Arsenal Vision player average ratings (Premier League 2009/10): Cesc results surprising

At the start of season 2009/2010 I decided to write player ratings after every Arsenal game for the players who started the games, to go alongside my match thoughts.

I didn't rate substitutes as a five minute cameo can obscure the ratings and give you inaccurate figures. Players who started the games would be a cleaner and easier way of doing it.

I have calculated the average ratings for each of players in all the different competitions. I wanted to know if the average ratings would match my thinking. I wonder if any subconscious bias would show up with my favoured players. I also wanted to know if the lower figures would match those who haven't been at their best this season.

Two matches were not rated by myself. One because Squid Boy wrote a match review and I forgot to write the ratings for that game and another where I had a power cut in the middle of the Bolton game at the Reebok. I used the Sky Sports ratings for those two matches, their figures seemed to be the closest to my average ratings.

Right, let us get down to the nitty gritty. We will start in the Premier League. I shall do another for the other competitions over the new few days.

The player with the highest average rating is our flying Dutchman, Robin Van Persie with an average rating of 7.25 but he only managed 14 games, missing a total of 24 league games. Van Persie was fit at the beginning of the season when the team were doing well and scoring goals so because he missed so many games, the award will have to be given to the next in line. Alex Song takes the award with an impressive 7.18 from 25 games. Song proved to be a very consistent performer in the middle of midfield but still missed out on 13 league games.

The player with the most amount of games was Thomas Vermaelen who played 33 league games. He and Sagna were the only Arsenal players to manage to play more than thirty games in the season. Given the number of games his average rating of 7.09 is very high and may have been crowned the winner had Alex Song equalled the same amount of games.

Although receiving a high rating, Vermaelen was not rated as the best central defender for Arsenal, That award goes to Sol Campbell who notched up an average rating of 7.15 in ten games since signing in January.

William Gallas has probably ended his Arsenal career having his best season at the club, scoring 7.12 in 26 games. I am surprised to note that William Gallas actually played one game more than Alex Song. It felt as if Song was around pretty much all season whilst Gallas injured his calf a long time ago against Liverpool at the Emirates.

If you was to ask me who I thought was the player of the season before I looked at the figures then I would have said our captain Cesc Fabregas who has contributed to most of our goals this season, including hitting the net 15 times. Playing 26 times he managed a rating of 7.08 which puts him one point behind Thomas Vermaelen.

Disappointment of the year

There are a few disappointing numbers at the bottom end of the table. Theo Walcott who missed most of the early season fun and games took a while to get into his stride this has brought his numbers right down. Walcott only managed 12 league starts and picked up an average of 6.54 in those appearances.

But with 29 league starts and a rating of only 6.55. the most disappointing player of the season goes to Manuel Almunia

Lukasz Fabianski who was thrown in the deep end at the end of the season scored a very low 5.88 in only 4 games.

It is worth noting that record signing Andrey Arshavin, even with ten league goals only managed 6.68 from 25 starts. After watching the Russian come to life after his move last January, we all expected big things from him but we only really witnessed glimpses from him. Perhaps if he was not drafted in to play as the lone forward for a long period of the season then he may have had better performances. His habit of contributing very little to an overall game has been my reasoning for scoring him low so many times even if he has come up with an assist or late goal.

The fight for right back

Many supporters have had their views on who should be selected at right full back between the dependable Bacary Sagna or the offensive minded Emmanuel Eboue. Sagna started in 31 games, 14 more than Eboue. But it was the latter who scored higher with 7.03 compared to Sagna's 6.89. Part of the reason for the numbers is the selected games that Eboue is given at full back. Eboue usually gets games at the Emirates (11 out of 17 starts) and he usually plays against lesser quality teams who sit back allowing the Ivorian to show his flair without having to think much about his defensive game.

The third man?

Cesc Fabregas and Alex Song have established themselves in the midfield three, three other players have been competing for the final spot in the engine room. Aaron Ramsey was starting to show that he could hold his own before being cruelly taken out of football at Stoke City. In 7 starts he racked up an average rating of 6.71, equal with Tomas Rosicky who started twice as many games.

Abou Diaby and Denilson played the most in that position and both players were rated at 6.87 Denilson started 7 games less than Diaby's 26. Without the Frenchman's loss of form at the end of the season, I suspect that he would have joined the likes of Cesc, Song, Vermaelen etc as one of the top performers.

Top Premier League team performances

The players ratings have been counted for each match and an average is calculated. Here are the top five performances judging by the ratings.

1. Tottenham (h) 3-0 (8.59)
2. Blackburn (h) 6-2 (8.5)
2. Wolves (a) 1-4 (8.5)
3. West Ham (h) 2-1 (8.45)
4. Hull City (h) 3-0 (8.41)
5. Liverpool (h) 1-0 (8.36)

Team of the season based on top ratings in each position

Squad List

* Please note these figures are based only on the Premier League season 2009/2010

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Comments

#1 - wenger Says:

where is vermaelen?

#2 - chris Says:

I think you've ahd a great year, blogging wise, very stable and not having to change your mind too much of the time.

And i know these statistics are a personal view
But Cesc is the best player at the club by a country mile based on last year's performances.
He was pretty much the best player at the start of the season (maybe Arshavin had a shout) and he has improved more than anny other player at the club.
His goal scoring was exceptional and he held the team together when RvP went out - and when he broke his leg the season ran into the barriers pretty much just like that.

Just saying but even though it's easty to point to soem below average performances he's kicking on for the best attacking midfielder in the Prem and he should be top by a distance imo.

