Arsenal News » 2009 » November » 10

By Walter Broeckx

After the month September I gave a first review and one of our readers said then that he was way too early with this and we had to wait after we would have played some 10 games. The international break is a good moment to see how we have developed until now.

So, the competition is now 11 weeks old (and for most of the teams that means 12 games).   Our missing game is against Bolton, pulled because we had to play Celtic in some game or other.

And thus it is time for the next overview. Are we still doing better than last year or not? The best way to keep up the comparison is to see at the games from last year and same games this season.

As I already reviewed the first 6 games I will only mention the scores.

Last season                                   This season

Everton – Arsenal 1-1       Everton – Arsenal 1-6

Arsenal Portsmouth 1-0          Arsenal Portsmouth 4-1

Mu – Arsenal 0-0            Mu – Arsenal 2-1

M City – Arsenal 3-0       M City – Arsenal 4-2

Arsenal – Wigan 1-0           Arsenal – Wigan 4-0

Fulham – Arsenal 1-0       Fulham – Arsenal 0-1

On came Blackburn to the Emirates and we gave them a good trashing and won 6-2. Last year we beat them 4-0 so the same goal difference and also a good performance.

Next was Birmingham to play in the Emirates. Now Birmingham didn’t play in the PL last season so I think the best way to compare them could be done with a team we will not play this year, so I took the first game we played at home against a team that went down at the end of the season and this was West Bromwich Albion.

In fact our first game of the season. Last year we won 1-0, scored early on but couldn’t make the game over until the final whistle. This year we won against Birmingham 3-1 in a rather more convincing way.

For the next game we went to West Ham and we drew 2-2. Last year we won 2-0. So the result this year not so good. Still wonder how we conceded 2 goals with no other shots between the posts, but life is not always logical.

On came the nightmare of last season….the spuds. Last year 4-4 draw, much to the delight of the DVD shop at White Hart Lane and this year we let them know who is THE team in North London and send them back with a 3-0 in their bag. So a better result than last year.   There are still a few mugs left available in the Tiny Tott Shop.

Last weekend we went to Wolverhampton and as newcomers I also had to pick a relegated team from last season. The first away game against such a team was Middlesbrough and we drew 1-1 over there. This year we won rather simple with 4-1.

So over to the conclusions:

Last season we had a total of 19 points after these games out of a possible 33 points and this season we have got 25 points in these games. That is a gain of 6 some points.

Our goal scoring has improved immensely as we scored 36 goals this year and we had only made 15 goals last year. That is more than the double. If we could maintain this scoring form for the rest of the season we could be well over 100 goals, in fact if you extrapolate it with your calculator it will give you 124 goals. Would be nice but I will settle for any number containing 3 figures.

Last year, we let only 10 goals in and now 14 goals this year so this is not so good.

Regarding the performances on the field, which of course is subjective, they are far, far, far better than last season.

So I think there is even some more cause for optimism so far.  But just how exciting are Arsenal. Here is the table…

In what follows here is the number of goals scored and number of goals scored per game.  It doesn’t include monday night’s game.

Arsenal	50	4.5
Liverpool	41	3.7
Blackburn	39	3.6
Bolton	39	3.6
Tottenham	40	3.3
Burnley	40	3.3
Sunderland	39	3.25
Chelsea	37	3.1
West Ham	36	3
League average	702	3
Everton	32	2.9
Hull	35	2.9
Man Utd	35	2.9
Wigan	35	2.9
Wolves	34	2.8
Aston Villa	32	2.7
Fulham	28	2.6
Portsmouth	28	2.3
Stoke	27	2.25
Man City	35	2.2
Birmingham	20	1.8

(Figures taken from the Guardian)

So Arsenal are one and a half times more exciting than the average for the League.

Not only are we going to go through the 100 goal barrier we are going to score 124 in the league.

Impossible? Of course.  Just as impossible as having an Unbeaten Season.  Just as impossible as winning two doubles.  Just as impossible as 49 unbeaten.   Completely impossible.

Here’s something else that is impossible. Winston Churchill and MI5 involved in the activities revolving around the Arsenal.  But read MAKING THE ARSENAL and you will find out that sometimes the impossible happens.

Full details on www.woolwicharsenal.co.uk – available for purchase now.  If you don’t read this by Christmas you are going to be so out of the debate!!!