Arsenal, seen from planet Zorch or worst team ever only 2 points behind 3rd place

By Walter Broeckx

A quick look at the league table this morning is rather interesting. I think if a person coming from planet Zorch were to fed with what the big media are feeding their audience about Arsenal would run to the bookmaker to make a bet that Arsenal is in last place in the league and will go down at the end of the season.

And if they were to read some of the blogs from people who say they support our club they would think that Arsenal is in the most dire position they have been…ever.

Now of course it might be that for someone young this sure looks to be the worst season ever. If you only started following Arsenal in the Wenger years it sure can look that way. Now I don’t want to even blame you for having that feeling and I don’t want to blame you for being so young that you weren’t around in times when things were really bad. But I think most who follow Arsenal for longer than 16 years will have memories of seasons that were more dramatic than this season.

Of course there are also older supporters who are unhappy. They come over here at times saying how long they have been a supporter and saying that this is the worst moment ever. It could be that they have a selective memory that only remembers the highs from the past but I sure seem to remember a lot of seasons when we won nothing in the past for year after year. And we could only dream of being where we are in the table right now.

We sure didn’t have the best week of the season. We sure don’t have the best season so far this century. And some will say this is the worst Arsenal team they have ever seen. That the manager has lost it and knows nothing about tactics. Just imagine your assumption is right. Let us for the sake of it pretend that you are right. And then look at the current league table.

And then I see this

POS	LP	CLUB	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
1	(1)	Manchester United	27	22	2	3	64	31	33	68
2	(2)	Manchester City	27	16	8	3	50	24	26	56
3	(3)	Chelsea	27	14	7	6	55	30	25	49
4	(4)	Tottenham Hotspur	26	14	6	6	44	30	14	48
5	(5)	Arsenal	27	13	8	6	52	30	22	47
6	(6)	Everton	27	10	12	5	41	34	7	42
7	(7)	West Bromwich Albion	27	12	4	11	38	36	2	40

To be specific, Chelsea 27 games Won 14 Draw 7 Lost 6 Goals scored 55 Goals conceded 30 Points 49

Arsenal, 27 games Won 13 Draw 8 Lost 6 Goals scored 52 Goals conceded 30 Points 47

And then I ask myself: How is this possible? Because if your assumption of Arsenal being the most terrible team in ages and a clueless manager is the truth, how can you explain this? Can you give me any logical explanation for this dire team and clueless manager only being 2 points behind the team in 3^rd place in the league after 27 games?

You could argue and saying that Chelsea also have a clueless manager in Benitez. Or even say that they had two clueless managers in Di Mateo and Benitez. But weren’t those managers who have won the CL in the past? And wasn’t the way Chelsea handled their managers by firing them when the owner didn’t like them any more? Is that the way we should take as the best way to deal with the situation?

I remember a lot of Arsenal fans salivating and praising the rich Russian bloke at Chelsea for the way he ran his club this season. Well his way of running his club has given them a massive advantage over us of 2 (two) points.

Ah, but we should have spent the money we have on the bank.

Yes, Chelsea did spend the money they didn’t have on their bank account. They spent the money of the rich owner once again. Again coming close to spending £90,000,000 in the transfer window. Once again. Buying all the players we should have bought. Hazard for £32M. Oscar for £25M.

Oh and we should have bought Ba. Remember that? And when he scored on his début in the FA cup many were in uproar. What was Wenger thinking about for letting him slip away? Since then he scored 1 league goal in 5 games by the way. But this is not important. What is important is that Chelsea spend the f*cking money. Let me rephrase this: Their owner spend his f*cking money.

And yet despite this spending money after 27 games they have created the enormous gap of 2 (two) points.

So the difference between firing/hiring/firing (is Benitez still in charge?) and the enormous amount of spending money we are (as I may have mentioned already) 2 (two) points behind.

And remember the assumption: our manager is a **** (fill in) and our players are ******* (fill in). And then only a 2 points gap.

I think by now it is clear that the assumption is rubbish. If the assumption of sacking managers and buying high profile superstar was the way to do it then they would be 20 points in front.