#3 - Mean Lean Says:

Wenger, you should know where Vermaelen is, you are his manager after all.

Thank you Chris, I agree that Cesc is our player of the season, you do not contribute with his goals and assists as well as his work rate without becoming player of the season.

This is just how the ratings have fallen, perhaps I have under rated him at times, although I do remember a few games where he had little influence, usually games that Diaby dominated.

#4 - ChrisP Says:

Very interesting stuff - a good analysis.

One reason for Cesc scoring lower than expected might be that you (as the ranker) expect great things of him and therefore grade him against his better performances, rather than against a normal person's performances.
I think he might also have got a pretty high score for that 20 minutes against Villa, but sub scrores don't count.

Keep up the good work!

#5 - double dapper Says:

Chris - I was just thinking the same thing before I got down to reading your comment. I know I often expect Cesc to be the best player on the pitch every game because he is absolute class and when he isn't I automatically think that he hasn't been good.

ML - Interesting read - I am glad you have spent the 500 man hours putting that analysis together I would be interested to see how my own averages would come out (if I had bothered recording them). Can I ask you.... looking back do you feel there's anyone you may have been a little bit more generous with then you realised e.g. Sol based on having low expectations?

For me I feel Song does deserve the accolade of most consistent performer (seeing that RVP missed so many games) even though his impact on the game is not as apparent as Cescs. On the other hand Cesc would always be first on the team sheet in my book and more likely to achieve a 9 or 10 rating, score 2 goals and set up 7!

#6 - Mean Lean Says:

Double Dapper, I actually have been taking note of your performances and you are just falling short of 2.5, so that is a big improvement on last year.

I have to agree with Chris P reading on Cesc's rating. We automatically expect the very best from him and if his performances had been from another member then perhaps that rating would have been higher.

As for Sol, I think his award for player of the month says it all. He has done very well and deserves his high ratings.

#7 - double dapper Says:

Ha ha - I would take 2.5 now and be well chuffed!

I think Sol came in and did a great Job especially considering his age, but I do feel Tommy V was the better CB

Shame you didn't compile a seperate subs ratings as I bet Theo would be at the top of the chart

#8 - Mean Lean Says:

You have to remember that Vermaelen played in 33 games while Sol only started 10 games. I am sure Sol's average would have drop considerably if he had played 25+ games

#9 - double dapper Says:

Fair point .

ML - Using your stats would you start next year with that 11 (hoping they all stay and are fit)?

#10 - FE Gooner Says:

It is not quite right to put Eboue ahead of Sagna based on the former's season average. The comparison should be based on scores when playing in the same position, i.e. at right back. Even then, we know that Eboue generally plays RB against weaker opponents when his attacking play is preferred to Sagna's defensive strength. In these instances, it is easier for Eboue to get higher scores as the team is bound to play better against weaker teams (they better be or else ...). Similarly we cannot claim that Campbell and Gallas are better at LCB than TV based on their higher average when playing RCB.

#11 - Iron Man Says:

On the Cesc thing, you didn't include sub appearances and arguably Cesc's best game was off the bench against Villa where he would have earned himself a solid 9 at least....

#12 - Mean Lean Says:

"#9 - double dapper Says:
Fair point .

ML - Using your stats would you start next year with that 11 (hoping they all stay and are fit)? "

Its a decent team but no way. Mannone would not play, Sagna would play and obviously Vermaelen has to start.

Contrary to many views, I would start Diaby in midfield along with Cesc and Song. It looks like Chamakh will sign so I wonder what Arsene will do with him.

"#11 - Iron Man Says:
On the Cesc thing, you didn't include sub appearances and arguably Cesc's best game was off the bench against Villa where he would have earned himself a solid 9 at least.... "

Yep very good point. He was outstanding that day but to be fair he hasn't been sub very much for us.

#13 - Mean Lean Says:

FE Gooner, I agree 100% with you, I am just going by the highest average ratings

#14 - double dapper Says:

Will Chamakh start? Anyone????

#15 - DJ Dragonfly Says:

@ ML

I am not at all surprised by your average ratings of Nasri, Eduardo, Walcott and Arshavin.

The scary thing about the aforementioned players is that we still haven't seen the best of them. I honestly believe that with their skills and experience, they should be getting 12-15 goals a season.

I thought Vermaelen, Song and Cesc's ratings would've been a lot higher. These three players form a vital part of the Arsenal spine (the other players being the goalie and Van Persie) and each recipient has has an excellent season closely followed by Ramsey, Campbell, Eboue and Diaby IMO

#16 - Vuja De Says:

I think Alex Song is, and should be, the Arsenal player of the year.

Whilst I acknowledge that Fabregas had a great season, it should be remembered that both the formation - a switch to 4-3-3 - and the particular disciplined tactical role of Song provide the necessary platform for Fabregas to hurt the opposition as and when.

I am not convinced that Fabregas could just as easily reproduce that kind of form whilst playing in a 4-4-2 formation, with greater defensive responsibilities in central midfield.

That's one of the key reasons why Arsene is unlikely to be changing the formation next season, even if Chamack does arrive.

#17 - Man United Killa Says:

HAHAHAHAHA@ MEAN LEAN..
I like your response tot he first comment (Wenger's comment)...by the way,great comment..but i believe i would have gone for Song.Cesc is class but considering Songs improvements,I think he deserve something for it.Am sure even Cesc will understand.I will explain to him when i see him tonight...lol

#18 - luis zelaya Says:

i'd give it to tommy v simply for lasting as long as he did without getting injured, but i agree our best players along with him have been song, fabregas and van persie.
i think silvestre and almunia got a lot more than they deserved.

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