The Arsenal Thread
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Exactly this is what he did wrong, there were so many passing options on his merry little route too, but he decided to take none of the options available to him.
OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG "@MattLawExpress I hear plan is for thierry henry to get 15 mins (ish) in an arsenal shirt today."
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Would Henry be allowed to do that since it is still a competition?
Friendly competition at that, but didn't think it would be allowed.
Friendly competition at that, but didn't think it would be allowed.
Apparently not! No Titi in an Arsenal shirt, but we cheered him anyway!
then we'll raid the Catalans to ****. haha. ****'em losers.
they are just showing there arrogance since winning teh recent CL final, them being kings, and looking down at us as slaves. 27m is absolute ****!!!
---------- Post added at 08:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:17 PM ----------
anything on Mata people? hearing numbers of 17m deal done by next week. ;P
sidlowe Sid Lowe
Right: Mata. (Tweet #1) Spurs' bid was cleverly planned (and is only *formal* bid so far). But didn't work at least in short term.
#2 But if nothing better came available Spurs would still have a chance. Very unlikely now, though. Arsenal are most likely now and have
#3 have exprsd willingness to bid on acceptbl terms. There's hope of interest elsewhere (ManC? ManU?) Signing Downing ended Lvrpl interest
#4 Not ruling out him staying at Valencia but unlikely. Also, hence the ManUtd Q earlier, yes he could play centrally.
#5 Most likely scenario now is Arsenal. (And, yes, Cesc is likely, but not certain, to finally leave for Barça this summer)
Can Mata and Gervinho Replace Fabregas and Nasri?by Paul McKinnon at Monday, Aug 1 2011 10:58
It’s looking increasingly likely that Juan Mata will be appearing in the Premier League next season. With Tottenham joining Arsenal in their pursuit of the highly rated Valencia youngster, it seems the race for Mata’s signature is now a straightforward battle between the two North London rivals.
Last week, Valencia’s confirmation of a loan deal for Real Madrid’s Sergio Canales prompted speculation that a move away from Spain for Mata is very much imminent. While Harry Redknapp is a confirmed admirer, the possible sale of Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona will provide Arsene Wenger with a substantial hole in his Arsenal first XI that will urgently need addressing.
With the budget to splash the cash, Wenger will surely be in the driving seat to land Mata and capture his second big money signing of the summer, with Gervinho already arriving from French champions Lille. Long-term, it seems almost a certainty that the futures of both Fabregas and Nasri lie away from the Emirates and with that in mind, we analyse the stats to see just how capable Mata and Gervinho are of filling the boots of the unsettled Arsenal pair.
Mata v Fabregas
Mata can play in more positions across the front than Cesc- he started 36 La Liga and Champions League matches last season and 22 came on the left wing, with 14 through the middle. Interestingly, he was a more efficient creator from out wide, picking up 3 goals and 9 assists from his 22 games on the wing.
In a central position, his eye for goal excelled- Mata grabbed 6 goals and 4 assists in 14 games- comparing these two sets of stats, it’s easy to see that Mata is a more dangerous player when fielded in a central position. With Aaron Ramsey also coming into the picture following his recovery from a broken leg, however, Mata’s ability to play left could allow Wenger to field the young Welshman through the centre and start him in the same XI as Mata. This was an option rarely afforded by Fabregas‘ inclusion, with Ramsey only ever used as back-up to the Arsenal skipper.
Passing
Both Mata and Fabregas made 73 key passes last season, with Mata picking up 12 assists to Cesc’s 11. This means Mata picked up 1 assist for every 6.08 key passes he made last season, compared to Fabregas’ 1 assist per 6.63. Fabregas’ passing was a more constant threat, though- he averaged 2.9 key passes to Mata’s 2.2.
