Don’t get me wrong. I am very happy that Abou Diaby and William Gallas are on the leader board as far as scoring goals is concerned. As long as Arsenal wins, it does not make an ounce of difference who scores the goals. But here we are three games into the season with three wins and 12 goals scored.
Robin Van Persie: Zero
Andriy Arshavin: Zero
Nicklas Bendtner: Zero
These are the front 3 in the 4-3-3 formation that Wenger has thrown at the opposition.
When you peel off the facade, the threat lies elsewhere. Arsenal’s scoring:
The back four with four goals: Gallas having scored three with three different body parts (I believe only the crotch is left) and Vermaelen. Even that one own goal should actually be credited to Clichy
The midfield: Six goals with Fabregas, Diaby, Ramsey, and Denilson sharing honours. .
The only goal that a frontman has scored belongs to Eduardo. There are eight different players who have contributed to the twelve goals scored.
Now this is not to say that RVP, Arshavin, and Bendtner have been spectators in this goal fest. They have had their chances and Arshavin came close. RVP has had a hand in three goals. But if you were to tell me that RVP and Fabregas were going to be tied for assists then it is time take a big gulp which is what I am doing right now. As hard as it is for me, it is downright disorienting for the other teams with all these role reversals.
See Wenger’s front three are actually goal providers even though they are listed as strikers and Gallas ostensibly a defender is actually a goal scorer. So is Vermaelen but he is both. Fabregas who should be in Milan and Barca simultaneously is secretly at Arsenal. He is like Dr Manhattan of the Watchmen. But behind him is it Diaby or is it Song? I thought I saw Eboue darting ahead but wasn’t that supposed to be Sagna. Is it going to be Arshavin or Clichy down that left flank and can we talk of them in the same breadth?
It’s going to get even better when Walcott, Rosicky, and Nasri come back. Because that will add to the confusion. And so will Jack Wilshere.
Meanwhile the rest of the clubs are on track with few surprises as to their goal scorers. It is Wayne Rooney, Emmanuel Adebayor, Didier Drogba, Fernando Torres, Jermain Defoe, and Darren Bent.
One comment on “Where is Arsenal’s scoring coming from?”
It is quite amazing when you think about it – so many goals, no strikers. It just goes to show that Arsenal’s squad is so talented, the goalscorers can come from anywhere. People tend to forget that when they’re writing Arsenal off.