Billy Carpenter @billycarpy Twitter profile

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Billy Carpenter

12 days

BY ALL MEANS This week's huge long-read. How Arsenal prevailed at Spurs; why you need multiple ways to win; what makes tempo so difficult yet important; King Kai and the benefits of going big; plus, an opposition report on Bournemouth

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

2 months

Let the record show that the Kiwior assist was no-look.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

2 months

I think we’re all learning some things about Kiwior.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

25 days

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

2 months

All 10 outfield players right before goal number five.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

1 month

I told you I was worried about some of the spaces out-of-possession and I was proven right: Raya had to make his most saves in a league game in 67 days. Two.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

1 month

OK, I did it.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

20 days

Benjamin White has now matched the best goal-scoring tally of Trent Alexander-Arnold's career (4). His 8 G+A eclipses any season by Kyle Walker, and is higher than Walker's previous 4+ seasons combined. He matched João Cancelo’s career-best season for goals … on Tuesday.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

2 months

Honest question. CHO had it wide at 96', play was still running, then it was whistled for a head injury (Tierney made the motion after seeing Konaté down after running into Kelleher). Liverpool got the ball on restart. What am I missing?

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

9 months

"3-4-3. Diamond."

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

2 months

Erik ten Hag on Mainoo getting his first senior call-up for England: “At Arsenal we should have had a penalty. Then we scored, disallowed. Then we conceded a goal which should have been disallowed.”

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

12 days

The objective of every Arsenal gameplan is to move heaven and earth to manufacture 30 seconds per game where Bukayo Saka is defended like Phil Foden.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

2 months

After the deflection, Havertz pulled his leg back to let it run to Ødegaard.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

12 days

Hi, everybody. Bukayo Saka has 33 G+A across competitions. He leads Europe in advanced tackles. He is the clear primary concern of every opposing manager. Almost every moment he is marked like a normal winger, he creates a goal immediately. Don't let your eyes adjust. Thank you.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

2 months

When I rewatch, I’m often drawn to something that isn't celebrated as much: Ødegaard’s off-ball work in attack. Thankless runs, savvy shit, decoys, small moves that give teammates a foot or a yard. It's not always obvious, but he never stops. A short thread with examples. 🧵

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

2 months

Ødegaard among *all players* in the top-5 leagues of Europe: — #1 in passes into the penalty area (82) — #1 in shot-creation via live-ball pass (126) — #1 in through-balls (27) — #3 in progressive passes (behind Xhaka and Rodri, but he’s done it in 1100+ fewer passes than them)

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

6 months

Fake long-ball to Havertz ➡️ Disguised line-cutter to Rice

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

2 months

Little things here. Kiwior caught up with Evanilson at an angle so Gabriel could switch on to the carrier. Then he laid up his run to keep Evanilson offside. Then he boxed him out on the rebound (instead of playing the ball). Can never be too careful.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

8 days

My point with Saka is: this is the norm. This is how he's defended every week. The other norm? He created a great chance out of this.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

2 months

♦️♦️ PAIR OF DIAMONDS How Arteta has evolved in his deployment of Gabriel and Saliba throughout the season — and how he used them both to create the wide overloads that suffocated Sheffield United and kept them pinned. Thread 🧵

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

9 days

This matches Saliba's total from the last fifty-five games combined.

h

@htomufc

9 days

Casemiro has been dribbled past EIGHT times.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

13 days

A story in three parts.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

2 months

Ben White has seemed to get along perfectly with Marcelo Bielsa, Graham Potter, and Mikel Arteta. Hmmmm.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

1 month

Bayern had their fewest shots of the year (7) and one shot on target ... and it resulted in 2 goals and 2.1 total xG. I'm gonna go for a walk.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

12 days

Gabriel:

Jeorge Bird

@jeorgebird

12 days

U14 midfielder Max Dowman trains with Arsenal first-team ahead of Bournemouth game

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

5 months

Exploring "The Havertz Hitch" — what it is, what caused it, and whether it's on the way out. A thread 🧵

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

2 months

WHITE NOISE There's some wonderful content about Ben White out today. To add to the volume, here's an excerpt from today's newsletter: a thread about the complexities and burdens of his particular role. 🧵

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

14 days

Arteta on Moyes: “It’s more than respect.”

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

3 months

My gut reaction is that Arteta made a huge bet that Rice/Havertz would make the difference in the biggest games and he was right.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

4 months

Excuse me. What the fuck?

