Arsenal are red hot, scoring over three goals per Premier League game since March. In their previous 27 games, they were finding the net 1.41 times per game, too small an average to contend for the Premier League crown. One of the main reasons for that change in fortunes is that Arsene Wenger has now got four midfield maestros at his disposal. Opta investigate Arsenal’s crafty middlemen.
Andrei Arshavin, Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Theo Walcott have only played 93 minutes of league football together (in Arsenal’s last two games against Liverpool and Middlesbrough).
However, this year, when at least three of them have played together, Arsenal have scored seven goals in 315 minutes, that’s one every 45 minutes - a tasty return.
Arshavin’s arrival has given The Gunners new impetus. The Russian front man has been involved in 10 goals for the Gunners in his first nine league games (six goals, four assists). His conversion rate is good (20.7%), notably helped by his four goals against Liverpool, a match in which he only had…four shots.
Compared to his midfield counterparts, he tries his luck the most (3.2 shots per game) and is more precise at delivering wide balls into the box (31% crossing accuracy). His left side positioning does not stop him from cutting back into the midfield but his dribbling rate has room fro improvement.
| Opta Stats Premier League 08/09 |
Arshavin |
Fabregas |
Nasri |
Walcott |
| Appearances |
9 |
19 |
27 |
18 |
| Starts |
9 |
19 |
26 |
13 |
| Minutes played |
768 |
1,632 |
2,243 |
1,077 |
| In front of goal |
|
|
|
|
| Goals |
6 |
3 |
6 |
2 |
| Minutes per goal |
128 |
544 |
374 |
538 |
| Goals in the box |
4 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
| Goals from outside the box |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
| Shots |
29 |
32 |
23 |
30 |
| Shots per game |
3.22 |
1.68 |
0.85 |
1.67 |
| Shots on target |
14 |
18 |
14 |
14 |
| Shots off target |
15 |
14 |
9 |
16 |
| % of shots on target |
48.3% |
56.2% |
60.9% |
46.7% |
| Conversion rate % |
20.7% |
9.4% |
26.1% |
6.7% |
| Distribution |
|
|
|
|
| Touches per game |
62 |
102 |
73 |
40 |
| Assists |
4 |
8 |
2 |
2 |
| Chances created/game |
2.67 |
3.37 |
1.67 |
1.11 |
| % of successful passes |
77% |
80% |
88% |
83% |
| Crossing |
|
|
|
|
| Crosses per game |
2.9 |
4.0 |
3.2 |
3.3 |
| % of successful crosses |
31% |
14% |
20% |
17% |
| Dribbles |
|
|
|
|
| Dribbles per game |
3.3 |
1.4 |
3.4 |
4.9 |
| % of successful dribbles |
50% |
73% |
57% |
53% |
| Defending |
|
|
|
|
| Tackles per game |
1.9 |
2.7 |
1.8 |
0.9 |
| % of tackles won |
88% |
73% |
71% |
82% |
| Interceptions per game |
1.7 |
2.3 |
1.7 |
0.7 |
His relationship with Cesc Fabregas has blossomed (see Fabregas’ opening goal against Middlesbrough last week). The Arsenal skipper will be disappointed by his goal tally (three in the league this season, including two against Boro last weekend) but he has shone at the Emirates since his return from injury earlier last month, contributing two goals and three assists in Arsenal’s last three home games in all competitions. With 102 touches per game, he is the fulcrum in the side, the one every Arsenal player looks to deliver the ball. He also remains the top architect in the final third, with 3.37 chances created per game for his team-mates this season.
The roaming nature of Fabregas’ play indicates a higher crosses per game average than his midfield partners while he also makes more tackles.
Arshavin’s arrival has coincided with a drop in Samir Nasri’s activity up front. When it comes to distributing the ball, his eye is as good as anyone in The Premier League (88% passing accuracy) but he has not delivered an assist in the league in 2009. Still, the ex-Marseille playmaker has managed to score twice this year, both goals coming away from home (at Hull City and Newcastle). He shoots less than the other three but is more clinical when he does, converting 26% of chances while also hitting the target with nearly 61% of shots.
Walcott could learn from the Frenchman, boasting as he does a below average conversion rate (6.7%) and the lowest shooting accuracy of the four midfield maestros (46.7%). Despite whipping in over three crosses per game, he only creates 1.1 chances per game, delivering two assists all season. He isn’t afraid of trying to go past players, making on average nearly five dribbles per game.