 opening games once in our history and have never failed to score in their first 4 games of a season. Man oh man, if anyone can break these records it’s definitely Arteta. He’s had a great run of breaking all the wrong records so far. I hope he’s not that shit. Surely. Oh… Read more »
Morning Bob, it’s weird but it is what it is I’m afraid.
Sounds like the day will be pre covid like and much bantz all round. Enjoy the game, Bob and all gooners where ever you are. There might just be light at the end of the tunnel now or I nearly kicked there bucket last night 🙂
Batistuta what are you staking on this weekend, won a small 9 odds accumulator over the break, lots of tasty games this weekend.
Receding, you’ve been back a little while, but haven’t mentioned it’s good to hear from you again haha.
Who’d you have in your multi (accumulator)?
Graham you must be loving Emma Raducanu’s prolific rise to the US open final. I’m not a tennis fan just watch the big games from time to time, but she caught my eye when she fluffed her line at Wimbledon. I looked into her and she really resonated with me for her positivity and energy. Megga wattage smile and just down-to-earth personality. My son likes her already skipping home art class to watch the semi yesterday. He’s a huge fan now. Really looking forward to the final tomorrow. Emma said she beat Fernedez at junior Wimbledon two years ago in… Read more »
Goober it was the last international matches on Tuesday and Wednesday, backed all the favorites to win then and over 1.5 between England and Poland, thought that one was gonna mess it up until Poland found a late equalizer. Forgot Southgate plays it safe against any team with a pulse, England didn’t create enough chances.
Goober if you meant this weekend well I play like a madman, I actually have a 38 game accumulator covering all games today and tomorrow across Europe, crazy I know.
Didn’t back and Arsenal straight win though, that’s the confidence I have in my team against Norwich at home.
Hiya Goober
All those negative type stats for Norwich OUGHT to mean something but many similar ones went last year against Burnley, Wolves and Leicester. One thing about our diminutive so-called manager is that’s he’s a determined little bastard. Determined to take us further into the mire. Like you said earlier, let’s get it over with. Enjoy the game mate – you’ll be watching at what time? 2am?
Tony
If junior ever comes to a tournament in Wales, he’ll be welcome round at mine for his dinner.
Haha RH,
Not a bad run for the internationals.
38 games is solid as though, good luck!
Hahaha and yeah I never put arsenal in my multis anymore. If I do bet on them, it’s for a loss, purely for the fact I’d prefer us to win, but it’s not as shite if we do lose 😂😂
RH
I’ll keep everything crossed for your mega-acca today. 🍀
Kroenkephobe lol cheers mate
@Goober I simply leave off Arsenal, its one thing for Arteta to mess up my team, can’t be having him messing up my acca
Kroenke,
Haha yeah mate, tets the record breaking record breaker.
And midnight kick off for me here, I’ll take that as a win on a Saturday night in lockdown.
Hope you enjoy the day and the match later too my friend!
Ronaldo is 2/1 anytime goalscorer for today on SkyBet. Not a huge gambler myself but just seems like money for old rope!
Also Kroenke, haha thanks for confirming what my native Aussie slang wanted to say to shorten accumulator, Acca, but I just wasn’t quite sure if there was a British abbreviation 😂
Though it seems as though accumulators are only called multis in Aus. May be wrong
RH
“can’t be having him messing up my acca”
That cracked me up!
Hi Bob Despite all the stuff I’ve just written, I’m very envious that you’re going. Hope you have a top day. Which pubs do you tend to visit? I was always a Highbury Barn fan back in the days when we had a proper ground(!) not least because my flat is just around the corner on Highbury Grange. Then a lazy stagger down to hill to the woodbine and bank of friendship followed by a final fill up and a bit of shouting in the Gunners. I think Chris is going as well. It’d be really interesting to read some… Read more »
Kroenkephobe Love the Highbury Barn, as it were, as you say back in the Highbury days, it’s where my dad used to drag me to as a kid ore and post match with his mates, him with his Guinness and me with my Coca Cola! It was either that or The Famous Cock as my dad used to like walking through the Highbury fields. By the time i started going with friends it tended to be The Gunners, will be popping in there today. I can’t wait for the game. As Bob says, you can win lose or draw but… Read more »
Bob
Hope you enjoy the game. I’ll be going too with my 14 year old, I hope we can put in a decent performance that doesn’t consist of us passing out from the back before getting the ball to Tierney to spam crosses in that will be headed away all afternoon.