Lewis

Keine Sorge, die sind bald nicht mehr Premier League

Expected Goal Difference trends for the English Premier League, 2015-2026.

The central clustering of this season is truly unprecedented. There are no super teams right now, but that's because everyone is pretty great overall.

Look at BAD PL teams in Europe, and it's striking.

Raya completed more passes to Havertz (7) than to any other player last night.

Yeah I agree, on rewatching I think we were good up to 85 against Chelsea - would've preferred a lot more of the ball and think against 10 there's no excuse not to, but they were in their own third with it.

Arsenal didn't dominate possession after those subs but the game was played further away from the Arsenal goal, it stopped being a backs to the wall effort and Arsenal carried their own threat. Made a massive difference.

Passes completed (final third) before Havertz, Trossard, Calafiori were on the pitch at Brighton:

Brighton 290 (76) - 170 (17) Arsenal

After Havertz, Trossard, Calafiori had all come on:

Brighton 124 (25) - 60 (26) Arsenal

I'm more worried about us than them, we're in the driving seat. And from a very selfish perspective, I've found it mentally/emotionally draining, so I personally am happy there's a break.

Of course, due to the amount of time routinely wasted one league game in six weeks is actually par for Arsenal this season.

One league game in the next six weeks feels strange now but I'm grateful for it. This 2026 run has felt all-consuming, never-ending. Breaking it up for a bit should be good for everyone.

When we're back at it, four of the next five league games are at home, the other at City. I'll take that.

Arsenal need to lean into these "boring"/"time-wasting"/"Set Piece FC" accusations. Let the wider world sneer. Create a siege mentality. Dig in. Be mean. For around two decades they were accused of being too soft, now they are apparently the opposite. Ride the hate-wave.

Or just a regular computer

Imagine a Spurs fan watching that Murillo block live. The double whammy of a potential Arsenal title and a potential relegation all at once. I'd never come back from it.

Should've tried harder 👍

That's a massive win. And it's the best Arsenal have played in the final 30 minutes of a close game for months.

The fun boat is the boat at the end of Cape Fear.

Bringing down the overall average so the late game mistakes don't stick out. Smart!

If it helps you feel better (for the next 20 minutes only) their loss to Villa came when we beat Palace.

Yep definitely think so too. With a nice run of home games coming up I'd like to see it again but won't hold my breath. One for September, maybe.

Wouldn't be surprised if this is consistent across PL teams but I still don't love it. If we are ahead tonight, a little less going long. Please.

Arsenal Premier League pass completion this season:

Overall - 84.5%
70' onwards when leading - 81.3%
70' when one goal up - 77.6%

Because you don't know what you know until you know it. I doubt they signed him planning to use him this little? They got it wrong.

(And, again, it wouldn't be an issue if Merino hadn't had to do a stint up top or if just one of Havertz/Ødegaard had stayed fit more often. We have enough players.)

Well if you want to look at it that way there's your answer - he doesn't believe we'd win with them in there.

I think he would've been better but Havertz injury was a bad one, then Merino had to do a long stint up front and looked shot after that. The one time he had Eze and Ødegaard both in there it lasted 20 minutes until Zubimendi had to come on.

If we'd seen more of Norgaard or MLS in midfield when it mattered earlier in the season we'd:
A) Know how much we can trust them
B) Have a fresher Rice/Zubimendi now

But we didn't! And now we're without Merino and Ødegaard and basically Havertz too.

I have the same fear, and I think there's clearly a risk to it! I don't think they're being cavalier about that either (otherwise Havertz would start) but ultimately we have to win tonight and we're more likely to with Rice on the pitch, so whatever that risk is they think it's worth taking.

But he isn't injured and we need to win. This is a harder game than any other we play in the league for six weeks. Should've rotated more earlier in the season when we had more options (Merino) but we are where we are now, can't give Norgaard a first PL start in this one, not if Rice can play.

Upcoming run of home games should give us an opportunity to make a change or two there in the league.

Don't love having Martinelli with Hincapié behind him and Eze plus Gyökeres centrally - combinations just haven't worked to date - but can understand dropping Trossard.

Without Ødegaard there's just no way we can afford to experiment with the pair at the base of the midfield, that needed to happen more in the opening months of the season. Both Rice and Zubimendi are clearly knackered but it would've been mad to do something else there tonight.

Yeah that's fair, I should've said the game is less technical, not because there's less technical ability but because physical and tactical attributes have lessened the impact of technicality.

please sum up the electoral bench of the contemporary Republican Party