Arsenal Are Not Dirty, They Just Want To Win

Well, I should say this is a response for Mike Walters's article "Arsenal are the DIRTIEST team in the league" that was published in mirrorfootball.

But before I go further I should also say that my first thought when I saw the article was

"Dirty or Not I would like to see Arsenal Win and keep that Beautiful Football"

So being said dirty by one of football fans or many others who might support for MU, Chelsea or Tottenham are not really bothers me. What bothers is the fact behind it, I would love to see how he point it and what I have in my mind.


Okay, the main fact behind the article actually says that Arsenal are going bottom in fair play table along with Wolverhampton Wanderers. It was also pointing out the Fabregas malicious tackle on Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Stephen Ward. The articles also criticize Wenger for not being critical to his boys as he always do with other teams.

Before I go to my opinion I did a little search on the Fair Play Table. And it turns out the table hasn't been updated this month so it's only data from 31 October or after 10 games of EPL. I don't know where Mike has got his most updated table (he might have counted it, but i rather give the mathematician thing to the authority). Arsenal are 11th in the table with a score 8,10 far below Chelsea, Tottenham and MU but not under Man.City.But there's one interesting thing that Arsenal are among the lowest score from Red and Yellow cards but their standing very much helped by Positive Play score which are just below Chelsea and on par with Tottenham and MU. Other indicators like Respect to the Opponent and Respect to the Referee are quite good among other teams whilst Behavior of Official even not to bad quite lower that other teams. For the last one I think who know Wenger will acceptably knew why.

As I review the data I certainly realized that the main problems with Arsenal in Fair Play Table this season are cards. And to the point I should say that this is just a matter of professional foul or not before accusing a bunch of guys playing dirty, especially a team that has prove them self before that they can be on top of the Fair Play Table (in 2009).

Let's see Koscielny for example, he got his first red card from two yellow cards foul, and his second red card was being the last man who held Ranger's (Newcastle United) chance of scoring a goal. I didn't see any malicious tackle by him. If there are players who quite reckless in tackles this season I would point out Fabregas (who look really hunger for title and struggling back in fitness) and Jack Wilshere (a young talented lads that need to control himself) other than that I believe Arsenal wouldn't get the Positive Play points if they play such a 'dirty' game.

And so didn't need to go further, I'm gladly say that Arsenal didn't play the dirty game. Even if they play harsh, I would like to see them play hard to show their hunger for win and title even fair play would sounds better. One last thing, I don't think players who have seen some of their friend break a leg by a malicious tackle would be want to be someone in the guilty position. It's just not this guys style of play.