5 reasons why Fernando Torres is a no-go for Wenger

The Knee Injury

Back in April 2010, right before the World Cup, Torres underwent a knee operation, which was deemed a success. Let’s quickly put some numbers together.

Team	EPL Season	Appearances	Goals	Conversion %
Liverpool	2007-08	33	24	73
	2008-09	24	14	58
	2009-10	22	18	82
Liverpool/Chelsea	2010-11	37	10	27
Chelsea	2011-12	32	6	19
	2012-13	36	8	22

Numbers do not lie. Until the knee surgery, Torres was a force, commanding a conversion rate of 82% at one point in the Premier League. Even a conversion rate of 58% is adequate for a striker, which roughly translates to a goal every two games. But right after the surgery, his performance clearly dipped, and after he was grandly pawned off to an unsuspecting Chelsea, the drop became even more prominent. His conversion rate in 2010-11 is not even half of his supposed worst two years earlier in 2008-09. The rumor mill spoke of shadows and daggers in the deal, but the dip is too big to sweep under the carpet.