Arsenal 08-09 Retrospective: An End-of-the-Season Stat Attack (Review - Part I)

(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics" mused Benjamin Disraeli, perhaps not fully understanding how common the use of statistics, or "stats", would become in today's world.

Statistics give a very good insight into the performance of a player throughout the season. However, there are intangibles qualities to performance, and therefore statistical analyses must always be taken with a pinch of salt. 

Nevertheless, Arsenal.com today released the official statistics relating to Arsenal's first team in the English Premier League. It certainly made for some interesting reading.

Goalkeepers: Almunia's first full season a reasonable success

Manuel Almunia appeared in his first full season, making 32 of a possible 38 appearances. He kept 15 clean sheets, which meant that he performed efficiently for approximately 50 percent of the games in which he featured.

However, he also conceded 26 goals in the 17 others games in which he appeared. 

His distribution success-rate of 64 percent was also impressive.

Lukasz Fabianski though, managed to keep only two clean sheets in his six appearances—one notably at Old Trafford, with his distribution success-rate being 63 percent.

Defenders: Silvestre certainly not a "geriatric."

The statistics as far as defenders are concerned made for some interesting reading. We know how poor Arsenal were at the back for long spells during the season, but what would concern Arsene Wenger is the lack of an offensive threat posed by the full-backs. 

Bacary Sagna made only ONE assist in his 35 games, and Gael Clichy made NONE in his 31 appearances. The right back though made the most clearances of the back four this season (44). Sagna also had a healthy tackle-success rate of 71 percent.

Clichy opened his goal tally for Arsenal this season, but only had a tackle-success rate of 59 percent. But he did make 10 interceptions, the most by any Arsenal defender.

Many will be surprised to know that Mikael Silvestre is no slouch in the tackle—the French centre-back had a very respectable tackle-success rate of 100 percent in his 14 games. Kolo Toure had an excellent tackle-success rate at 90 percent, considering that he played 2280 minutes, and he also made the most blocks (13).

William Gallas is technically one of the better Arsenal defenders. He had an impressive pass-success rate at 73 percent. However, his passes must have all been either short forward or sideways passes.

Johan Djourou made 15 appearances this term and had a superb tackle-success rate at 92 percent, losing just 1 in 11 tackles. His pass-completion rate was also impressive at 78 percent.

Keiran Gibbs also showed that he didn't necessarily "play the Arsenal way"—making 32 clearences in his eight games (Clichy made 40 in his 31 games).

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