Revealed: Arsenal’s Ace and biggest Waste Of Space this season
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Arsenal had something to cheer about after all this season, as they pipped Tottenham to second place in the Premier League and ensured St Totteringham’s Day was celebrated once again.
In reality, the fact the Gunners finished above their north London rivals is scant reward for a missed-opportunity of a season, which ended with a 5,000/1 shot winning the league.
Leicester’s stunning capture of the top-flight crown has already stirred a reaction from Arsene Wenger in the transfer market, with Switzerland international Granit Xhaka arriving from Borussia Monchengladbach.
Conversely, rumours circulate that some of the deadwood will be thrown out of the Emirates too. Among the most regularly rumoured exits is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has supposedly outstayed a frustrating welcome with the Gunners.
Before any cuts are made though, it may be worth Wenger taking a look at Ladbrokes News’ Ace and Waste Of Space series. In it, we’ll pick out the player with the highest win percentage for his club in all competitions this season (minimum 15 starts) and the dud that was involved in the biggest proportion of losses:
ACE – Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
The England winger was one of only two Arsenal players to win more than 60 per cent of the games he started for the north Londoners this season.
In fact, Oxlade-Chamberlain easily surpassed that mark, ending up on the victorious team in a whopping 65 per cent of his starts.
Although he is widely tipped to be up for sale this summer, it may be wise to keep hold of him seeing as he seems to be something of a rabbit’s foot for Wenger.
Interestingly, it was a close run thing for the 22-year-old to be named the Gunners’ ace, with another star rumoured to have run out chances -Theo Walcott – turning in a win percentage of 64.
WASTE OF SPACE – Francis Coquelin
The Frenchman was touted as something of a miracle find when he was recalled from a loan spell with Charlton in 2014 to plug the gaping hole in front of Wenger’s defence. So Coquelin’s liability status is as surprising as Oxlade-Chamberlain’s one as a hero.
Nevertheless, the 25-year-old had the highest losing percentage of any Arsenal player to have made 15 or more all-competition starts this season, having been defeated in 32 per cent of his outings.
It’s hardly ideal that the man charged with protecting the backline has claimed this questionable award, which perhaps explains the early-summer capture of Xhaka.
Beyond Coquelin, the silver medal went to centre-back Gabriel, with 31 per cent, while Joel Campbell was third with 30.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
