Goals wins football games. It’s as simple as that. But finding goal scorers is not that simple.
Arsenal have scored 22 goals in 10 league games. That’s a great record. Yet I believe our fortunes lie in finding more goal scoring options. Why? Read on.
Our current scorers are
Ade - 6
RvP - 5
Cesc - 5
Rosicky - 2
Hleb, Diaby, Sendy, Toure - 1
The trend suggests that, for now, we are relying on three players for goals. RvP is out for some time. Ade is not the best when it comes to converting chances and can go through rough patches (as he is now). Cesc is in fine form but how long can he keep it going?
We really need one, preferably two more players to step up and take on more of the goal scoring responsibilities. Who can it be?
Eduardo - A natural goal scorer who is still settling in. Has looked out of depth in the two league games he started - Derby and Bolton. But has score twice in the CL. Needs more games to sharpen up. The sooner the better.
Walcott - Has shown that he can play up front and score. But yet to open his league account. Will get used on the wings often and it remains to be seen how many he can score from there.
Bendtner - Has scored in the Carling Cup but is struggling to get games in the league. A good player but needs time and may not get too many chances.
Rosicky - Is capable of scoring but struggles with injury. His injury record means we cannot rely on him.
Hleb - Scored two goals when he started up front but back to old ways when he returned to the wings. Did score against Slavia but cannot be relied upon to increase his tally much. Let him continue raking in the assists.
Eboue - Has a good shot but needs to learn to place the ball as well. Missed a golden chance vs Bolton and hit the post at Anfield.
Flamini - Has surprisingly not come close to scoring the goals he did last season. Maybe he is concentrating on his defensive skills.
Before the Anfield game, I wondered who will score. Cesc answered brilliantly. The same question remains for the ManU game and for the next two months in which we play 6/10 games away from home.
Who will score the goals? The answer to that question will shape our season.
23 Responses to “Goals, Goals, Goals!!!”
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October 30th, 2007 at 10:27 am
I think Walcott is ready to come in and show his stuff. He played great against an average team in the CL, but has the ability to score and set up goals.
I think Eduardo will come into his own soon enough, winter play shouldn’t be a problem for him. The more time he gets, the better he’s going to get.
Flamini should have been traded when he requested it. Gilberto should be back in playing and Flamini should be the guy coming off the bench and getting maybe 20 minutes a match.
October 30th, 2007 at 10:32 am
I think Eduardo’s got to be thrown in at the deep end now. He’s one of our four strikers and if he’s fit, with the way that Arsenal create chances, he’ll get goals. With van Persie out, he’s got to come in and score. He probably should have played against Liverpool.
Bendtner is desperate to prove he can be our guy. The problem is we simply can’t afford to drop Adebayor. Ade, while his finishing leaves much to be desired, gives us so much more. He stretches defenses with his pace, creates chances, holds up the ball with his power, and on top of all that, he’s our top EPL scorer. He’s simply a pain in the ass to deal with where Bendtner, with his lack of pace, isn’t. Pace and power just doesn’t seem to be a part of Bendtner’s game.
If our strikers aren’t scoring it’s going to be awful difficult to win matches. Eduardo and Adebayor have to give us a cutting edge. It’s like someone wrote a few years back, “It’s not the D, it’s the O”. I thought losing Baptista and Aliadiere would solve this problem but here we are. We can’t win the title if the strikers aren’t scoring.
BTW, Kolo is playing tomorrow. Gilberto is so gone. First he’s snubbed for captaincy via the internet, then Wenger expects him, with his experience, to play in the Kiddie Cup. Gilberto’s been incredibly loyal to Arsenal but how many more slaps in the face can that man take? At the end of the day Gilberto is still human. He’s an Invincible, he’s a world champion, and he’s the captain for Brazil and Wenger want’s him to play in the Kiddie Cup. Let’s see how this works out.
October 30th, 2007 at 10:49 am
I agree on Gilberto - he’s been screwed over at this point. It’s not the first time - he seems to keep a smile on his face and just goes with it, but I really would rather he gets put back into the first team and shows that he should be the captain of this team until Cesc is ready to take over.
