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.
When Ode got the ball, Pepe should start to run in.
Aubameyang is not the right striker for what Arteta is trying to do.
We need a Ivan Toney/Antonio/ Tammy type striker leading the line.
Maybe that was why Tets wanted Tammy and no doubt he would be starting him in most games ahead of Auba.
Poor Saliba got shipped away for this expensive flop!
Damn we have started slow this half.. Not a good sign. Pick it up boys!
Dissenter
They need to modernize football
And yet they introduved VAR supposedly for that effect!! 😂
Buy I know what you mean.
I also wish there was more real partial and fair referring.
Fortunately Ramsdale overall doing better than Leno who was Indesive with the ball at his feet
I mean impartial referring.
I would bring in Holding. They starts to overpower us.
Ben White really does need time
Don’t forget this is his SECOND season in the premier league or any other top division
That’s what we paid £50 million for, just have to accept that fact.
Nice outlet punt by Ramsdale. spot on to Auba
Ang it should be Refereeing (for the sake of getting it right).
ESR’s shooting skill is bad.
Okay I admit ‘hate’ is too strong a word for football. It was written after a few beers & frustration.
But I stand by view Pepe is truly awful. I’ve watched him since he signed & seen no improvement whatsoever.
We just have not got that fizz, that class, that vision that the top teams possess. Yes neat passing but that killer early ball we lack so many times. We are a top 8 team. we cannot be considered among the top teams. I think a lot of this is Arteta tactics although some of it is player qualities.
White getting more confident.
Ramsdale distribution seems alot more accurate and faster than leno in what i’ve seen so far. Hasn’t really been tested yet though.
I think I would switch sides with Pepe and Saka for a start to see how that works. and then maybe bring in Laca to see if he can link play better then Auba.
Paolo
Pepe’s one of the rare goal threats we have. Get him the ball near the box enough and he WILL score goals
Arteta is a turd of a coach. ESR does not know to whom he could pass. Don’t blame the players, the system- crapo does not get players to positions. And with the banshee screaming, no one cares to go there either
Auba’s link up play js very very poor
Super save!!!
Need more player to make runs can put a creative mid out but they need targets ahead.
Only a matter of time before we concede.
Wanna see Martinelli warming up.
Good save… worrying signs though.
Terrible football so far 2nd half
Burnley almost scored there
Starting to look really passive. We need a captain
Atta boy Ramsdale
Arteta cannot drop him now
ESR looks uninterested…….
Ramsdale is fantastic
My boy Ramsdale
Great save by ramsdale. Performances like these will help win over the fans. Hope he carries this form through the entire season.
settling for 1 nil here?
Good save Ramsdale. But Burley movement shows a design unlike our chequerboard primitive PDA (?)
Looks like Esr limping off.
What a painful viewing Artetaball is
Going to get ether now
I’m not a fan of playing both Ode and ESR together
Samba on for ESR
Round giving square instructions
I’d put on Martinelli for ESR and move Saka to midfield
What’s up with this motherfucKing ref
Fuck off Pepe, just fuck right off you cunt
Such a bad pass from Pepe. Way too short.
Fucking pepe terrible ball to Auba!!
AUBa with his Arteta out move
😂
The game has changed since cornet has come on
Pepes passing has been absolutely dreadful
The whole team in panic mode now!
We’re being bulldozed here……where are the ball players in midfield ?
Case closed.
Pepe just confirmed everything I’ve said about him! One simple pass & it’s 2-0 game over.
Pepe fails to deliver once more.
Fucking hell, why can’t we find the right weight on these damn passes.
That’s why Pepe is shit. A £70 million player should be a) playing the right pass and b) playing it with the right weight. He did neither.
Is Laca injured?
Auba returning the favour of terrible pass to Pepe
Damn.. TT is scrappy. I like that.. Need that second goal. Come on Boys!
Auba repays pepe’s bad pass, with an awful pass 5 minutes later.
the fuck White with that pass
Awful ball by Auba
Fuck you White
People’s taking about “the weight of the pass” and using it to bash Pepe don’t seem to know what they are saying
The ball isn’t traveling properly because Burnely are notorious for cutting their turf LONG
It’s the turf
Shit hit the ceiling. Penalty.
Pen to the cunts
White at his best!!
Its been comng
Fucking idiot White
What the fuck is White doing???????????
White has been dreadful … being completely honest.. Ramsdale bailed him out again. I think.. Var checking.
How TF did we pay £50 million for white?
He is average AF
It’s Seth same reason that ball didn’t reach Ramsdale on time
The turf is cut long
Fuck off Sean Dyke
Dive
No PK!!
Oh God .. up to Anthony Taylor… shweeeew no pk.
No pen
Is this what a ball playing CB looks like?
Asking for a friend.
White fucked up
Yes VAR saves the day!
50 million for that joke lol
Mugged.
Are we flowing yet?
Does it look simple and pleasing to the eye?
Let off
Never a pen
White has not been great today for sure a few mistakes
That they need to rewatch this so many times is utterly pathetic. Not even a difficult decision with a couple of slowmo replays
Our 50 miilion pound player got fuckin’ lucky there.
We are boring as shit
Arteta thinks Ben White is worth 50 million pounds.
That’s the summary of Arteta’s player judgment.
Yes we are winning but no way are we playing like the 3rd most successful team in England .
We are playing like a team that just got promoted to the premier league
That’s not a penalty.
The Burnley player is looking for the contact (it looks like that with the replay from behind)
Still worth 50 million Pedro?
Close call, jesus, white is nervous af
BTW, White has been the worst player on the pitch today by a mile. £50m? waste of money. We have Saliba ffs
Good tackle.
It wasn’t a penalty.
Dyche looking dumbfounded.
Thanks to Ben White for that scare.
Being outplayed by Burnley this second half
Arteta out now!!
We got lucky
Phew.
Good call by the ref.
These are the type of games, that should be used to bring our GD up, somebody remind arteta, we are -8 on GD.
Moaning Northern bastards – with chips on both shoulders
White is not average.
When you’re not playing in a cohesive system even the best will get found out.
We obviously don’t do corners in training
Burnely always cut their grass too long and don’t water. The turf before home games to make passing play difficult
I won’t bash Ben White for the pass petering away
Graham good point I don’t think he is average either every one can have an off day
I don’t like Arteta ball one bit
Most older players are gently downing tools, very discreetly. The new signings not in though
Burnely player should be booked for diving in the box ? or did I miss that.
Well White may have inherited Luiz’s brainfarts as well…