Today, we have a bit of a fun data run for you with the YouGov Chat button that a load of you have been playing with. We’ll talk about fan player ratings today.
I asked: Value a player from 1-5, 5 being the most valuable, 1 being not so valuable.
The numbers were very interesting. The sample size we had was about 500, which is pretty good going for a survey.
Let’s start with the: What do the fans think of the new signings?
As you’ll remember, there was a lot of ‘WE HAVEN’T MOVED THE NEEDLE BECAUSE I DON’T KNOW THESE PLAYERS’ after the transfers window. Well, we’re one game in and the average rating for the 6 new signings was 3.81. Which is really high considering the average value of the entire squad was 3.10. Take Nuno Tavares out, who hasn’t started a game yet, and the rating goes up to a whopping 3.97.
- White 3.95
- Ramsdale 3.98
- Tomiyasu 3.89
- Lokonga 3.85
- Tavares 3.03
- Odegaard 4.17
So what can we take from this? Well, it seems the fans like the players a lot after winning, but in general, knowing a lot of Arsenal fans and hearing a lot of opinions, I think the fans actually just like this new group of players. There will be ups and downs, there will be mistakes, but they all have talent and they’ll all get better as the season goes on. I also like that character is shining through. Tomiyasu is clearly a big personality in the dressing room, and I love to see Aaron Ramsdale making videos for kids that have suffered loss. It’s small things like this that you think are standard with footballers, but I can tell you, there are players that have been at Arsenal where that has not been the case.
The top 5 players the fans are loving at the moment are to be expected.
- Saka 4.88
- ESR 4.70
- Tierney 4.67
- Partey 4.66
- Odegaard 4.17
Nothing mind-blowing there, though I was surprised to see centre back Gabriel just outside the top 5, clearly his performance against Norwich struck a chord. Getting a little more specific? The average age of the top 5 players is 23, even with Thomas Partey stinking the joint out at the grand old age of 28. If you expand the group to the top 10 most valued Arsenal players, the age goes to 22.7.
What does this tell you?
That the fans are on board with the summer strategy, that they like the idea of a youthful squad, and hopefully they are willing deal with the ups and downs that will come as part of the learning process this season.
We wanted a Dortmund++ and we basically have it. The ++ comes from the fact that we buy expensive players to supplement our kids like Auba and Partey. It also differs from the German side because we’re buying elite young players with bundles of Premier League experience. But make no mistake, this is a similar model. We’re doing it this way because that’s the only way to compete. We can’t buy a Premier League winning team, we’ll have to grow it.
This comes with some ramifications. Fans will have to temper expectations of a league run this season (lol). They’ll also have to accept that young players have ups and downs. But long term, this was the only way to do things and I think that it’s a very likeable plan that 95% of fans will get behind. As Mike McDonald said yesterday, we just have to be patient with it, and remember to continue to be awesome fans in the ground like we have been in every game so far. Young players need to feel the love, when they do, they get better, and learn faster.
I don’t really want to get into the players the fans aren’t loving at the moment. It’s basically a mix of players that we’ve replaced, that won’t leave, or have big PR issues at the moment. Overall though, the message is positive. The fans like the new squad, they like the players, and the direction on paper seems to be pleasing fans.
Right, before I go, make sure you read the ‘WHAT THE HELL IS ARTETA DOING‘ article from yesterday. Mike is a successful British coach in America and he took the time out to explain what he thinks is going on at Arsenal and I thought it was excellent. The article is the most engaged article of the past year, I think it’s clear that it has opened a lot of minds to what the plan is, and it’s hard not to get behind the sentiment.
Now we have to hand the controls to Arteta. He has to deliver a result at the weekend. He has to continue the good work of Norwich at a very violent stadium. I can’t wait.
Also worth noting that Arteta has pivoted his messaging. Hearing him talk about a ‘very bright light’ at the end of a tunnel is what fans want to hear. He needs to be aggressive about this new vision at Arsenal. He needs to defend his players and pump them. He needs to make us all believers again. The time is now, let’s see what the boys have.
Just got back from watching the game and what a horrible game to watch it was. On the plus side our defence looked much better but that was mainly due to the new right back and Gabriel who was very good. White was generally poor on the ball and got caught a few times dilly dallying and was bvery negative with the ball. Tierney also seems to defend way too narrow now as well leaving plenty of room wide for their right back/winger. As I said earlier, Saka and ESR look lost as they keep being played in different positions… Read more »
“Pepe for all his mistakes as least looks like he might do something and tries to attack his defender instead of passing back all the damn time. Seems like unless he always scores he will be blamed for everything.“
Yep.
Pepe will always be an easy target because of his price tag. Not his fault we overpaid about £50m for him….
