By Boris Mellor
August 15 2008

  There are a whole variety of myths on hand here. The most common is that Arsenal pass and passes but forget to score. The figures show that Arsenal are the most successful passing team in the EPL at 83%. Some fans see this as a point of shame, proof that it is football without a product. How, "know all", pundits love to rub this myth in, it saves them the bother of thinking, or writing new material.

Yet Arsenal were the second highest scoring team last season, more than Chelsea and Liverpool with their expensive strikers. How come nobody comments on their lack of end product? Adebayor's conversion rate is less than a per cent behind Torres at a quarter of the cost. Lucky we didn't sign Sheva eh? It was Adebayor that won the BBC goal of the season, not the dozen or so strikers that cost many times more. What a bargain, let's get over what happened in the summer, yes it was a piss off but no point in shooting ourselves in the football boot.

But apparently we don't score enough in the air, yet Arsenal scored 14 headers to Villa's 16 and came second in that department. When you consider that Villa signed an ageing Giraffe to do just that the Gunners did well to catch up. Only United scored more, but most of that was in penalties. Of course referees do not change games, show them respect.

With Bendtner improving, and Vela looking increasingly mature, Ade and RvP will not be able to rest on their laurels. If Eduardo recovers we could be seeing the new Ian Wright, but hopefully without the same rubbish punditry. I don't foresee many problems here, whatever we achieve we are going to see some great goals.

Yes it may be that Arsenal won't win the league, but they are going to have a dam good try. If it was guaranteed in advance who wins the league then there would be no point in playing. If the club that spends the most money is guaranteed the league how come Chelsea didn't win it for the last two years? Fancy spending all that money, playing your first team and losing to Spurs in the Carling Cup Final.

Wenger is right the grotesque amounts of money being spent on the game now is a form of doping. Fans should be clamouring for it to be outlawed, not to join in.

There is a lot to look forward to; will Walcott make it at last? Can Ramsey and Vela make it this season? If Wilshere can succeed won't that be more exciting than paying for an overpriced big name on the way down. When you meet other fans around the country they are envious of what we have at Arsenal. Of course the cynic will reply that good football without prizes is meaningless, but Chelsea have discovered that prizes without good football will not ensure their place in history.

Fans still talk of the magical Magyars, nobody will remember Greece. Wenger is about the Glory game, he about living life on the edge. It might not make for the comfortable smugness of some  spend big clubs, but it will be far more fun.

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The great goal scoring myth Season Prev Part 3

Discussion started by Arsenal Times , 15/08/2008 13:11

Arsenal Times
15/08/2008 13:11

The great goal scoring myth Season Prev Part 3

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djarse
15/08/2008 13:24

Well said !

I am sure we will score A LOT of goals this season - and if RvP can stay uninjured, he may even challenge Ade's goals total.

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Padre Pio
15/08/2008 13:24

it would be great to see

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Optimistic Gunner
15/08/2008 18:20

Great article.

Spot on.

This season our squad, attackig wise, are well and truly set.

Its the defense that needs to be sorted, staring with the hole that Flamoney left behind in midfield.

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bergmars
15/08/2008 21:36

No problem up front, if we can sort out the middle of the park,and the defending we should do well,in a perfect world an out and out wideman would be good but hey ill settle for a solid DM.

Dennis Bergkamp, simply the best

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Optimistic Gunner
15/08/2008 22:49

Agreed.

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