October 30th, 2007 at 11:17 am
“Gilberto Silva looks set to leave Arsenal in the January transfer window after refusing to play at centre back for the Carling Cup trip to Sheffield United tomorrow night.”
Wow. Wenger’s Arsenal has turned into football’s Logan’s Run. Once you turn 30, you’re out!
It’s a bit harsh on Bert, who’s been a loyal uncomplaining servant for some time, and let’s not forget he also moonlights as captain of Brazil.
October 30th, 2007 at 11:21 am
mmm Gilberto really has taken to backlash of arsenals youth team. He should of course be playing first team. The disicion 2 leave him out of EPL instead of flamini suggests to me that wenger is longing for long term domination of the leaugue not just the odd trophy.
Not gonna say whats better.
October 30th, 2007 at 11:25 am
This thread seems inappropriate. Arsenal have scored 40 goals already this season, so why are you fretting about goalscorers?
In the 2005-06 season Arsenal scored 96 in all competitions and Henry got 33 of them. So we’re well on the way to beating that total without having a single out and out goalscorer.
In the unbeaten season Arsenal had score 23 goals in the same time period.
Arsenal goals do not look like they are going to dry up to me, the style of football dictates that almost any player can score in any game, unlike other teams.
The defence is the solid foundation required, Arsenal’s goals can come from anywhere. There is more than one way to skin a cat, and a team does not necessarily need a prolific goalscorer to win trophies.
October 30th, 2007 at 11:31 am
I was actually going to post this morning wondering about Gilberto and where Wenger would play him on Wednesday at Sheffield. Diarra and Denilson need a game in the middle - they are the future, and I knew Gilberto would not be happy on the bench or plonked in defence like a spare part. If Senderos would fit, Gilberto would be sitting on the bench, which would cause more consternation.
And what about Lehmann? Will Fabianski start? How “humiliated” will Lehmann be sitting on the bench in a Carling Cup match - and how quick before he shoots his mouth off?
Wenger has to ride these rough waters, but these players must surely know their number is up. I feel a little sorry for both players, they have been great servants in their time - but I’m not sure what else Wenger is supposed to do. Every dog has his day, that doesn’t mean we do not appreciate what both players have given the club - I hope they can leave amicably.
October 30th, 2007 at 11:36 am
King Kolo might come in but I wouldn’t really be surprised to see Havard Nortveidt get a promotion. As for Bert I understand .. and he’s been shabbily treated without a doubt. My sympathies are with him but unfortunately he is surplus right now… maybe we will need him in the winter…but considering the depth at CM right now and people literally drooling over Diarra without even him having played a damn game apart from the CC. I mean .. I wish him well but what has he done so far apart from pick up 10 yellows at Chelsea an dmoan after 2 months that he will be off in December? Sounds like Gallas - 2 .. AW will get him down for sure but lets wait before going ga ga over someone who has done nothing. The last time that happened , a certain Spaniard burned his bridges and left.
October 30th, 2007 at 11:41 am
BTW Nipuna… Cesc has already scored several times his tally this year and Mozart and Hleb have equalled or passed their tallies..Ade will have his spurts but with Dudu slowly picking up and the odd goal from Kolo , Sendy and Gallas we will be fine. Don’t really see a problem there…the midfield scoring is critical …unlike last year we are scoring a lot this year…all kinds of goals , so the strikers don’t necessarily have to be fit all year…anyone can score from 8 yards..so no…I think we’re fine…
.. Hope NB scores a hatrick and erases the devils of last year’s loss at Bramall Lane…
October 30th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
Danny, if scoring 40 goals in 16 games means that we shouldn’t worry about goal scorers, then conceding 7 in 16 means that we shouldn’t be worrying about the defence either.
October 30th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
In addition, a number of goals have come from outside the box as opposed to last year when the Arsenal were accused of trying to create perfect goals and walk the ball into the net. Keep shooting and good things happen.
Also, I agree with Danny T. In this team goals can come from anywhere and they have. This team is not built to rely on one person to score all the goals.
October 30th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
DannyT, this thread is very appropriate. I’m sure you watched the game on Sunday and you will know that despite dominating the game we were lucky to come away with a point. Fabregas even admitted his goal was lucky or we could have left Anfield with nothing.
