Day 1 Aftermath: what have we learned so far?

By Tony Attwood

I’m not certain too many individuals will hassle with a league desk this morning, however being Untold, we’ll embrace one for the six golf equipment which have received to this point within the opening recreation

However extra to the purpose is Kai Havertz, who scored at a time when the principle ranting of the media is that Arsenal of needing to signal a brand new striker.

His greatest season for scoring was 2018/19 for Leverkusen when he received 20 targets in 42 (0.48 per recreation).  He by no means received close to that at Chelsea with 14 in 47 being his greatest there in 2021/22 (0.30 per recreation).   Final season for Arsenal within the league it was 13 in 30 (0.43 per recreation).

But when we take a look at his goalscoring over the past 18 league video games he has performed it’s 10 targets in 19 final video games – or 0.52 targets a recreation – higher than at any time in his profession (10 within the final 15 in all competitions in response to the Guardian).

Final season the highest scorers received 27 (Haaland), 22 (Palmer) and 21 league targets, (Isaak).

In fact, the very first thing to notice is that Palmer performed for Chelsea and Isak for Newcastle, displaying that having a prime scorer doesn’t assist win the league.   However since Newcastle have been seventh final season and Chelse sixth we are able to observe that it might assist the lesser golf equipment within the scramble for Europe.

Nor come to that does having the highest scorer all the time assist the membership rating essentially the most targets.  Newcastle have been the fourth-highest scorers final season and Chelsea the fifth (14 targets behind Arsenal).

In fact, it is perhaps good if a few of these individuals who have spent the summer time saying that Arsenal want a brand new centre ahead, and people who bleated about Arteta blowing your entire Arsenal funds on Havertz, might come forth and apologise (we might after all graciously settle for the apology), however I haven’t seen such writings as but.

However as Arteta mentioned, “Each participant wants a while to adapt and get to know everyone – the membership, the relationships, the system.”

So after only one recreation Havertz and Saka every have a purpose and an help – which though very early within the season (2.6% of the season gone in actual fact) – isn’t too dangerous a begin.   

Gary O’Neil, of Wolverhampton, mentioned he noticed “a lot of positives” in his group so possibly I ought to try to cease blinking as a result of that’s fairly a bit greater than I noticed.  Final season Wolverhampton let in 1.71 targets a recreation – so two within the first match is just about their degree.

Soccer Fancast nonetheless select to give attention to Kiwior with the headline “Time to go” and the storyline that “£20m ace seems to be like he might by no means play for Arsenal.”

Footballfancast nonetheless inform us that Arsenal have been chasing Mikel Merino (the midfielder with Actual Sociedad) for over a month now and they’re anticipating a growth there.  Reedit provides “Arsenal not anticipated to make any additional signings this summer time barring a late shock, they usually provide you with the identical title.

So the subsequent recreation is away to Aston Villa who beat West Ham away. yesterday with Julen Lopetegui as their supervisor – the person who was beforehand supervisor of Wolverhampton Wanderers, which simply goes to point out how this stuff go round and round.  The final we heard of David Moyes was that he was working for Discuss Sport which might be about proper for him.

As for the Wolverhampton supervisor Gary O’Neil he was sacked by Bournemouth in June 2023, earlier than taking over the Wolverhampton job in the beginning of final season.

Which raises an attention-grabbing query about how these managers go round and round.  Since 2001 Wolverhampton have had eight managers and Arsenal 4 (this quantity clearly contains short-term managers akin to Freddie in Arsenal’s case).

Altering the supervisor, like shopping for new gamers on a regular basis, is what the media and a few bloggers scream for all day lengthy, and but largely it fairly merely fails to ship enchancment.  Certainly very often it might make issues worse.

So why do journalists and bloggers and different commentators carry on screaming for increasingly new gamers and fixed change of managers?   The mannequin of this method should be Chelsea which noticed the membership rating 38 targets in 38 video games the season earlier than final.  

However the need for a brand new supervisor continues as a result of… 

a) The journalists love de-stabilising golf equipment since that’s simple then to put in writing about.

b) The journalists don’t hassle to learn the statistics and assume that managerial modifications do work.

c) The journalists know precisely what they’re doing and like to de-stabilise golf equipment.

d) Writing a few attainable new supervisor takes no analysis and little effort.

I go away you to determine.