The Arsenal man had 63.9 passes to Mata’s 44 per game but this was more down to team tactics and their roles within their respective teams- it does show, however, a more efficient side to Mata’s distribution, given he picked up more assists. The Valencia man also excels when it comes to pass accuracy, with 86% to 81%. This suggests that, playing in the role behind Robin Van Persie, his creativity looks just as promising as the Arsenal skipper’s.
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Dribbling and Shooting
Despite playing so many games out wide, Mata’s game is clearly not based on his ability to beat a man- he made just 0.6 successful dribbles per game, with his superb distribution meaning it’s unnecessary for him to go on runs with the ball. Fabregas made 1 successful dribble per game and also edged Mata for goal attempts, with 2 shots per game to 1.6.
Once again, both players’ total shots were almost identical- Mata had 53 over the course of last season and Fabregas had 50. With a total of 8 goals, however, Mata had the keener eye for goal of the pair in 2010/11- Fabregas scored just 3 goals for Arsenal. This means Mata scored 1 goal with every 6.62 shots, while Fabregas scored 1 goal with every 16.66 shots.
Gervinho v Nasri
Gervinho offers a similar sort of adaptability as Nasri- both played wide right, wide left and through the middle last term. With the less versatile Theo Walcott more settled on the right, a role wide left looks most likely for Gervinho. Andrei Arshavin may come into the mix- the Russian missed just one game last term but his influence on the Arsenal side is waning with a series of uninspired performances. If anything, his role could well be of a back-up nature next term.
A key factor in the duo’s stats worth considering is the different formations of their respective teams- while Arsenal played 4-2-3-1 with Nasri in an attacking midfield role and Robin Van Persie the main goal threat, Gervinho’s Lille favoured a 4-3-3, meaning he played further forward and his goal threat was more crucial to his side.
Passing
With Van Persie ahead of him, Nasri always had someone to slide through on goal with a killer pass and as a result, made 1.9 key passes per game compared to Gervinho’s 1.3. Nasri made a total of 57 key passes per game in season 2010/11 to Gervinho’s 46, but rather bizarrely, the Arsenal man picked up just 1 assist over the whole season- a ratio, therefore, of 1 assist for every 57 key passes made. Gervinho, on the other hand, picked up 10 assists, which equates to 1 assist for every 4.6 key passes he made.
Nasri’s 48.9 passes per game indicate his tendency to drop deep and get more involved in his side’s build-up play- Gervinho’s lowly 22 suggests a more direct style of play and is also indicative of his role at Lille- he was the only player to hit double figures for both goals and assists for the French champions. Nasri’s pass accuracy is also superior - 88% to 80%- but given his lack of end product, highlights more caution in possession than Gervinho.
.png)
Dribbling and Shooting
Both players were very similar for successful dribbles per game- Gervinho just edges Nasri 2.1 to 2.0, an indication that his ability to beat a man is certainly not the lesser of the Arsenal man. Given Gervinho’s more forward role, he averaged 2.2 shots per game for Lille, just less than their centre forward Moussa Sow with 2.4. Nasri, on the other hand, had 1.7 shots at goal, fourth best at Arsenal and less than the likes of Theo Walcott (2.0).
Over his 35 appearances, therefore, Gervinho had 77 shots at goal last season and with a haul of 15 goals, he scored 1 goal with every 5.13 shots. Nasri played 30 games for Arsenal and had a total of 51 shots, scoring 10 goals- this is 1 goal for every 5.1 shots- the duo are virtually identical when it comes to the clinical nature of their finishing.
Conclusion
Judging by the stats it certainly appears that there would be no drop in overall quality if Mata and Gervinho prove to be a straight swap for Fabregas and Nasri. Indeed, their arrival may offer Wenger more options and could even give the Arsenal manager the budget too strengthen his much-maligned central defence.