Arsenal have always had the class to create chances but finishing has not been our best attribute in recent seasons. Sure anyone can score from eight meters and I agree anyone can score in this team but goals don’t look a certainty right now. We were lucky against Sunderland, Bolton, and Liverpool as those games were quite difficult due to us struggling to find the back of the net as frequently as our created chances suggest.
Your front players have got to put the ball in the net. In fairness, Ade and RvP have done the business until now but with one injured and the other looking out of form, this is a legit concern. I’ve never seen a team win a championship when their strikers weren’t scoring.
October 30th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
Man United won the PL last year and I don’t remember Rooney scoring a boatload of goals.
October 30th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
@Nipuna: I’m not worried about the defence, I’m not worried about anything - the team is well ahead of schedule.
@Joshuad: Arsenal did not dominate the game. They dominated for 30 minutes in the first half, the rest was a lot more even - Almunia was tested as much as Benitez.
If you play 4-5-1 then scoring opportunities will decrease. Wenger went for a draw and got it - a win would have been a bonus. Any team that goes to Anfield will find chances limited, they have only list 2 at home in 2 and a half years. With a little more luck Arsenal might have come away with a win, so I don’t see anything to complain about - if any team plays as well as that against Liverpool this season I will be surprised.
Again, I reiterate. Van Persie has not reach his peak and neither has Adebayor. Obviously neither have Bendtner or Eduardo. The team is excelling, blossoming very nicely and will only get better, but I think some people are getting ahead of themselves and expecting a full trophy cabinet and to win every game by 3 or 4, home or away. Be realistic, it’s not going to happen, just be pleased that Arsenal are on course to be fucking brilliant again.
October 30th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
@DannyT, no one’s complaining about Arsenal’s play this season. We all know this team is on the road to greatness and are all excited about it. We’re just discussing where the goals are going to come from with RvP injured and Ade out of form. If they’re not scoring goals then it becomes tough to win games.
I don’t know how many goals Rooney scored last year but I’m sure it was more than twenty. I think the only players that outscored him last year were Drogba, Ronaldo, and maybe McCarthy and Berbatov were close. I don’t know if that counts as a boatload to you but I’d take them.
October 30th, 2007 at 2:27 pm
From the Gaffer.
http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=News&article=483699&lid=NewsHeadline&Title=Wenger+-+There%26rsquo;s+no+rift+with+Gilberto,+he%26rsquo;ll+play+at+Sheff+Utd
October 30th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
don’t often agree with DannyT. But i think he nailed the two issues here right on the head. agree with him 100%.
Goal - Football is a TEAM game. When a team play well, ANYONE can score. Cesc for instance, didn’t we talk about “lack of goalscoring midfielder” last season? Who would have thought Cesc is capable scoring 10 goals inside 3 months?
I am sure if Cesc is out injuried or something, someone else will step up. Important thing is the team keep playing well.
Gilberto - of course it’s sad if he’s going to leave. Yet as Danny pointed out - what else AW could do? To play Gilberto just because he’s not happy? If he does so, the floodgate would be opened, next time everybody would don’t get to start would start making noises, or ask to play me or I’ll leave.
Also, should we really stick with Gilberto, while hindered the promising young midfielder such as Denilson, Diaby, Diarra’s progress?
Football management is never an easy job. And bottom line is - nice guy often finishes last. The top notch managers all have the ability to make BIG and TOUGH decision, even when it means it may upest some of his own players. They all said Martin Jol or ex-chelsea boss Raneri being the “nice guys”. They probably are. We all know in the end how they ended up.
October 30th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
@Joshuad, Rooney scored 14 goal in 35 appearances for Man U last season; that is hadly the stuff of a goal legend (don’t get me wrong Rooney is a great player). The point is, goals can come from anywhere, you dont necessarily need a target man like Van Nisterooy, Drogba or Henry (in every team to win a championship, its helpful but not the end all, be all.