So maybe our players aren’t that bad! In fact I think that our players aren’t as bad as they are painted. So maybe our manager still do has a clue? Leave the ? as I do think he knows a bit about football.

Despite all the talk in the media and the pressure they are putting on our players and manager we still are in touching distant of the team in 3^rd place. Despite the huge difference in approach from both clubs (you could say the two opposites in the football spectrum) we are only separated by a 2 (two) point gap. If I read some other blogs and if I should believe some Arsenal supporters it sounds as a 20 points gap.

Are we happy with the current situation? Are we satisfied with the current position in the league table? NO. I would be disappointed if this were still to be the league table after 38 games. But the season is far from over yet. With only 2 points less than 3^rd place and with 33 points to win or lose we can overcome the teams in front of us.

So maybe instead of moaning, predicting doom and disaster why don’t we get behind the team for the remainder of the season? Why don’t we not settle for 4^th place, but instead support our boys to go for 3rd place. Time to show your true colours. Are you with our club or do you wish us bad things? A true supporter can never go for the second option.

The books…

Woolwich Arsenal: The club that changed football – Arsenal’s early years
Making the Arsenal – how the modern Arsenal was born in 1910
The Crowd at Woolwich Arsenal FC: crowd behaviour at the early matches

The sites from the same team…

Referee Decisions - just what are the refs up to this season?
Parent News - what is going on in schools these days?
The weight loss programme: The only guaranteed way to stay fit
The Arsenal History Blog from the AISA Arsenal History Society
The Bob Dylan Reviews – the music, the lyrics, the meaning

WalterBroeckx

February 25, 2013 at 8:19 pm

I just feel it in my bones, I just feel it in my finger tips: We are at the beginning of a new era in the history of Arsenal. And we are lucky to witness it. That is if you are lucky to stick to the club, players and managers.

A birth of a new life is not always the easiest part. Let alone the rebirth of a football club that will be with us in the next 50 years and beyond my miserable existence

mike

February 25, 2013 at 8:50 pm

Your points are well taken. However, it is no about being in the worst place Arsenal have ever been. It is about a team that can be great being treated as someone’s (the board and owner) cash cow. We are not expecting 30 million pound signings. What we are expecting is some meaningful attempt at winning. For example why are we paying Squillaci, Arshavin,Chamakh, Gervinho so much money to sit around and screw up, and then our great manager claims there is no one that can add value to our team. Give us a break, we are not stupid.
Your article only looks at one side of the issue. Let’s focus on all that is going on, and why we can’t win trophies.

nicky

February 25, 2013 at 9:28 pm

@MIKE,
We are paying Arshavin, Chamakh, Gervinho AND several others “so much money to sit around and screw up” for the simple reason they are still under contract and refuse to move for less money. Until their contract ends we cannot get rid. Arsenal honour all contracts, unlike many employers.
Of course, if you know of any way we can part with these players, legitimately, before end of contract, it is your duty to inform Arsene Wenger.

red jim

February 25, 2013 at 9:29 pm

Where exactly is Zorch Walter? Can the locals read English? And are the season tickets exorbitantly expensive there as well?

Mandy Dodd

February 25, 2013 at 9:31 pm

Have a feeling you are right Walter, just need to et through this season and things,will pick up. have a feeling you may know something? Or just a gut feeling?

February 25, 2013 at 9:34 pm

Completely off topic, but i just thought i’d check the score update on the BBC website, and after 27 minutes its 1 – 1, with spuds reported to be enjoying possession of 87%!! Now in all my years of watching football I don’t think i have ever seen anything like that, even the most one sided encounters involving Barca were like 78-22 or something close to 80%. Either w/ham are absolutely rubbish tonight or the BBC are up to no good again( the scoreline doesn’t suggest w/ham are just rolling over, but remember a game we were enjoying about 70% possession recently but on the BBC site the other team were credited with a weighty 56%). Thought it was interesting.

February 25, 2013 at 9:42 pm

Many apologies, I was wrong, clattenberg for the spuds

http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2012-13/feb/match-officials-appointments-2-4-march.html

February 25, 2013 at 9:47 pm

Clattenburg, don’t know what to think really. But certainly a better option than you-know-who.