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

2 months

Three defenders, right foot. Fábio Vieira can still kick a ball.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

2 months

Raya RCB, Saliba in the pivot.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

4 months

IT TAKES ONE TO KNOW ONE How a certain superstar right-winger turned his formative teenage experiences at left-back against his former position. (Plus, who else did the same.) A thread. 🧵

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

3 months

Bukayo Saka has the most key passes in the Premier League, by the way. He has 58 total — which is even with Trippier, but Saka’s done it on 749 fewer pass attempts (haha). Ødegaard is fifth.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

1 month

Animal.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

16 days

I will wait.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

4 months

Look at the stances of Jesus and Trossard at the moment of the Raya claim. So much of football is sneaking an extra step.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

27 days

I found this really interesting.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

1 month

"Arsenal lack a credible threat in behind whenever Martinelli isn't on the pitch." Jorginho:

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

21 days

1. Havertz compared to forwards 2. Havertz compared to midfielders Tells you a lot.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

5 months

My take on Raya is that he had a terrible game and should continue starting indefinitely.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

4 months

I grabbed this nice gif of Arteta finally allowing himself to relax and take in the scenes after the 5th goal. For your records.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

3 months

If you’ve ever considered dropping Ødegaard, consider a) how much Arteta values the press, b) which team probably has the best press in the world, c) who leads that press, d) who the captain is, and e) who single-footedly (literally, ha ha) fixed Arsenal’s creativity issues.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

3 months

I hereby dub this pivot the "White Rice."

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

13 days

Ange on set pieces.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

17 days

3-0, nowhere near our best. But we have a superstar, inswingers, and some big fuckers.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

1 month

Player fitness is an enormously complex topic, awash with luck, bullshit, and a million little confusing variables. But if you’re able to go into a UCL quarter-final and the injury report is just “every player is out there,” you are probably doing something very right.

Simon Collings

@sr_collings

1 month

Arsenal out to train at London Colney. Every player is out there.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

17 days

Saka with initial outlet pass, the run behind, the controlled reception, the 1v1, the goal. Hahaha. One of the very best players in the world.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

8 days

Please don't forget about that stretch from Kiwior. There were zero left-backs behind him. If he had a tougher period, which would have been totally understandable, we don't beat Porto — and we're not talking about the title race right now.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

8 days

Which player got this ball? That's right. Raya.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

30 days

Oh my.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

17 days

Perhaps speed is overrated but I swear I counted like six good counter opportunities that got snuffed out 100% by van de Ven’s legs alone.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

11 days

Everybody: we need to add another explosive player to our attack Saliba: agreed

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

3 months

🧵Here's a very quick thread with a couple of examples of Havertz being a pretty smart gentleman in defensive coverage against Liverpool. Remember the free header by Kiwior? It could have been a big moment. But it could have been a moment the other way, too.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

4 months

Eh, I’ll guess do another quick one. MARTINELLI and the SECOND SIX-YARD BOX, a thread. 🧵

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

3 months

Havertz simply never getting tired is a big advantage. I think all players should try it.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

6 months

A little lesson in wide, “side-on” defending by Gabriel.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

9 months

I believe the phrase is "LEZ DOO DIS"

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

2 months

@JD___8 That I knew. It’s the composure in the biggest moments. Only really know when it’s tested.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

6 months

Haha. This guy.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

1 month

André Onana is at home watching David Raya for Arsenal. "Where's the fun in that," he says to no one in particular. "A keeper is there to stop shots." As he speaks, a single tear runs down his face. He lifts the remote to change the channel, but his hand trembles.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

22 days

Arsenal have a little tempo dial that can bounce between too direct and too safe, but when it hits the green zone, it's really something.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

11 days

Today I found myself most grateful for William Alain André Gabriel Saliba. Rice and others were up the pitch, Gabriel had his bobbles. This is an opponent who is really thoughtful about those outlet balls, good 1v1, and almost always get it in. He just deleted everything.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

1 month

So many interesting things in one picture: Rice LCB, Kiwior up high, Havertz dropping, Martinelli striker, Saka half-space, Ødegaard/Jorginho pivot, White high, Gabriel CCB, Saliba free to carry.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

2 months

Klopp: Bring me every player who can play LCM Pep: Bring me every player who can dribble Arteta: Bring me every player who can win a duel Forest: Bring me every player

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

11 days

What's funny about Trossard is that his goal-scoring seems almost decoupled from his overall game. Great game or bad game, winning his 1v1s or not, good surrounding dynamics or bad — there is simply a 60% chance he's gonna score.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

1 month

One more take: for the midfielders weighing their options this summer, I think Arsenal have the most compelling offer in the world. No caveats.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

2 months

15 more than anybody. Saka is not so bad, either.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

1 month

I'm catching up, sorry. Bruno not needing a prep touch to strike it off an interception from the circle is madness. So much to compute.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

2 months

The most fouls whistled against Arsenal this year? Porto away (22). The second-most fouls whistled against Arsenal this year? Porto home (18).