Weighing up the current squad in addition, then, an attacking midfield three of Gervinho left, Mata central and Walcott on the right could be Wenger’s strongest first-choice picks next term, with the possibilities afforded to Wenger in the upcoming campaign along the lines of:
AML- 1st Choice- Gervinho. 2nd Mata. Back-up Arshavin, Vela
AMC- 1st Choice- Mata. 2nd Ramsey. Back-up Rosicky
AMR- 1st Choice- Walcott. 2nd Gervinho Back-up Arshavin, Vela
It’s looking increasingly likely that Juan Mata will be appearing in the Premier League next season. With Tottenham joining Arsenal in their pursuit of the highly rated Valencia youngster, it seems the race for Mata’s signature is now a straightforward battle between the two North London rivals.
Last week, Valencia’s confirmation of a loan deal for Real Madrid’s Sergio Canales prompted speculation that a move away from Spain for Mata is very much imminent. While Harry Redknapp is a confirmed admirer, the possible sale of Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona will provide Arsene Wenger with a substantial hole in his Arsenal first XI that will urgently need addressing.
With the budget to splash the cash, Wenger will surely be in the driving seat to land Mata and capture his second big money signing of the summer, with Gervinho already arriving from French champions Lille. Long-term, it seems almost a certainty that the futures of both Fabregas and Nasri lie away from the Emirates and with that in mind, we analyse the stats to see just how capable Mata and Gervinho are of filling the boots of the unsettled Arsenal pair.
Mata v Fabregas
Mata can play in more positions across the front than Cesc- he started 36 La Liga and Champions League matches last season and 22 came on the left wing, with 14 through the middle. Interestingly, he was a more efficient creator from out wide, picking up 3 goals and 9 assists from his 22 games on the wing.
In a central position, his eye for goal excelled- Mata grabbed 6 goals and 4 assists in 14 games- comparing these two sets of stats, it’s easy to see that Mata is a more dangerous player when fielded in a central position. With Aaron Ramsey also coming into the picture following his recovery from a broken leg, however, Mata’s ability to play left could allow Wenger to field the young Welshman through the centre and start him in the same XI as Mata. This was an option rarely afforded by Fabregas‘ inclusion, with Ramsey only ever used as back-up to the Arsenal skipper.
Passing
Both Mata and Fabregas made 73 key passes last season, with Mata picking up 12 assists to Cesc’s 11. This means Mata picked up 1 assist for every 6.08 key passes he made last season, compared to Fabregas’ 1 assist per 6.63. Fabregas’ passing was a more constant threat, though- he averaged 2.9 key passes to Mata’s 2.2.
The Arsenal man had 63.9 passes to Mata’s 44 per game but this was more down to team tactics and their roles within their respective teams- it does show, however, a more efficient side to Mata’s distribution, given he picked up more assists. The Valencia man also excels when it comes to pass accuracy, with 86% to 81%. This suggests that, playing in the role behind Robin Van Persie, his creativity looks just as promising as the Arsenal skipper’s.
Dribbling and Shooting
Despite playing so many games out wide, Mata’s game is clearly not based on his ability to beat a man- he made just 0.6 successful dribbles per game, with his superb distribution meaning it’s unnecessary for him to go on runs with the ball. Fabregas made 1 successful dribble per game and also edged Mata for goal attempts, with 2 shots per game to 1.6.
Once again, both players’ total shots were almost identical- Mata had 53 over the course of last season and Fabregas had 50. With a total of 8 goals, however, Mata had the keener eye for goal of the pair in 2010/11- Fabregas scored just 3 goals for Arsenal. This means Mata scored 1 goal with every 6.62 shots, while Fabregas scored 1 goal with every 16.66 shots.
Gervinho v Nasri
Gervinho offers a similar sort of adaptability as Nasri- both played wide right, wide left and through the middle last term. With the less versatile Theo Walcott more settled on the right, a role wide left looks most likely for Gervinho. Andrei Arshavin may come into the mix- the Russian missed just one game last term but his influence on the Arsenal side is waning with a series of uninspired performances. If anything, his role could well be of a back-up nature next term.
