Day 1 Aftermath: what have we learned so far?

By Tony Attwood

I’m not positive too many individuals will hassle with a league desk this morning, however being Untold, we’ll embody 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 primary ranting of the media is that Arsenal of needing to signal a brand new striker.

His finest season for scoring was 2018/19 for Leverkusen when he bought 20 objectives in 42 (0.48 per recreation).  He by no means bought close to that at Chelsea with 14 in 47 being his finest 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 have a look at his goalscoring over the past 18 league video games he has performed it’s 10 objectives in 19 final video games – or 0.52 objectives a recreation – higher than at any time in his profession (10 within the final 15 in all competitions in accordance with the Guardian).

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

In fact, the very first thing to notice is that Palmer performed for Chelsea and Isak for Newcastle, displaying that having a high scorer doesn’t assist win the league.   However since Newcastle had been seventh final season and Chelse sixth we will word that it could actually assist the lesser golf equipment within the scramble for Europe.

Nor come to that does having the highest scorer at all times assist the membership rating probably the most objectives.  Newcastle had been the fourth-highest scorers final season and Chelsea the fifth (14 objectives 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 those that bleated about Arteta blowing the whole Arsenal funds on Havertz, may come forth and apologise (we’d in fact 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 all people – the membership, the relationships, the system.”

So after only one recreation Havertz and Saka every have a aim and an help – which though very early within the season (2.6% of the season gone the truth is) – isn’t too unhealthy a begin.   

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

Soccer Fancast nonetheless select to deal with Kiwior with the headline “Time to go” and the storyline that “£20m ace seems to be like he may 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 improvement there.  Reedit provides “Arsenal not anticipated to make any additional signings this summer time barring a late shock, and so they give you the identical identify.

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 indicate how these items go round and round.  The final we heard of David Moyes was that he was working for Speak 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 at first 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 momentary managers resembling 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 principally it fairly merely fails to ship enchancment.  Certainly very often it could actually 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 strategy should be Chelsea which noticed the membership rating 38 objectives in 38 video games the season earlier than final.  

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

a) The journalists love de-stabilising golf equipment since that’s simple then to write down about.

b) The journalists don’t hassle to learn the statistics and suppose 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 potential new supervisor takes no analysis and little effort.

I depart you to resolve.