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

5 months

Nketiah pass was sublime by the way. Drifted into the space, forced Dunk to commit, kept his intentions neutral, released it at the exact right time, weight was good.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

2 months

How I'd roll against Porto. Nothing too surprising.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

5 months

I’ve been thinking about Martinelli’s output and digging through tape. There may be one aspect of it that goes under-examined. WINGMEN — a quick thread. 🧵

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

10 days

When you play Rice, Partey, Ødegaard, Havertz, Tomiyasu, White, Trossard, Saliba, and Saka together, you have literally nine players who can drop into a midfield pivot as needed. (I would also not put it past Raya.)

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

5 months

Strikery midfielder + midfieldery striker. 🤝

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

3 months

So much has rested on Kiwior developing under pressure (tied to clarifying his responsibilities) right when he was needed most. It’s been a weight. There was one defender on the bench today (Cedric). If Kiwior hadn’t risen to the challenge, Arsenal may be in a different place.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

25 days

One of Arteta’s great bits of scouting was projecting how Havertz could defend in a double-pivot. The tape was old and bleh: he’d run around like he was pressing and open lanes. So the projection was all based on physical attributes and coachability. Kai is really good at it.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

3 months

Catching up. You mean to tell me they gave us Jorginho, Havertz, Trossard (vicariously), and took four points off Man City? Have always loved that club.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

22 days

Martin Fucking Ødegaard.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

1 month

The first Bayern goal keeps getting worse on rewatch. Arsenal did 7 little things wrong, and Bayern did three things perfectly. If any of those 10 things don't happen, there's no goal.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

1 month

Other reminder: Bayern are less dangerous when they have more of the ball (and less space). This pushes the ball back to a meh build-up instead of genius attackers: passing instead of carrying. There is actually a clearer gameplan against them at the Allianz than there was today.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

25 days

Declan Rice. Felt like it gave us the clearest window yet into his final form: destroying everything, but not having to sacrifice his burst and creativity to do it. Was a true lone-6 for 80’ and had line-breakers and scoops, but could still drive and shoot and all that. So rare.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

5 months

A story told in blue dots.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

2 months

Watching back and, yeah: Ødegaard manufactured a goal by baiting a 1v4 and then passing through it.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

2 months

All while captaining and leading perhaps the best press on Earth. I'm not sure the true levels of his season are settling in yet. (Data is from Opta/fbref.)

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

9 months

Declan Rice, short/medium passes completed per 90 Career: 38 Two games in: 64.5

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

10 months

I think I count 13 different build-up pivot pairings during stretches of the preseason, which includes everything from Kiwior's game against Nürnberg, to Thomas playing bombing FB with Tierney inside. And that's without Zinchenko. Here's ESR joining Jorginho in a 4-2.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

5 months

It feels a bit sacrilege to mention how big of an upgrade Havertz is to Xhaka in the press. Similar-quality brains and strength — but arrives faster, covers more ground, and has longer legs to block and poke it away. Way more suffocating.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

1 month

Mistakes happen. Opponents score goals. What can’t happen is the total lack of sustained energy, conviction, and possession in the second half. Especially when it looked bright in the first, and *especially* at home against a short squad on shorter rest. Fuck.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

3 months

This is your periodic reminder that Saka is younger than Julián Álvarez, Mudryk, Brennan Johnson, and a long list of others. He’s two years younger than Kiwior.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

16 days

Ange praised Arsenal's "details" and I think White is one of the better players at the little things. This is subtle, but he ghosts back to give himself an angle, receives well, gets it off right away, and rolls it to Saka on the run (instead of at his feet) so he can get around.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

6 months

What midfielder would be the best addition to Arsenal? I sifted through 289 potential options along some relevant characteristics. Here are the leaders in “Pairs With Rice” score, or PWR.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

4 months

Raya was incredible, by the way.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

1 month

Arsenal have come a long way. Not just since Arteta started, but since last year.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

4 months

If Eddie Nkeitah were starting every game for a mid-table club, doing a million channel runs per 90 against more open blocks and racking up the goals, I think many would be encouraged by a link to him.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

3 months

WhoScored.com

@WhoScored

3 months

😤 Kai Havertz lost a total of 18 duels against Liverpool yesterday, no player has lost more in a Premier League match this season

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

10 days

I'm doing my best to live in the glorious now, but I am, sadly, human. So I just drew this out. Not too worried about the exact placement of the midfielders — just wanted to look around at the relationships. This is some nasty shit.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

2 months

Could make an argument that Arsenal's single best attribute is keeping it pinned via counter-press. The transfer business has played a huge role in that. Here's a newish signing losing it, and three other newish signings immediately winning it back. Happens over and over.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

5 months

My analysis: “Fucking Salah.”

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

2 months

That goal was created out of thin air by Ødegaard. Willed to existence. And wherever he plays, however he plays, Trossard is a threat to kick the ball into the net at any moment. One minute added is utter shit.

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Billy Carpenter

@billycarpy

3 months

Rice free role

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