DATA BLOG: FAN PLAYER RATINGS ASSESSED

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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.

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Nelson

When Ode got the ball, Pepe should start to run in.

Dissenter

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.

G8

Poor Saliba got shipped away for this expensive flop!

MidwestGun

Damn we have started slow this half.. Not a good sign. Pick it up boys!

TheLegendaryDB10

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.

S Asoa

Fortunately Ramsdale overall doing better than Leno who was Indesive with the ball at his feet

TheLegendaryDB10

I mean impartial referring.

Nelson

I would bring in Holding. They starts to overpower us.

Dissenter

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.

MidwestGun

Nice outlet punt by Ramsdale. spot on to Auba

TheLegendaryDB10

Ang it should be Refereeing (for the sake of getting it right).

Nelson

ESR’s shooting skill is bad.

Paolo

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.

gazzap

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.

Graham

White getting more confident.

Samesong

Ramsdale distribution seems alot more accurate and faster than leno in what i’ve seen so far. Hasn’t really been tested yet though.

MidwestGun

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.

prvhc

Paolo
Pepe’s one of the rare goal threats we have. Get him the ball near the box enough and he WILL score goals

S Asoa

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

Dissenter

Auba’s link up play js very very poor

Nelson

Super save!!!

salparadisenyc

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.

MidwestGun

Good save… worrying signs though.

G8

Terrible football so far 2nd half
Burnley almost scored there

Kroenkephobe

Starting to look really passive. We need a captain

Dissenter

Atta boy Ramsdale

Arteta cannot drop him now

prvhc

ESR looks uninterested…….

gazzap

Ramsdale is fantastic

Samesong

My boy Ramsdale

Gonsterous

Great save by ramsdale. Performances like these will help win over the fans. Hope he carries this form through the entire season.

Just Another Customer

settling for 1 nil here?

S Asoa

Good save Ramsdale. But Burley movement shows a design unlike our chequerboard primitive PDA (?)

MidwestGun

Looks like Esr limping off.

underrated Coq

What a painful viewing Artetaball is

Dissenter

Going to get ether now
I’m not a fan of playing both Ode and ESR together

G8

Samba on for ESR
Round giving square instructions

prvhc

I’d put on Martinelli for ESR and move Saka to midfield

Kroenkephobe

What’s up with this motherfucKing ref

Saladin

Fuck off Pepe, just fuck right off you cunt

Nelson

Such a bad pass from Pepe. Way too short.

gazzap

Fucking pepe terrible ball to Auba!!

S Asoa

AUBa with his Arteta out move
😂

Mr Serge

The game has changed since cornet has come on

China1

Pepes passing has been absolutely dreadful

G8

The whole team in panic mode now!

prvhc

We’re being bulldozed here……where are the ball players in midfield ?

Paolo

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.

Saladin

Fucking hell, why can’t we find the right weight on these damn passes.

Lacaqualidie

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.

Dissenter

Is Laca injured?

G8

Auba returning the favour of terrible pass to Pepe

MidwestGun

Damn.. TT is scrappy. I like that.. Need that second goal. Come on Boys!

gazzap

Auba repays pepe’s bad pass, with an awful pass 5 minutes later.

Just Another Customer

the fuck White with that pass

MuddyGooner

Awful ball by Auba

Saladin

Fuck you White

Dissenter

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

S Asoa

Shit hit the ceiling. Penalty.

G8

Pen to the cunts
White at his best!!
Its been comng

MuddyGooner

Fucking idiot White

Nelson

What the fuck is White doing???????????

MidwestGun

White has been dreadful … being completely honest.. Ramsdale bailed him out again. I think.. Var checking.

Bankz

How TF did we pay £50 million for white?
He is average AF

Dissenter

It’s Seth same reason that ball didn’t reach Ramsdale on time

The turf is cut long

Saladin

Fuck off Sean Dyke

S Asoa

Dive

Nelson

No PK!!

MidwestGun

Oh God .. up to Anthony Taylor… shweeeew no pk.

Mr Serge

No pen

salparadisenyc

Is this what a ball playing CB looks like?
Asking for a friend.

Marco

White fucked up

G8

Yes VAR saves the day!

TitsMcGee

50 million for that joke lol

Mugged.

Graham62

Are we flowing yet?

Does it look simple and pleasing to the eye?

MuddyGooner

Let off

gazzap

Never a pen

Mr Serge

White has not been great today for sure a few mistakes

China1

That they need to rewatch this so many times is utterly pathetic. Not even a difficult decision with a couple of slowmo replays

Danny

Our 50 miilion pound player got fuckin’ lucky there.

MuddyGooner

We are boring as shit

Olumide

Arteta thinks Ben White is worth 50 million pounds.
That’s the summary of Arteta’s player judgment.

Bankz

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

TheLegendaryDB10

That’s not a penalty.

The Burnley player is looking for the contact (it looks like that with the replay from behind)

Benjamin

Still worth 50 million Pedro?

Gonsterous

Close call, jesus, white is nervous af

gazzap

BTW, White has been the worst player on the pitch today by a mile. £50m? waste of money. We have Saliba ffs

Lacaqualidie

Good tackle.

Ishola70

It wasn’t a penalty.

Dyche looking dumbfounded.

Thanks to Ben White for that scare.

Being outplayed by Burnley this second half

G8

Arteta out now!!

Marco

We got lucky

TheLegendaryDB10

Phew.

Good call by the ref.

Gonsterous

These are the type of games, that should be used to bring our GD up, somebody remind arteta, we are -8 on GD.

Kroenkephobe

Moaning Northern bastards – with chips on both shoulders

Graham62

White is not average.

When you’re not playing in a cohesive system even the best will get found out.

MuddyGooner

We obviously don’t do corners in training

Dissenter

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

Mr Serge

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

S Asoa

Most older players are gently downing tools, very discreetly. The new signings not in though

Samesong

Burnely player should be booked for diving in the box ? or did I miss that.

prvhc

Well White may have inherited Luiz’s brainfarts as well…