‘’ Le Grove always talks honestly about the game. For the most part.’’
Ishola you been on the crack pipe
Arteta seems to confuse the player by constant fiddling with players positions.
They need to play in their best position where they want to play.
It shows that he hasn’t really got a clue about the best shape and way of playing to get the best out of players.
Useless
Against Wimbledon
1. I want to see Balogun, Nketiah, Martinelli and Lacazette given game time.
2. I want to see what AMN can do in the middle of the park
3. and I want to see Patino and Kido Taylor Hart to be given their competitive debuts. Next to Azeez they are probably the next in terms of first team readiness.
So tired of watching Arteta guide this team around with the handbrake fully on. Unfortunately Arteta doesn’t know any other way. He has no clue how to coach attacking style football so we end up with this bland, vanilla possession game in which clearly doesn’t work. Hard to watch knowing you have players who love to run
IQ
Have you just described in detail Artetaball?
Utter confusion.
I know we won but please, come on, that’s not the way it should be.
Anyone played football in a hayfield? Or on a soft sandy beach? That is how it must have seemed to the Arsenal players today, after the snooker-table surfaces they are used to. Good luck to Dyche though, in pro soccer you take and make any possible advantage you can get. But hey, let’s sympathise with Ben & Co for mis-cueing a few, not criticize them.
Okay, I know, you don’t need to tell me: it’s Arteta’s fault for not training them in a hayfield.
Did Partey go off injured?
Burnley 0 Arsenal 1.
(2 goals in 5 games.) Joint lowest in the prem.
Grim to watch – the lack of goals a constant feature of Artetaball, the soccer equivalent of a contant nagging toothache.
englandsbest
You do make me laugh.
How much is Pedro paying you?
Anyone played football in a hayfield?
Spare us the nonsense. Many of us have played on shitier pitches and been able to pass and control the ball. And when we did play on decent pitches we were even better.
So if we draw a league one or league two team in the cup and have to play at their ground are we going to use that as an excuse?
I’ll take the 3 points. Not great, but 3 points is 3 points and it was a fantastic goal.
It is so refreshing knowing that whenever the defenders fuck up there’s a stable human being behind them hoping to right things. It is refreshing for the defenders and midfielders to know they can pass the ball backwards to a keeper who will almost always make the right decision be it passing it out or booting it up field. I never liked that we purchased Ramsdale because Onana and others that I’ve watched looked perfect for us and cheaper too. But I cannot deny the calmness and character this young terrier brings to the team. Can we sell Leno now… Read more »
Odegaard hit that freekick , exquisitely it it had a definite training ground routine about it
The screening wall we put in front of the Burnley wall was half of the story.
englandsbest
They are professional footballers, with so called footballing intelligence.
Then again, if you have a manager who speaks six languages but can’t speak the language of simple dynamic football, mistakes will be made.
Anyone who blames the pitch is not fit for purpose.
Six points from the last two fixtures was a must considering our start to the season.
Did this play on the players minds during the games? Probably. They were very cautious and avoided going behind.
Five games in and we are just three points worse off than expected considering the fixtures.
Did Partey go off injured?
________
Yes, he signaled to the bench he had a muscle problem and had to be subbed off.. don’t know how serious, though.
I’d rather be gardening than continue watching turdball
Everton getting shredded here.
Jesus were so bad without partey
“It is so refreshing knowing that whenever the defenders fuck up there’s a stable human being behind them hoping to right things.”
So unfair on Leno who has saved us so many points. Come on, we played two teams that ordered fcuk all in attack.
Tets said in the postgame interview that Partey was cramping due to being injured. Nothing serious
Aston Villa scoring more goals in 10 mins against In form Everton than Arsenal have managed in 450 minutes.
Thats Artetaball in a nutshell.
Turdball is Not sustainable, sooner or later reality will bite
Juego de Posicion?
Handbrako de Posicion.
jamesong
I’m trying to picture you in that hayfield, but all I’m seeing is a bunch of kids. Tell me, are you the tall skinny one, who see over the grass?
Yep Villa opened up a can of whoop ass on Everton… This is the type of outburst I keep waiting for us to have…. and it never does. We play with no freedom. JDP … Joyless defensive play… copyright Almuniasaynomore.
Arsenal can’t possibly produce any free flowing football , not even in moments, for obvious reasons. We played against Brentford on a Friday and 9 players had Covid. We played Chelsea , the European Champions, enough said. We played City, hello!?! We played Norwich, ok they were bottom of the table but they had a real tough schedule that was weighing down their qualities. Just watch them climb the table when their opponents level eases up. Oh wait, they just lost 1:3 to Watford at home? Probably unlucky. We played Burnley on the pitch that resembled a hayfield………. and none… Read more »
Bailey is some player,
10 mins cameo and he changed the game
Shame it ended too early for him
The point about the pity. is that beating Burnley with passing football is very difficult ult at Turf Moor
Adjustments have to be made for the way the prepare their pitch for passing teams.
