Arsenal Shafted In Squawka’s Team Of The Year

Squawka.com has published their team of the year thus far and let’s just say that Arsenal was well-represented. The Gunners had the most representatives on the team at four while Leicester City came in second with two. And yet the Gunners still got shafted.

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The Arsenal men are Hector Bellerin, Nacho Monreal, Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil.

The names are well and good, but Squawka still managed to get a few things wrong. First of all, it must be said that choosing Arsenal’s fullback pair was a no-brainer. Those two are unbelievable and Squawka has hit the nail on the head with that one.

Santi Cazorla is going to be on every ultimate XI ever. I think if you asked Pele to form his ultimate XI, he would find room on it for Santi Cazorla. Everyone likes the guy and everyone wants to play with him.

With three of the four names out of the way, we have no complaints. So let’s get to the complaints. But first, you will have to look at the formation:

Notice something out of place? What in the world is Mesut Ozil doing on the left wing? The German maestro has broken three assisting records this year playing in a central role. He leads the known world in assists and key passes from a central role. Plus, Wenger has put Ozil on the left wing in the past and it did not work.

Dimitri Payet has been great. But he has played over half his games on the left hand side. Plus, five goals and three assists is nothing like Ozil’s two and ten. Payet and Ozil should be switched. It’s an atrocity that they have to be seen like this. And while we’re at it, I could just as easily launch into an argument about why Alexis Sanchez should be preferred over Payet, but let’s not get too greedy. All I will say is that in domestic competitions, Alexis has ten goals. No big deal.

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Perhaps Squawka did not want to have Arsenal over-represented, but let’s talk about why Fernandinho got the nod over Francis Coquelin. No really, why did he? Coquelin has more interceptions and tackles, a better pass completion and take-on percentage and yet he got the shoulder. Fernandinho has better offensive prowess but defensively he is a peon compared to Coquelin.

Next, let’s figure out why exactly Laurent Koscielny was beaten out by Toby Alderweireld and Chris Smalling. Koscielny is the highest ranked defender in Sky Sports power rankings. But go ahead, Squawka, keep up your roguish ways. Statistically speaking, Koscielny has them both beat in just about everything other than tackles won, which the Frenchman is a bit down on this year.

Finally, let’s look in goal. Jack Butland has been great. He really has. But basing a team of the year position based on one stat – saves – is incredibly flawed. Petr Cech is the best keeper in England. Period. His saves per goal is a four, which is near tops in the world.

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Overall, Squawka may feel like they are doing Arsenal a favor by putting four guys in the team of the year. But the fact of the matter is, this should be a gross majority of Gunners. And it’s not.

Get with the program Squawka. But for the time being, let’s revel in the fact that Chelsea is not represented.