Thread by @scottjwillis

Have Arsenal improved? A thread

Starting with goals. Goals scored are slightly up, goals allowed are up and goal difference is bit worse than last but up from 2 years ago.

Taking a step back from goals looking at expected goals. Arsenal look better here, last season Arsenal performed better than expected, this year a bit worse.

Taking the next step back from expected goals looking at shots and the team looks much better.

Taking the next step back and looking at getting the ball into dangerous spots within 25 meters of goal. Not a huge difference from last season but there has been improvement in season this year.

Last let's take a look at field tilt, which is the measure of final third possession and by proxy the amount of pressure the team is under or is applying.

Again not a massive change from last year but a good in season trend

So have Arsenal improved? I think a bit.

The start of 20/21 was not good but showed good signs post boxing day. Arsenal started slow this year but have finished looking like a good team.

If Arsenal get top 4 I do think that they would have been a bit on the fortunate side playing more typically like a team in the 5th to 6th range than the 4th range

If we are looking at a longer view the team went from an 8th place finish that very well could have been worse based on the metrics, to an 8th place finish that had green shoots and was good by the end of year, to a team that will finish 5th with numbers that back up that finish.

Is that good enough?

That's for everyone else to make up their mind on.

My goal was 6th or better with numbers that supported that finish. That looks like it will happen.

It sucks to have missed out on top 4 but that wasn't my goal for the team at the start of the year.

Can you revise your goals as the season progresses? of course. I didn't because I still thought that this team was a year away from true top 4 contention and getting there this season would have been icing on the cake

Arsenal's radar for the season

This is how the team looked during the best run of the season.

Over the last 9 matches with everything on the line. Well not great. and the attack really suffered but the defense looked pretty solid.

Weighted xG difference over the last 3 years