It was a mostly dour affair at the Emirates Stadium last night as Arsenal toiled against a puissant Southampton defense. Toiled, that is, until the introduction of Oliver Giroud and injury to Southampton’s Toby Alderweireld opened the game up for the Red Beast of London to score the winner. But amid the toil there were a few shining stars that deserve to be highlighted.
Shots
Arsenal took 19 shots and kept Southampton to just 6, which is a +13 shot difference and a .76 shots ratio. This is normally something to crow about but the Gunners only took 9 shots before Giroud was introduced and got only 2 shots on goal in those first 64 minutes of play.
In fact, before Giroud’s introduction, all of Arsenal’s second half shots were long-range bombs that were never going to score. Three shots from outside the box.
And as if to highlight how important Giroud’s introduction was, the big man took three shots himself and created three more for teammates. Meaning that in just 30 minutes, Giroud created 6 of Arsenal’s final 10 shot, which is just three shy of the total number of shots the Arsenal team created in 64 minutes prior to his introduction. Here, let me break it down for you:
| Arsenal B.G | Arsenal A.G. | Just Giroud | Arsenal -Giroud | |
| Shots | 9 | 10 | 3 | 13 |
| Shots on goal | 2 | 6 | 2 | 4 |
| Key Passes | 5 | 10 | 3 | 12 |
(“BG means “before Giroud” and “AG” means “After Giroud”).
Remember, Giroud wasn’t introduced until the 64th minute. So, the fact that Arsenal took 10 shots after Giroud was introduced means that Arsenal created 3 times as many shots per minute in the last 30 minutes of the game, with Giroud on the pitch, as without him.
It helped Arsenal significantly that Toby Alderweireld left with a hamstring injury. After Southampton went down to 10 men, Arsenal took 5 shots, got 4 (of the 8 total) on goal, and scored the winning goal.
Alexis
People often ask me, “Tim, what does Lukas Podolski have to do to get a game?” And I have previously made snide remarks about his work ethic and focus but from now on I’m going to just say “he has to be better than Alexis”.
Alexis isn’t the most technically gifted footballer, he gives the ball away too easily some times (he had Arsenal’s only error leading to a shot today), he holds on to the ball too long some times (he was dispossessed 7 times and is 2nd in the League in that ignominious category), he tries step-overs when he should be passing, and he makes a lot of unforced errors.
But he scores goals and now leads Arsenal with 9 (3rd in the League). He’s also scoring goals at a nearly 25% rate of his shots and more than any other player in recent memory (I have forgotten about that guy who spent most of his career getting injured for the Dutch national team) embodies the work ethic Wenger wants from players like Podolski.
So, why isn’t Podolski getting games? Alexis.
Also, Alexis has scored at least one goal for Arsenal 11 times in his last 18 games.
Koscielny
It doesn’t show up on the stats sheet today (other than maybe the clean sheet) but Arsenal have really missed Koscielny. Nacho was a solid backup while Koz was out but his burst of speed to catch up to a through ball early in the game was a reminder that Koscielny is Arsenal’s best “sweeper.”
Arsenal lost 2, drew 2 and won just 1 when Koz was out. Moreover, I have to wonder if Koz would have been the difference against Hull for their first goal when Diame burst through Monreal’s milquetoast challenge, against Swansea for their first goal (a breakaway which might have been stopped higher up the pitch by Koz), and Man U when Gibbs was left to make an aerial challenge on Fellaini and when Rooney squirted through the Arsenal back line and left Wishbone Legs scuttling around the pitch chasing shadows.
Martinez
I know that I was thinking it, so you’re probably thinking it too: could Martinez take over from Szczesny? The young keeper has looked good lately. Three clean sheets in a row and Arsenal have won 4 and lost 1 when Martinez is keeper. Still, don’t get too excited by Martinez just yet. I don’t have a reason. Just Don’t do it!
No word for Chambers? I thought he was solid.
I agree that chambers was solid, but by that definition alone you’ve probably answered your own question – tim has highlighted the players making a difference and chambers has played ‘solidly’…
Last season szczesny is a joint holder of highest number of cleansheet the reason being a steady backline but this season its being a different story. My prayer is that the injury gods should look else where for prey. We ar now on the right track. COYG
I totally agree. He got that because of very good defence last year. I just hope that until Martinez don’t make an error he’s going to play. What I like about him is coming out and catching those crosses what usually we can’t see with Szczesny in goal. Very confident young men. As for Poldi at the end of the game there was a situation when we lost the ball and only him and Ollie weren’t chasing down opposition. Of course Alexis scores but he runs his socks off for the whole game and helps to defend. I think Poldi… Read more »
Another nice goal alexis and team good assists to coyg important 4 pts
in his 3 clean sheet games how many actual saves has Martinez made, I can think of two v Dortmund, and that is it, can’t recall WBA or Southampton having a shot of note on target, having the team set out more defensively has more to do with the clean sheets than anything Martinez has done so far. Even the praise he is getting for dealing with crosses is a bit over the top too, he has yet to actually deal with catching any contested crosses, everyone of his catches has been what could be termed easy ones, lets see… Read more »
I agree with you to certain extent, but to have a young inexperience third choice goal keeper looking assured is a big plus. We also saw Fraser Forster make two word class saves last night, correct me if I’m wrong but I can’t remember Szczesny making a single save this season where I’ve thought “wow, that should have been a goal.”
Let me help your memory: Vs Man U – The 1 on 1 with Di Maria where his measured charge to the edge of the 18 yad box turned a near certain goal become a goalkick, else 0-2 would have been 0-3 rather than 1-2 Vs WBA – 2 outstanding saves he even referenced on the Arsenal website; 1 in 1st half and 2nd in injury time Vs Southampton – His narrowing of the angle and charging out that forced Pelle to shoot over the bar Facts. Stubborn things. The boy is quite good at preventing and saving shots in… Read more »
The true hallmark of a good keeper is ……..he seems to be doing nothing all day but when called upon, he has a knack of somehow keeping the ball out of the net!…….the youngster has potentials, no doubt about it……more of the same please, Martinez!
And thanks Tim, I really enjoyed this article. Wish Wenger started the season with this hunting pack mentality, was really glad to see us dominate physically last night. The 4-1-4-1 formation has cost us dearly this season. 4-2-3-1 is perfect once our strikers (esp Welbeck) become clinical.
*sorry, meant 7amkickoff
i think Flamini had a good solid game too….evident in the fact that nobody, including the pundits, is clamoring for that “mythical?”, elusive, 12ft defensive midfielder that we “need”
Flamini seems to have realised since the swansea game that his job is to stay just infront of the defence and not charge up the field and try and win the ball back high up the field.
puissant
milquetoast
Like it. Make me work why don’t you. “Parklife!”
Martinez positioning in the Man U game was woeful. Has a ways to go yet.
Martinez kicking is very different from what we are used to. He kicks it a lot further than szez but what i have mainly noticed is he never gives it short. Whenever, however it comes to him (pass back, shot, over hit through ball, cross) he always whacks it long. Im not sure if this is good or bad.
Good post, but I don’t agree with your point that Alexis “isn’t the most technically gifted footballer.” I think he might be the most technically gifted player in our team. His problem, like you say, is that he dwells on the ball too long and hotdogs it a little too much.
It’s got to be gratifying to people who defended Giroud’s impact on the team’s performance last season to see the difference he’s made when fit this season.
Ozil, Cazorla and Wilshere are probably better technically
Özil? Possibly.
Cazorla? Unlikely.
Wilshere? Nope.
I love and hate how Martinez gears up when there are back passes to him
You can justclear without takinga a run up LAD