The thing about studying physics, and therefore maths, and therefore statistics, is you come to realise that you can find numbers to support pretty much any supposition, if only you are prepared to look hard enough.
I don't like to dwell on Sp*rs for too long, but listening to the television coverage last night, it struck me how the presentation of the facts can twist the shape of a game beyond all recognition. So let us compare the coverage of the North London teams' away defeats to the Spaniards.
Red Cards: 1 apiece.
Facts: Sp*rs were already 1-0 down. At 1-1, Arsenal were going through on aggregate, with a goal cushion.
Media Reaction: Crouch's dismissal irrefutably changed the course of the game. Van Persie's dismissal simply hastened the onset of the inevitable.
Possession: both were dominated.
Facts: Sp*rs had 28% possession and 24% territory, Arsenal had 24% and 31% territory.
Media Reaction: Sp*rs "held on manfully" while Arsenal were "second-best throughout."
I should be clear here – I am not necessarily disputing the validity of the media reaction to our performance, but the real issue here is the inconsistency of opinion. These media opinions are based on often twisting facts beyond all recognition, and, in my opinion, have reached a level which can amount to a witch-hunt. Arsenal fans are at war with one another, and all too often, you hear the same tired arguments which frequently spew from the mouths of people such as Jamie Redknapp.
I know I have bastardised the quotation somewhat, but let's take at look at some of the more frequent claims. Statistics are facts which can be twisted this way and that to suit the argument. Damned statistics are facts which produce a damning verdict. And lies are fairly self explanatory.
Wenger is unwilling to spend big money on players: Nasri, Arshavin and Sagna are all examples of Wenger's willingness to spend, as long as the price is appropriate. Man Utd have only been able to continue to spend because of the £80m they received for Ronaldo a couple of years ago, and while they are still a strong team, they have not regained the same level of lethalness that has embarrassed us at times. You have to ask yourself, would you rather see Fabregas leave for £50m, (make no bones about it – Barcelona cannot afford to pay a massive amount more) and a couple of players come in and take time to bed down? There is a place for big money signings, but only if the product reflects the price. Wenger has spent middle money on players such as Ramsey, Wilshere, and Walcott, and very little on others such as Fabregas, Van Persie, and Szczesny, and they are finally beginning to deliver and justify their cost. Wenger doesn't spend as much on big name signings, but that isn't necessarily an inferior approach. Statistic.
Wenger won't bring in the needed experience: For many a season, fans have been crying out for an experienced centre half, and an experienced goalkeeper. I am firmly in the camp which believes that Szczesny has become a solution to the goalkeeping issue, but that doesn't change the fact that we have had a couple of seasons with no solid number one, while he has emerged. Of the players who have arrived at the club over the past 5 years, even those who are in their late twenties have little experience of winning trophies. Maybe they don't even have to be players, maybe we just need some of the old Arsenal guard in the backroom staff to fire the players up, and get them understanding what this great club is all about. Damned statistic.
Wenger doesn't want to win anything – he is happy with Champions League football: I must admit that I have difficulty understanding this view. It is ludicrous to suggest that someone who has put their life and soul into the industry (and continues to work in it, despite obviously being able to retire comfortably) would not want to win trophies. It may not be based on statistics, but you only have to watch Wenger on the touchline to see that he cares deeply about this great club, and it is frankly insulting, in my opinion, to suggest he does not want to deliver. Lie.
The main point, I guess, is that next time someone tries to use statistics to convince you of a viewpoint, take it with the required pinch of salt, and make up your own mind. A discussion of the media witch-hunt is an article for another day, but if we all make up our own minds, we may find we have less to argue about than we had thought.
An aside for the doom and gloomers:
"Who will pay for a seat to watch the team play?" said the little red men.
"Not I," the naysayers said.
"And who will cheer the team on from the first minute?" said the little red men.
"Not I," they said.
"And who will still cheer the team on, as the clock ticks into the 95th minute?" said the little red men.
"Not I," the naysayers said.
"But who will celebrate when the league title?" said the little red men.
"I will," the naysayers said.
"Oh no you won't," said the little red men. And they walked off into the sunset with their medals.
Do your bit for the team. Let's make the Emirates a fortress, starting now.
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