A key factor in the duo’s stats worth considering is the different formations of their respective teams- while Arsenal played 4-2-3-1 with Nasri in an attacking midfield role and Robin Van Persie the main goal threat, Gervinho’s Lille favoured a 4-3-3, meaning he played further forward and his goal threat was more crucial to his side.
Passing
With Van Persie ahead of him, Nasri always had someone to slide through on goal with a killer pass and as a result, made 1.9 key passes per game compared to Gervinho’s 1.3. Nasri made a total of 57 key passes per game in season 2010/11 to Gervinho’s 46, but rather bizarrely, the Arsenal man picked up just 1 assist over the whole season- a ratio, therefore, of 1 assist for every 57 key passes made. Gervinho, on the other hand, picked up 10 assists, which equates to 1 assist for every 4.6 key passes he made.
Nasri’s 48.9 passes per game indicate his tendency to drop deep and get more involved in his side’s build-up play- Gervinho’s lowly 22 suggests a more direct style of play and is also indicative of his role at Lille- he was the only player to hit double figures for both goals and assists for the French champions. Nasri’s pass accuracy is also superior - 88% to 80%- but given his lack of end product, highlights more caution in possession than Gervinho.
Dribbling and Shooting
Both players were very similar for successful dribbles per game- Gervinho just edges Nasri 2.1 to 2.0, an indication that his ability to beat a man is certainly not the lesser of the Arsenal man. Given Gervinho’s more forward role, he averaged 2.2 shots per game for Lille, just less than their centre forward Moussa Sow with 2.4. Nasri, on the other hand, had 1.7 shots at goal, fourth best at Arsenal and less than the likes of Theo Walcott (2.0).
Over his 35 appearances, therefore, Gervinho had 77 shots at goal last season and with a haul of 15 goals, he scored 1 goal with every 5.13 shots. Nasri played 30 games for Arsenal and had a total of 51 shots, scoring 10 goals- this is 1 goal for every 5.1 shots- the duo are virtually identical when it comes to the clinical nature of their finishing.
Conclusion
Judging by the stats it certainly appears that there would be no drop in overall quality if Mata and Gervinho prove to be a straight swap for Fabregas and Nasri. Indeed, their arrival may offer Wenger more options and could even give the Arsenal manager the budget too strengthen his much-maligned central defence.
Weighing up the current squad in addition, then, an attacking midfield three of Gervinho left, Mata central and Walcott on the right could be Wenger’s strongest first-choice picks next term, with the possibilities afforded to Wenger in the upcoming campaign along the lines of:
AML- 1st Choice- Gervinho. 2nd Mata. Back-up Arshavin, Vela
AMC- 1st Choice- Mata. 2nd Ramsey. Back-up Rosicky
AMR- 1st Choice- Walcott. 2nd Gervinho Back-up Arshavin, Vela
You don't appear to be interested in him... And you need a deep-lying playmaker anyway.
I very much like him, but we dont really need him unless we plan on shifting Nani in a Sneijder deal, we've apparently watched him (tbh we watched a lot of player in the last 15 months) but not taking any major interest
Yeah we are not interested. Shame. Would have liked him here. We need playmaker not deep lying one as we have Carrick for that role and also we have fletcher who can play box to box(Have to say this word is used way too often and there are not many who fits the bill exactly, just that Fletcher is close to being Box to box than Deep lying playmaker or DM). Hence we are linked with the likes of Sneijder..
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Fabregas is one of the most influencial players in the world at the moment and has been performing in the biggest stage since he was very young. I dont personally think his worth is less then 45-50M and I would be disappointed to see him undervalued than that.
If he leaves, things wont be the same for Arsenal, regardless of Mata's arrival. On the other hand, this may be a good change for Arsenal, one they need to win some trophies.
If he leaves, things wont be the same for Arsenal, regardless of Mata's arrival. On the other hand, this may be a good change for Arsenal, one they need to win some trophies.