Wolves 0-1 Arsenal Player Rating and Match Reaction

[Letters]

I brought out the spreadsheets to see what the stats could actually say about our 'feelings vs facts' of facing 90 mins of 11 men pinned in their half behind the ball.

I mean, firstly: you
This is excellent work.
I'm not super convinced that 4 games is statistically that significant. But I don't think it's controversial to say we struggle against sides who come and sit deep/park the bus/deploy a deep block/call it what you will.

I don't blame teams for doing it - Spurs are much mocked for being too gung-ho. "It's just who we are, mate" has become a meme. The Spursiest example surely being when they were down to 9 men against Chelsea and were still trying to attack. Ridiculous game management. For all our wobbling this season we are one of the best sides in the PL and of course sides outside the top 6 are going to come to The Emirates and try not to lose more than they're going to try to win. Twas ever thus, I remember in one of the title run ins back in the day we had some frustrating games where we struggled to get the breakthrough. Back then we invariably did in the end though, we were more potent up front. Now...well, we all know about our issues with a striker, and Saka being out is obviously affecting us.
It is frustrating because we have some quick players, if we just broke we pace more we'd surely be more effective.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

I mean, firstly: you
This is excellent work.
I'm not super convinced that 4 games is statistically that significant. But I don't think it's controversial to say we struggle against sides who come and sit deep/park the bus/deploy a deep block/call it what you will.

One of the reasons I think it was only 4 games that could satisfy the formula is that we tend to score the 1st goal...so if one assumes that teams start off against us with the "low block" and we do end up scoring the first goal, then just like what happened against Wolves , we just concede possession to them and allow them to come out and see if they can score. The thing is we use to do this better in the past seasons by letting them come out and taking advantage of that to add another goal or 2.

But this season feels different, like once we're ahead, we don't care to push on and score another. Though I must say a quick gaze at the stats doesn't support this argument as we've only got three 1-0 wins and red cards in games like Bournemouth and Brighton have you scratching your head wondering what could have been.

[HCZ_Reborn]

One of the reasons I think it was only 4 games that could satisfy the formula is that we tend to score the 1st goal...so if one assumes that teams start off against us with the "low block" and we do end up scoring the first goal, then just like what happened against Wolves , we just concede possession to them and allow them to come out and see if they can score. The thing is we use to do this better in the past seasons by letting them come out and taking advantage of that to add another goal or 2.

But this season feels different, like once we're ahead, we don't care to push on and score another. Though I must say a quick gaze at the stats doesn't support this argument as we've only got three 1-0 wins and red cards in games like Bournemouth and Brighton have you scratching your head wondering what could have been.

Yep I was pretty much saying the same thing to my mate earlier. I remember us far more killing the game off on the counter attack last season. I don’t know if it’s tactical or if it’s a lack of confidence.


I think looking at it, away from home we’ve had two wins by a 1 goal margin, 2 wins by a 2 goal margin, and 2 wins by a three goal or larger margin.

But if you look at games like Brighton and Chelsea, Brighton especially we were punished because we didn’t try and extend our lead (we only brought on Odegaard and Martinelli after the non penalty penalty).

I feel like games against Ipswich and Spurs at home there was a real nervousness. I think apart from slow build up play, we’ve missed a lot of chances and that must play into players minds.

[Mac76]

btw I've heard that at HT Arteta told the team to go out and try to win the game despite having ten men

shame he didn't do the same v Brighton or Bournemouth, our negativity in those games potentially cost us important points IMO

[HCZ_Reborn]

btw I've heard that at HT Arteta told the team to go out and try to win the game despite having ten men

shame he didn't do the same v Brighton or Bournemouth, our negativity in those games potentially cost us important points IMO

Because Brighton and Bournemouth are better teams?.

[Niall_Quinn]

Because Brighton and Bournemouth are better teams?.

Nah, we're at least as good as Bournemouth.

[Mac76]

Because Brighton and Bournemouth are better teams?.

Brighton weren't playing that well and Bournemouth weren't either, they've only come alive in the last half-dozen games or so

and with players like Hwang and Cunha Wolves are perfectly capable of scroing against a side which is trying to win a game

[HCZ_Reborn]

Brighton weren't playing that well and Bournemouth weren't either, they've only come alive in the last half-dozen games or so

and with players like Hwang and Cunha Wolves are perfectly capable of scroing against a side which is trying to win a game

And as you point out these games were earlier in the season where we were in a position where a draw wasn’t as damaging, and a defeat would affect morale.

[Mac76]

And as you point out these games were earlier in the season where we were in a position where a draw wasn’t as damaging, and a defeat would affect morale.

Well I was saying at the time that if (as we thought then) you're up against a robotic Man City, draws need to be turned into wins at every opportunity, even the first game of the season. For me it was another sign for me of Arteta's cautious nature, especially at home. Liverpool would have looked to win that game, early in the season or not - that's how you win a title

[HCZ_Reborn]

Well I was saying at the time that if (as we thought then) you're up against a robotic Man City, draws need to be turned into wins at every opportunity, even the first game of the season. For me it was another sign for me of Arteta's cautious nature, especially at home. Liverpool would have looked to win that game, early in the season or not - that's how you win a title

And I respectfully disagree considering the attacking options we had and given how susceptible we are to the counter attack when we overcommit. I think against Brighton it would have guaranteed defeat with the pace they had