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Are Arsenal really a team in decline?

Fifth in the Premier League table. Two wins in six matches. Seven points behind league leaders Liverpool.

In a world increasingly short on patience, perspective and nuance, this constitutes an Arsenal crisis, the moment for a Jamie Carragher broadside, the end of a title bid and maybe even a cracked badge.

Us Fantasy managers can be a twitchy breed, too, of course. No clean sheet in six matches for Mikel Arteta’s troops is causing concern. Kai Havertz (£8.1m) hasn’t scored away all season.

Having touched on the current malaise in the Gameweek 10 Scout Notes, we thought we’d go a bit deeper into Arsenal’s numbers.

Is the Gunners’ plight just a blip and a lot of fuss about nothing? Or is there something to worry about?

We’ll be using StatsBomb data and graphics to help paint a picture, as well as the statistics available in our Premium Members Area.

NON-PENALTY XG: FOR AND AGAINST IN 2024

ROLLING EIGHT-GAME AVERAGE
Are Arsenal a team in decline?

The xG and xGC have been slowly heading in the wrong direction for a little while but the downturn has definitely escalated this season.

From the apex of 2.2 xG and 0.4 xGC in March – a period when Arsenal had scored 19 goals in four Gameweeks – to the narrower 1.4 v 1.1 divide now.

CREATIVE BLOCK

Corners and free-kicks continue to be a strength. Their rolling eight-game xG average from set plays is almost exactly the same now (0.42 per match) as it was at the turn of 2024 (0.44).

But this season especially, creativity during open play is down.

In 2024/25 so far, they’ve registered less than 1.0 open-play xG in seven of their 10 Premier League matches.

As the below graphic shows, deep completions (successful passes within 20 metres of the opposition goal) and passes into the opposition box have plummeted.

Are Arsenal a team in decline? 8
Are Arsenal a team in decline? 7

MISSING ODEGAARD – BUT ALSO OTHERS?



132 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Dynamic Duos
    • 11 Years
    4 months, 29 days ago

    Gabriel and Chiwome to De Ligt and Larsen -4?

    0
  2. Mr. Eko
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 2 Years
    4 months, 29 days ago

    Wolves’ 3 games after SOU is not easy ones

    0
    1. Waylander
      • 8 Years
      4 months, 29 days ago

      Next 2 I'd say, Everton just lost to Southampton. They are also much easier than the first 9 fixtures where their popular assets scored quite well.

      0
  3. Skalla
    • 8 Years
    4 months, 28 days ago

    Morita playing the Casemiro role perfectly , can see why we wanted Amorim 🙂

    0