Dissecting the match: Everton 1-6 Arsenal
By: Ian Rose | August 15th, 2009Every once in a while, in addition to looking at wider trends in football statistics, I’ll be examining a particular match that sticks out for one reason or another in a series I’d like to call “Dissecting the Match”. First up, the thrashing that Arsenal gave Everton today, 6-1 at Goodison Park.
All-time Series (before today’s match)
190 matches played
92 Arsenal wins, 40 draws, 58 Everton wins (+73 goal differential for Arsenal)
Streaks
Last time Everton lost by 5 or more goals : May 11, 2005 (7-0 away to Arsenal)
Last time Arsenal won by 5 or more goals : September 23, 2008 (6-0 at home to Sheffield United, FA Cup)
Last time Everton lost by 5 or more at home : November 6, 1982 (0-5 to Liverpool, old Division 1)
Last time Arsenal won by 5 on the road : January 27, 2001 (0-6 over QPR, FA Cup)
Shooting and Scoring Stats
Total Shots: 15 for Arsenal, 8 for Everton
Shots on Target: 9 for Arsenal, 5 for Everton
Shooting Accuracy (% on target): 60% for Arsenal, 62.5% for Everton
Shooting Efficiency (goals/total shots): 40% for Arsenal, 12.5% for Everton
Passing Stats
Time of Possession: 54% Arsenal, 46% Everton
Passes attempted: 419 for Arsenal, 319 for Everton
Pass Completion: 82.3% for Arsenal, 77.4% for Everton
Everton’s best passer: Jack Rodwell (off the bench) – 10/11 – 91% completion
Arsenal best passer: Denilson – 44/45 – 98% completion
The Story
There are two kinds of blowouts, and they have very different profiles statistically. First is the kind where one side completely dominates, holding all of the ball and barraging their opponent with shots at a fairly average level of accuracy and efficiency. Then there are the kind where both take a roughly equal number of shots on goal, but one side is far more efficient in taking high-quality shots. It’s basically a question of quantity vs. quality, and today, Arsenal’s win was based on the latter – quality. Chelsea took 11 more shots than Arsenal today in their skin-of-the-teeth win over Hull, but most were not particularly dangerous. High shooting efficiency means that when Arsenal took shots, they were often in a position to beat the keeper, rather than having to gun from awkward angles and distances. Basically, they could pick their chances, and did. And of course, Denilson completing 44 passes and scoring a goal didn’t hurt their cause.
As for the historical aspect of the match, it’s a major one in the annals of Everton, the worst home loss for them in the Premier League era. Although Arsenal beat Everton 7-0 in London in 2005, you have to go back to September 6, 1958 to find a similar result in Merseyside, another 6-1 for the Gunners. Overall, it’s only the 4th 6-goal scoring day Arsenal have ever had against Everton in 191 total meetings.
Rough day to be wearing blue in Merseyside. Only time will tell whether the scoring display we saw from Arsenal today was a flash in the pan or the beginning of a real title push.
Category: Dissecting the Match
Comments
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good win by arsenal, and i like the breakdown of numbers. I think the 6-1 scoreline doesnt reflect the match truly, if it was probably 3-1 or even 4-1 it would have been a fairer showing, arsenal coasted along comfortably enough but where not so dominant that 6-1 is accurate.
What i noticed is that arsenal seems to be heading towards the 433 method instead of their tried and true 442.
I think the chelsea game would have been interesing as well, just solely yo show the opposite flip of the coin, something like 70% possession, 26 goals on target which a high percentage on target and 3 or 4 chances that could have been put away.
I think its still early days with manU and liverpool yet to play but just remember last season scolari’s team beat portsmouth 4-0 and were being heralded. In the end it came down to the teams who scraped through with a couple of lucky 1-0 wins at the start(liverpool and manU).
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ish – That’s a point I’d like to address in a future post, the statistical value of winning ugly. I have a feeling that statistically, those wins are actually more valuable because they are wins that could very well have been draws or losses, while 6-1 wins were decided pretty early on and the extra goals are good only for goal differential.
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Update: Added passing statistics.
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The last time Everton started the season at home to Arsenal, the result was a comprehensive 4-1 win for the Gunners.
That was at the beginning of the 2004-05 campaign that ultimately ended with Everton achieving a fourth-place finish and Champions League qualification.
A small crumb of comfort for Everton, perhaps?
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fuck me denilson’s passing was on fire today, i know he is being played as a DM in a 4231 kind of formation but only one misplaced pass is pretty impressive.
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