October 30th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
i think if hleb and rosicky increase their tally we can win the league this season.
the key really is to spread our goals out rather than scoring 7 past hapless teams (no matter how much fun that might be).
as for lehmann and gilberto why are people saying they are being shabbily treated??? gilberto is not the first vice captain to be passed over for the captaincy and he wont be the last. gallas is not the first to be made captain after just one year….it happens more regularly than you think.
as for their playing times, wenger owes them nothing….wenger STUCK with lehmann even when he made loads of blunders in the past. infact i would say wenger is very understanding and “nice” when it comes to blundering players.
gilberto not playing is PURELY a tactical move…nothing to do with ability or experience. and lehmann’s fall was first used to stop a confidence drop and to stop him from being “targeted”. his replacement didnt fail so he cant be dropped.
either way, wenger is one of the more loyal managers in football…so if u fall out with him you are probably just unlucky.
October 30th, 2007 at 7:48 pm
Glad to see DannyT taking a more optimistic view of the team than at the start of the season. As a realist, he waited for the evidence, now he believes Arsenal are on course to be fucking brilliant again. Those of us who are optimists were expecting us to be where we are now and are delighted with our optimism.
One word of caution. 26 points from 11 games is title-winning form. That is what Utd. Have. It would give them 90 points if carried through the season. 26 from 10 is even better but at the moment there are two teams playing and taking points like title winners. Hopefully that will be down to one - Arsenal - by the end of the year and not up to three or four.
October 31st, 2007 at 12:51 am
Our games this year have some common patterns in scoring. If we get a first half goal we win comfortably. If the opposition gets an early goal, it takes us a long time to equalize and then go ahead. If neither team scores in the first half, we eventually score and the other team does not. It’s mostly straight forward - we score at the end of games because the other team can’t keep up with our fitness and possession, whether they score early or not. When the other team is exhausted, our goal can come from anywhere - some exhausted opponent is going to make a mistake that we capitalize on. If they get an early goal, they just sit back and try to save energy (but that’s dangerous because we are willing to take long shots, expect results from set pieces, and accept less than exquisite goals this year.) In the event we get an early goal, we exhaust the other team even faster, because they have to work to get an equalizer.
Since we don’t have any losses to talk about, we go to draws to see our failure pattern. Blackburn: Everything going to plan, but then a goalkeeping error. Liverpool: Perhaps a bit unlucky the game didn’t go on for 5 more minutes, as ‘pool were dead on their feet at the end. I thought rotation was supposed to keep Rafa’s players fresher… But that’s how it goes - sometimes despite the pressure we apply and the exhaustion of the other team, the late goal eludes us. It will happen again this season, and me may well lose a few games because of it. But our style of play, based on our talented and fit and hungry players, means we have a good chance of winning any game we are in.
Note on Ade: some say he’s off form the last few games, but I don’t think so. He’s just an inconsistent scorer. He’s capable of fabulous goals, but he’s not clinical. But as we know, he is consistent at running defenses ragged, and ultimately that leads to openings at the end of each game. RvP is clinical and has fabulous goals, but doesn’t wear down the other team.
October 31st, 2007 at 6:12 am
re: greg’s note on ade
ade had some glorious chances in the last few games. the one-on-one and a header vs bolton, and yet another header vs slavia praha. but i cannot remember ade shooting against pool… what he needs now is to practice his headers. we are whipping more crosses in from the flanks this season, so ade has to show us he can head them on target at least. and remember henry scoring that injury-time header against manure last season? we may need another one on saturday…
and also, we had two open-goal chances (cesc, bendtner) against pool in the second half. i can’t believe we put both of them high and wide! we may netta start practicing basketball skills now: scoring from rebounds!
October 31st, 2007 at 10:25 am
Joshuad #2 - I think Bendtner would actually offer a lot of the same qualities as Ade, but with better and more consistent finishing. Ade contributes loads, but I’m starting to think his finishing is generally woeful (i counted 4 missed headers against Slavia). His tall of 7 goals too is a bit misleading. 3 against derby and 2 against Tottenham means he’s only scored in 2 other games.
I think Ade is a good foil for Van Persie b/c he does do all that hard work, thus stretching defenders and helping us to retain possession and tire out the
opposition. Van Persie can score the goals. While they don’t necessarily combine well, he does open space for Van Persie to finish.
Apart from RVP and Fab, I don’t really see any other natural goalscorers, making Nip’s post very valid…
Danny T didn’t you say we would lose at Anfield in a previous post?