03 Nov 2026 11:27:52
Just a question, why did OPTA chalk off our shots on target? I did think I saw Macca, Virgil's header and Barcola test Raya. Did I see wrong? Arsenal fans are all over the place making noise about it here.
03 Nov 2026 13:03:33
I can't recall exactly where but I'm positive we did have shots on target that were blocked. Not sure how these things get recorded but I'm not buying the no shots on target headline to be honest.
{Ed025's Note - you had less shots than the Italian army in WW2..
03 Nov 2026 13:10:03
OP, it's all fugazi. We had at least one shot on target from Macca that Raya held easily while potentially having 3 other shots on target that got blocked, as Westwood alluded to.
It's all BS. Kinda like how the "stats" said that Doku cooked Trent at the Etihad a couple of years back. Only to find out later that none of that actually happened.
But sadly, the internet has picked so good luck debunking that "stat".
{Ed025's Note - Raya is booking his summer holiday at Anfield next year so he can relax in peace Oli..
03 Nov 2026 13:30:45
I think they record shots on target by saves being made. I was watching a dodgy link so may have missed one but I don't remember one. Shots heading towards goal that are blocked not being counted makes sense I guess since they didn't reach the target.
03 Nov 2026 13:37:42
A blocked shot is not a shot on target.
I don't remember the MacAllister shot on target so I can't say whether it was one or not.
It's not a stat I'm too bothered about anyway.
Arsenal only had three and one of them was a tame effort by Rice.
I don't think the stat is a 'fugazi' or that there is a stat conspiracy against us though.
What would be the point?
03 Nov 2026 13:42:45
Who cares. Wirtz hit the bar with Raya beaten, Macca should have scored the free header that he fired over the bar and VAR failed to give the most blatant of penalties for the shirt pull on Isak. None count as shots on target but were 3 very narrow escapes for Arsenal that on another day might easily have all resulted in goals and a comfortable win for us - and that was despite them parking the bus and sticking 11 players in their own box.
03 Nov 2026 13:44:38
Infamy, infamy, they all have it in for me! Like you say, what would be the point, Rigsby? It really is getting tedious this "they're all against us". It's complete and utter tosh.
03 Nov 2026 14:01:25
I'm more infuriated with the fact this stat has been altered than I am with Man City's 115 charges.
Just hope Liverpool don't miss out on the title or CL places due to the shots on target stat affecting their final league position.
{Ed025's Note - love it JK..
03 Nov 2026 14:25:01
I can only assume Maccas shot was so far out, and such a weak effort, that it was logged as a failed pass.
{Ed025's Note - i think he went down holding his foot for 5 minutes if im not mistaken Chewy.. :)
03 Nov 2026 14:25:48
Still many opportunities for VAR to influence proceedings, either giving or taking, as the season is still young!
But on the plus side affected teams can expect an apology, usually within a fortnight!
03 Nov 2026 14:43:09
I'm concentrating my efforts on slagging off Wirtz, Kerkez and, to a lesser extent, Barcola, to moan about VAR and shots on target. I only have so much pent up anger in me. I dread the day that the 3 of them start performing. Maybe Alisson's distribution continues to be dire, I may have to turn on him.
03 Nov 2026 15:40:40
We could joke about the 0 shots on target, 1 if you count Macca's floater or 2 if you count Munoz's header.
Or we could talk about 17 shots, 14 inside the box, 9 of which were blocked by an Arsenal defender, one hit the woodwork, 33 crosses, a record (against Arsenal) 52 touches in the box and a blatant penalty not awarded.
I think we're improving guys.
03 Nov 2026 15:54:44
I've honestly forgotten about Sunday's game. I'll judge us on how we do this Sunday. Palace always up their game against us, so let's see if we're up for it.
03 Nov 2026 16:11:23
I found it funny that there is a narrative of how good Arsenal where, and they where, for 15 whole minutes, the rest of the game we played them off the pitch.
Throw into the mix we should have had a clear penalty and its all just bluster from an over hyped team. We are sub 10 games into the league under Iraola and we just played the league winners off the pitch.
Bring on the next 10 games.
03 Nov 2026 16:47:46
Bekind, we did not play them off the pitch. You must've been watching a different game to me.
03 Nov 2026 17:50:01
I thought it was an even game. Probably should have been a draw. But sure so should the game between us and Brighton the week before so that's just the way it goes. Arsenal did their job well so fair play to them.
03 Nov 2026 18:37:46
Not bothered about stats, I'm bothered about the result but I know if we play that well we'll win most of our games.
We lost the game, we played well, Arsenal were defending like the Alamo.
03 Nov 2026 18:53:49
OP it's used for betting so was fiddled to prevent bookies paying out.
03 Nov 2026 19:19:02
I think saying Arsenal was good for 15 minutes is a little over the top, apart from the mistake for the goal, they done little else in that time. Liverpool were slow to get going. That was just a Neville statement during the game, in which he spent the whole game cheering on Arsenal and running Liverpool down whenever he could. Its almost as if someone reminded him of his prediction on Liverpool and man united at the start of the season just before the game.
I see at least 2 shots on target Mac Allister from outside the box and a Van Dyke header tipped round the post from a corner both in the first half. i'm surprised not much has been done about looking into opta stats as they get a lot wrong. I remember having a bet a few years back for A. Gordon to have 2 shots on target, he had 3 in this game one blocked two yards from the goal line he scored and another blocked around 10 yards out, apparently he only had 1 shot on target argued with the betting company pointing out the minutes of the shots, they said they go by opta only then got in touch with opta no reply from them. It's corruption of some sort going on there. I had similar with fouls Joelinton use to be a favourite he once conceded 5 free kicks in the game yet only listed by opta as 3.
The stats are a load of crap when analysing a game unless for betting as they can mean what ever you want it to. Its the same as when they say a ref had a good game because he never booked anyone and you watch the game back and you see 3 leg breaking challenges and 4 shirt pulls and kicking the ball away which he sees and chooses not to punish. And certain players that not matter how hard they try to get themselves booked the ref just won't book them like Joelington, Gabriel, Caceido.
On another day we would have won that match by 3 - 4 goals the chances we created, plus the 3 penalties we should have received pull back on Isak the holding on Gakpo and the handball where the defender decided to fall over and pick the ball up.
The praise Arsenal are getting is a little over the top we dominated them to the point there only awnser was to spoil the game by falling over in the wind at every opportunity despite there 7 at the back most of the game better finishing would have won the game nothing to do with there last ditch tackles or blocking. Which in my opinion is why they will never go on to win a trophy in Europe to limited going forward, interesting that for all the talk about the big signings there going to make, Isak, Rodgers, Barcola, Vini Junior and being the self proclaimed best team in Europe they can't seem to sign anyone.
I would question the ref for this game, he should be sacked like his brother for being so bad in everygame. Nyoni could easily have been sent off for his challenge, I don't think it was a red but them type of challenges have mostly been red cards this season regardless of how bad or not they've been. But not even a yellow is ridiculous. Arsenal player not getting booked for a blatant shirt pull which he managed to see and then another Arsenal player kicking the ball away and no booking. I suppose getting him was our punishment for complaint about always getting these Manchester refs for games against the Manchester clubs.
Arsenal are a team only a Arsenal fan can enjoy to watch, only ground I've been to champions league games included and had no interest in the match.
03 Nov 2026 23:23:56
Opta stats are largely outdated and their only real customers nowadays are the bookies. As a result, you'll see some questionable stats.