Pain in the Arsenal
Fansided

Arsenal: Remarkable foul statistics prove Arteta needs physicality

By Ross Kennerley

Manchester City's Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus (R) is felled in the tackle by Arsenal's Spanish defender Hector Bellerin (L) during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium in London on February 21, 2021. (Photo by Shaun Botterill / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by SHAUN BOTTERILL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester City's Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus (R) is felled in the tackle by Arsenal's Spanish defender Hector Bellerin (L) during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium in London on February 21, 2021. (Photo by Shaun Botterill / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by SHAUN BOTTERILL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 2
Next
Arsenal, Hector Bellerin
Remarkable foul statistics at Arsenal prove Mikel Arteta needs physicality and the Gunners lack strength. / (Photo by SHAUN BOTTERILL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Arsenal are top of the Premier League table. Delving deeper, Mikel Arteta’s side are the top ranking side in Europe’s top five divisions and fourth overall across every league in Europe this season. Well, sort of.

This is in regards to foul frequency across Europe this season as, remarkably, CIES reveal the Gunners’ average of one conceded every 10 minutes and 44 seconds, which totals 317, gives them that standing. Why is that so?

Immediate reactions would be that Arsenal are either smart operators or damn fine tacklers of the ball. Is there is reason to believe otherwise? Arteta’s men have the second most red cards this season with five – nine overall during the Spaniard’s tenure – an issue that sparked heated debate over whether the side suffer from uncontrollable disciplinary problems.

Maybe their barometer for tackling jumps from 1-9? Nicolas Pepe still hasn’t nailed down the perfect headbutt.

https://twitter.com/CIES_Football/status/1394223668734009345

Remarkable foul statistics at Arsenal prove Mikel Arteta needs physicality and the Gunners lack strength

Looking at Arsenal’s defensive record this season, conceding the third fewest goals in the Premier League is an impressive statistic worthy of highlighting. Much of this has spawned from vastly improved organisation at (defensive) set pieces as well as a more conservative approach, predominately in the first half of the season. And, y’know, good defending.

Considering how woeful the run of form was pre-Christmas and to still concede so few goals, the limp displays Arsenal produced coughing up so few fouls signals a side chasing shadows, or lacking bite.

‘Spineless’, ‘no cojones’, ‘frail’ and ‘weak’ are but a few of the derogatory terms used to blanket Arsenal well before the current campaign. Arsene Wenger re-imagined his title winning sides with numerous technically gifted and aesthetically pleasing footballers, the like of whom could rip teams to shreds but also be bullied off the park.

Fear factor and steel has been lacking since. Teams don’t tremble at the thought of Arsenal and given the dearth of physicality within the squad, as exemplified by the statistical lack of ‘getting stuck in’, maybe they’re right to do so.

Why is this so?

Home/Arsenal News