Those passes went short became the turd was caught long to stop the ball from rolling.
I wouldn’t call it a hayfield, that’s englandsbest doing his daily Arteta-suck off.
New post amigos
I read an article saying that Reiss Nelson was injured in his first training session for Feyenoord and their manager questioned Arsenal’s training methods saying the player was not used to the intensity.
After watching this game it looks like the Feyenoord manager may be right. Partey and Tierney got injured as Burnley upped the tempo and most of our players seemed knackered but we don’t even play high tempo football. To my eyes Odegaard looked the most athletic player in our side and that is quite worrying.
EB
I’m trying to picture you in that hayfield, but all I’m seeing is a bunch of kids.
If you say so Worzel
Was a decent performance and we stood up to the test. We only scored once but the amount of times we broke up the pitch and the players made the wrong choice or over hit the pass was ridiculous. The good thing is we’re getting into these positions where we outnumber them on the break or it’s 4 on 4 or 3 on 3 and we have the opposition running back toward their own goal.
3 pts in the bag, now on to the next game.
Receding So unfair on Leno who has saved us so many points. Come on, we played two teams that ordered fcuk all in attack. Seriously it isn’t. Leno always has that lost, confused puppy look on his face. I remember last season, I think it was Matt Ryan’s 2nd or 3rd game, last minute, we needed a goal and he left his post. My immediate reaction was ‘Leno will never do that’. Guess what? The next game we needed a goal and Leno had to do the same thing. I just think we need a keeper with a mind of… Read more »
Graham62
You can do better than that. Open the other eye and you will see that Arteta effectively coped with Dyche’s ploy. No. it wasn’t flowing football, no team can in a hayfield. Nor did your other ear hear Arteta blame the pitch,. Arteta never makes excuses, he gives explanations. And yes, he is 100% fit for purpose.
The comments after the game stared out quite civil. Come 2 hours later the usual naysayers bring down the quality of comments. we win 50 nil and they would still moan.
Wow!!! The sun is shinning again. The cloud of doom dogging Arsenal is finally being lifted. Yes, that was not vintage Gunner, the players did not particularly play swashbuckling football but dude, I’ll take the three points. We are now climbing up the EPL ladder. We are now emerging from the abyss where we were plunged after experiencing our worst start to a season since 1954 of thereabout(am sorry if I didnt get that stat right). Any true Arsenal fan would forget even momentarily the ineptitude of Arteta and celebrate the marginal win. We are usually apprehensive when it comes… Read more »
Weren’t you the one who brought up the pitch?
Anyway, your a plant anyway.
you’re not your.
It was noticeable that Ramsdale dealt well with the aerials in the box claiming them well and this with opposing players breathing down his neck. This is something that we see Leno struggling with or making a meal of in the past.
Already just on aerial command of your own box Ramsdale looks better than Leno in that respect but as has been said we have yet to find out how good or bad Ramsdale is overall.
Certainly seems it would be harsh to rop him at this point.
Samesong September 18, 2021 18:52:18 Anyone played football in a hayfield? Spare us the nonsense. Many of us have played on shitier pitches and been able to pass and control the ball. And when we did play on decent pitches we were even better. So if we draw a league one or league two team in the cup and have to play at their ground are we going to use that as an excuse? ———————————– Exactamundo. I was laughing so hard at Dissenter’s excuse I couldn’t put fingers to keyboard to write a rebuttal based on regressing to my 12… Read more »
We can critique the performance all day. There was a lot wrong with it honestly.
But 1-0 is one of the most satisfying scores in football. I dunno why I actually prefer it to 2-0 or 3-1 etc.. to have a clean sheet and dispatch a team with the minimum required goals always just feels right. Unless you’re going to thrash a team by 3+ goals, I prefer a 1-0 over a scrapper game with more goals for both teams.
Like when we had our CL final run and we were winning all the ties 1-0 over two legs. Satisfying…
Ramsdale has been very good so far this season. It would be crap management to drop him now.
He and Tomi have both looked the part and should remain automatic starters until they give us a reason to think otherwise
And yeah Ramsdale catching crosses is always really nice to see. Reminiscent of Martinez calmly taking balls out of the sky when you’re under pressure. It’s very very important
Beaten the giants of Norwich- check
Beaten the titans of Burnley – check
Next comes the colossus AFC Wimbledon