Just finished watching the match on delay. What a beast of a performance by the Arsenal. Obviously Ozil was sublime and made the 2nd and 3rd goals and nearly a 4th, but my takeaway (as many have said here) was: "My goodness, Iwobi has really grown into a phenomenal playmaker!!"
It descends into arguments because people misunderstand the purpose of statistics. Past performance is not an indicator of future results. While statistical outliers will eventually regress to the average, it could take 1 game or a 100. Or a 1000. I think xG is useful but, like all stats, more of a guide than a rule. According to understands, both of Auba's goals were roughly 65% chances to score. OTOH, a player of Auba's quality almost certainly scores over 90% of the time in such situations. So xG would make the team appear slightly lucky every time he scores in those situations.
He's been tremendous all season eventhough it hasn't always translated to as man goals as it could in the future. Once he learns how to get through the traffic, as he does now, and finds the open player he will be a truly elite player.
I honestly had the impression that Mesut was done w/ Germany permanently. But then again, things have a way of changing a year or two before the next big tournament, or if there was a coaching change, or a regime change at Dfb, or... who knows.
Fcuk xg This performance and rapid counter attacking reminds me more of old arsenal than any wenger side since 04/05 We have a new identity and it isn’t needless possession in the edge of the box, it’s direct and quick
Last year the build up would have been so slow by the time Ozil tries to make the through ball it gets cut off and nothing happens. Also the handball would have been paid against us.
Iwobi is much more impressive in the flesh. Team started a little slow but it was a very chilly night. Ozil'd goal was coming and there was a real feeling LC needed to score if they wanted to be in the game at all. What impressed me about the second half, and it's something I hadn't seen in some time. They just came out and put their foot on LC throat until we had a lead. The changes were timely and decisive executed, and took their cm and CDM who were having decent games until that point out of the game.
Well said. While the team does seem more efficient in front of goal, I love that the attacks seem geared to generate those high value shots. Just as importantly, those high value shots are coming off the feet of our best players which is maximizing our efficiency. This seems strategy and tactics rather than any lucky deviation from the mean. It was a great game. The chant “we’ve got our arsenal back” kept creeping into my head. When we went a goal down and then turned on the intensity, I thought this was a fun game even if we don’t get a result. That was rarely the case the last few seasons. For me, that’s what Emery has brought back—Fire, intensity, pride, confidence. The players seem not too concerned with misplaced passes in the final third like under AW. In the second half I watched maybe a dozen nearly passes get intercepted. No way we would have attempted as many under AW. I mean we saw xhaka getting involved in counter attacks from LB. Also noticeable this game was a lot of organizing—especially after we had the lead. That is good to see. Great win.
It is definitely the case that they are breaking into teams through the channels and then squaring the ball on the deck - very Barca It creates high value chances and is so much better than all that crappy crossing we used to do Of course it really helps to have two high quality 9s who can get into those positions We have no had that since RvP
The way ozil played, I’m just picturing he and Emery in the film room for hours over the break working on that. You could see from the beginning a real urgency from ozil to get on the ball. Him dropping deep at times was good as well because holding and co know that can pass to him under pressure. In summary, he literally bossed the game.
The 2nd half move with Ozil with nothing on where Ozil passed to him, then made a run and Iwobi played him in was amaze shame Laca didn't score off it
It's also to do with the quick transitions Ozil was getting the ball in space, with runners to hit instead of the old static crap
I mean, yeah. We're all thrilled with the results (that's why you play after all). Those of us who like more sophisticated stats are worried that this level of performance is unsustainable and that we're due for a regression to the mean.
God, we can only pray that this is correct. I've been pining for it for so many years now, I can't remember.
What a game to be at!! The electricity popped out of the TV, after Auba & Guen came in and we got those 2 quick amazing goals. I can only imagine what it was like in person. Were you anywhere near the north end in that half? And what was your first reax to the Grove experience in general?
Jawhol! This team has a shit tonne of pace in transition Be interesting to see how it goes against sides that don't push up?
Interestingly xG disagrees with the pundit class on this game 3-1 reflects the real result despite many claiming Leicester should have had the game won by half time So this wasn't shooting overperformance - Arsenal deserved 3-1 xG map for Arsenal - Leicester City. The first half was unimpressive, and then Ozil dropped back into midfield and Arsenal were stupid good after the break. pic.twitter.com/CEuUjOUfyC— Caley Graphics (@Caley_graphics) October 22, 2018