Emmanuel Ellis

February 25, 2013 at 9:49 pm

these facts are very true. in Arsene we trust. long live Wenger, long live Arsenal

February 25, 2013 at 9:50 pm

You know what Mandy, just looked at the link you provided and seen some ‘strange’ names in there such as Moss, Swabrick, Pawson.. who are these guys? Did we ever get them before? I’m hearing these names for the first time.

February 25, 2013 at 9:52 pm

red jim,

Just take the direction of the moon then turn left a bit, full speed ahead and after 3 light years you turn right and you can’t miss it then. But don’t go now as you will miss the trophy collecting season in the next years

February 25, 2013 at 10:00 pm

Al,
Moss and Swarbrick are new from last season and so far have a good Arsenal record 4 wins out of 4 games (there is still hope with the new refs it seems )

Craig Pawson is a new ref in the PL.
Not much data on him yet in the PL. He only did two games and is not reviewed yet. He is 26 years and from South Yorkshire. Despite the south another Northern then…

I think Riley heard that I am working on a new series on the lack of refs in the PL and wants to stop me while doing the research

Steve

February 25, 2013 at 10:03 pm

@walterBroeckx

A spending table for you

AFC net spend since 1992 £30m
MUFC-£213m
CFC-£592m
MCFC-£481m
AVFC-£151m
LFC-£267m
NUFC-£110m
THFC-£167m
Stoke Rugby Club £73m

SA Gunner

February 25, 2013 at 10:17 pm

Walter, Ill leave you with one quote…

“If You Eat Caviar Every Day It’s Difficult To Return To Sausages” – Arsene Wenger

How do you respond to this?

February 25, 2013 at 10:22 pm

Ah, ok, cheers Walter. Wasn’t even aware of any of them or that we had got them before. Lets hope we get both of them sometime before the end of this season:)

Sam

February 25, 2013 at 10:34 pm

Off topic from the post, but West Ham up 2-1 in the 70th. Hope they can hang on.

February 25, 2013 at 10:35 pm

Thanks Walter, had heard of moss and the other chap, but now pawson.
Just hope they do a good job, are fair and do not fall for officially the leagues worst diver. Very very surprised dean did not get this one. But am sure we have not heard the last of him this season

February 25, 2013 at 10:54 pm

Should have kept my mouth shut about the WHM game. We’ll need an amazing performance from whomever out of Sagna/Jenkinson gets the nod against Bale to keep him quiet.

February 25, 2013 at 10:55 pm

Hmmmmm…..we got called a one man team last year…..wonder if that applies to others?

malaysian gunner

February 25, 2013 at 11:05 pm

Bale has scored to make it 3-2.No player is unplayable if a manager sets his mind to stifle such aplayer.I remember Maradona was playing for Napoli in a European cup match against a German side.
Maradona was the best player in the world then.What did the German manager do?He got defenders to tail him wherever he went and forced himto use his right foot which aint as good as his left.This effectively neutralised Napoli.
As for Bale he scored when the WHU defender nearest him allowed him time and space. I don’t know but if the other defnders nearby had closed him down,maybe he w ont have been able to score ,let alone shoot.
Arsenal better be careful. A loss would see them 7 points adrift.

February 25, 2013 at 11:12 pm

Curses!!!!!
The Hammers came so close… But if they can stick 2 past the scum, we should be able to do something similar. I suspect Olly will be up for this one, as will Podolski and Theo. Santiago will probably be hungry to show the spuds what he’s made of as well. I’m pretty confident going into this NLD, mostly because I don’t expect a bus, and that should work well for us. I just pray that our defense is on form. COYG!!!

February 26, 2013 at 12:02 am

Strange, all over the net about our financials, but no praise on being one of the few that are running a club properly, just people having a go at the eight years and how we pay more wages than the spuds. But no anti arsenal bias at work in our media. Will wait for someone like Swiss ramble to interpret what it really means

meditation

February 26, 2013 at 2:53 am

DOANYTHINGFORTHEMONEY AND ALL. reasons why many want to own football clubs. This is just notts county. What would the prestige of the big clubs get you. The billion dollar conman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAbJGgDnk7U.

