Arteta & Pienaar - The stats

[GrandOldTeam]

Interesting post on ToffeeWeb;

It has struck most of us this season that when Arteta and Pienaar are both playing we do well, and when they are not, we struggle. I have been through the results and team sheets for the season in a bid to back this feeling up with some stats. Here they are:

Our record with Arteta and Pienaar both playing:

P9 W7 D1 L1 F21 A9 Pts22

Our record when one or both are missing:

P29 W9 D12 L8 F39 A30 Pts39

This does back up the theory very well. However, it's not just a case of 'we just happen to be in better form since Christmas...', in the last nine games of the season, they played together five times — we won all five, scoring ten goals. The other four games where they weren't together, we won none and scored four goals.

It is a stark reminder that we need to hang on to both of these players. The mouth watering prospect is findng another similar player (ie Moutinho?) which would give us the luxury of coping when one of them are injured or suspended.

Imagine if we play the bulk of next season with two top quality creative attacking midfielders in the side, instead of just 9 games as this season. The mind boggles...
Phil Hamer, Cardiff

 

[Toffe3m4n]

Flair players will improve a football team, naturally. It just so happens that arguably our two best players are regarded as flair players themselves. It doesn't take a scientist to see the effect they have on the side when they're both involved, which is why I think it's important to hang onto both for next season and possibly beyond.

 

[Muggins]

One day Fellaini, Teta and Pienaar will play together.

Now I think about it, the thought of them playing together has just excited me greatly. defo need to hold onto em'