Arsenal Have Best “Team” in the English Premier League

A lot of flak has been thrown at Arsenal because they rely too heavily on Alexis Sanchez. It’s been compared to the days when Arsenal relied to heavily on the “Flying Dutchman” Robin van Persie. The difference is that back then, it was true.

In van Persie’s last season with Arsenal, he scored 30 of our 72 goals (42%). That is a heavy reliance.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park

This year however, Arsenal lead the league in goal scorers, with eighteen different players netting for the Gunners this year. Seeing as how we’ve scored 39 goals and eighteen different scorers, that makes it incredibly difficult to prove any player as too heavily relied upon.

No one is denying that Alexis has been the standout player this year, but he hasn’t been the only force the Gunners have had. Here’s the list of everyone that’s scored: Sanchez, Giroud, Welbeck, Cazorla, Ramsey, Podolski, Koscielny, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rosicky, Ozil, Arteta, Chambers, Debuchy, Gibbs, Mertesacker, Sanogo, Walcott, Wilshere.

There you have it. Alexis accounts for only 30% of Arsenal’s EPL goals this year, a whole 12% shy of what van Persie contributed in 2012.

It’s a good thing. The majority of fans will tell you they’d much rather have a good team contribution to the goal tally than have one player accounting for nearly half the goals. If for nothing else, it provides security when the inevitable injuries occur.

If Alexis was hurt, we’d be devastated, sure, but we have other threats. In 2012, had van Persie gotten hurt, you could stick a fork in us.

Follow Pain in the Arsenal on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter.

Next: Arsenal cannot sell Chuba Akpom