February 26, 2013 at 2:55 am

Mandy Dodd https://twitter.com/SwissRamble

February 26, 2013 at 3:23 am

Things are getting interesting in football. Man city using the tactic of hurting arsenals hope of self sustainability with the ticket fiasco. To me they were saying they don’t need ticket money. Obviously arsenal do. How much did arsenal lose from the returned tickets? Fans being used to give power to a power move? linesman caught saying go and say thanks to the fans on camera? Gary nevilles recent article on agents?http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/feb/17/gary-neville-football-agents-player-wages.Annes old articles(where is she hiding?). Divide and conquer in full effect pushed through fragments of greed. For me the sad thing with the city scenario and others are the fans are pawns for rich ,well positioned people of concealed power. Our reactions shape the game but our words are just disgruntled opinions between fans who love the same club. Also other clubs and fans being taken for a ride. Sometimes the truth hurts but it can also set you free .The fact that football holds to many secrets that are destroying the game, we are only trapped through our love and allegiance . All these owners are doing what they should in their minds. Treating us like consumers. Painting a reality for us fans real or fake that we enjoy consuming. Bad times or rain before the sunshine?

Sammy The Snake

February 26, 2013 at 6:31 am

The main comparison is that we are 21 points behind the leaders, ManU.
All other comparisons are meaningless.

ARSENAL 13

February 26, 2013 at 7:23 am

@ Sammy,

Name for Name, on paper we are as good as Man Utd. So why Man Utd are 21 points above us…..well, I would say “FANS”. I’ve heard their fans complaining, Evra, Rafael….are shit, we need defenders. We need midfielders….BUT when the season started, all their rants, over…..finished. They were all behind the team. BUT us we were busy Booing our players, Sitting like Zombies at the Ems. Our support could have made the difference.

Mathematically, we can still win it. Cant we. BUT lets hope, we attain the best league position as possible. 2nd is not out of reach.

Rupert Cook

February 26, 2013 at 9:09 am

@Arsenal 13, so if we’re as good as Manu on paper can you explain why we’re 21 pts behind? The fans. Come on , that’s disingenuous. If we have players that are so mentally weak because of a few boos we really need to give them some psychiatric sessions.

Certainly the atmosphere at the Emirates can be sterile, can’t deny that.

Of course this isn’t a terrible season compared to some in the mid 70′s. Luckily some of you are too young to remember those days. I think it’s just the same old situation every year when the team once again fails to deliver. It’s not as if we have a manager who is a stranger to success and we’re not skint so it all seems rather tedious to see us repeat the same mistakes, usually defensive ones.

Johnny

February 27, 2013 at 9:41 am

“I remember a lot of Arsenal fans salivating and praising the rich Russian bloke at Chelsea for the way he ran his club this season. Well his way of running his club has given them a massive advantage over us of 2 (two) points”.
- if this is all you see other than the achievement they (Chelsea) have had these past years in terms of trophies, then you sure need some glasses!!!

February 27, 2013 at 10:40 am

Johhny,
one could also say if you look at the other achievements Arsenal has made in 100 years in term of trophies that the Arsenal way is the better way….

In this article I only looked at this season. 2 managers, +90M spend and 2 points more than us.

jaroda

February 27, 2013 at 1:56 pm

I think all this article establishes is that:
1) Chelsea are poor – mismanagement through spending
2) Arsenal are 2 points poorer – mismanagement through not spending
3) Amazingly there are 15 even poorer teams in the league.

This is then ignoring the elephant in the room:

We are 21pts off the top of the league with over a quarter of the season to go!

Spending or not spending; both seem to fail when the management fails to get the best from the players they have at their disposal.

Old red nose does not have a squad of exceptional quality but as I’ve stated above, the standard is so ppor this season they only have to be better than those around them. Hence complete and utter domination.

February 28, 2013 at 8:31 am

Walter,
Keeping it to this season alone wont reflect the true picture. Compared to other premiership teams, Arsenal weren’t the least spender in its glory days either. Again, i am not advocating we go the Chelsea way with what we dont have. but then we should be able to replace the players sold with adequate quality. The fans deserve some joy, something that is lacking in the past 8yrs.

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