Medical insider reveals why Arsenal could implode as ‘incredible’ new details emerge
The running stats recorded by Arsenal so far this season are “incredible” – but it is possible that they may be unable to sustain this level for the entire campaign.
That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in injury and data analysis.
As relayed by Sky Sports on Friday (26 August), Arsenal are top of the charts for distance covered per game, while only two teams have recorded more sprints.
Mike Arteta’s side have taken maximum points from their opening three games and are two points clear at the top of the table ahead of Saturday’s clash with Fulham (25 August).
But Dinnery insists that is is simply too premature to think that the Gunners can maintain their running stats for the entirety of 2022-23.
“It’s been a great start to the season,” he told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“They have been incredible and easy on the eye, and the underlying data supports that. They have recruited really strongly. Those players have come in and hit the ground running.
“But let’s not get carried away. We are only three games in. That Palace game was the real challenge, but you would have expected them to comfortably beat the likes of Leicester and Bournemouth.
“When you compare where they are now to where they were at the same point last season, it’s night and day. Arteta has had the chance to work with the players over the summer and get them close to where he wants them to be.
“But it’s not necessarily about the here and now. The situation needs to be revisited later in the season to see how successful Arteta has been in introducing his philosophies.
“The running metrics are great, but we need to contextualise.
“First and foremost, you need to be loading those players correctly. Can these players maintain the same level of output when we get into the double game week and with European football?
“Do they have the personnel to deliver those levels consistently and stay fit? Those are questions that can be answered further down the line, but they are certainly heading in the right direction. We will have to wait and see.”
In other news, Kieran Maguire reveals Arsenal have “lost £300million” as FFP authorities now on high alert.