Arsenal
Premier League Team-by-Team Review- By The Numbers: Looking At The Attack
As the dust settles on a highly entertaining Premier League campaign and Arsenal winning the FA Cup to finally end their trophy drought(and also “Since Arsenal last won a trophy” jokes), let us look at some of the numbers posted by the teams and try to make some sense out of it. Some of these statistics are well known to anyone who follows football seriously. We will try to compare these numbers with last season’s numbers to see if teams have improved, regressed or stayed the same.
Attack
The table below shows some of the numbers posted by all the twenty Premier League teams in the 2013-14 season.(These numbers are only for the Premier League and do not take into account performances in the cup competitions)
- Manchester City created the highest number of chances in the league: 533. This is just 28 more than the last season’s created chances-505. But, in a clear indicator that the champions are much more efficient than last season, they scored 36 goals more than last season: 102 compared to 66.
- Manchester City’s Conversion Rate (Goals/ SoT) of 42.7% is the highest in the league.
- Runners-up Liverpool created 488 chances this season. Surprisingly, they created 505 chances last season. Like Manchester City, Liverpool too scored a significantly higher number of goals this season: 101 this season; 71 last season.
- Liverpool’s improved goalscoring owes a lot to a massive improvement in Shot Accuracy. At 40.1% it is the second highest in the league. More pertinently, this is an improvement of nearly 10 percentage points when compared to last season. In fact, last season, Liverpool had more shots last season than this season: 648 in 2013-14 compared to 739 in 2012-13.
- Shots on Target too saw an increase from 232 last season to 260. Liverpool’s Conversion Rate of 38.8% is the second highest late in the league.
- Chelsea created the second highest number of chances(506) in the Premier League. This is a significant increase from the 442 chances they created last summer.
- They also took the highest number of shots-692- this season. But unlike Manchester City and Liverpool, their Shot Accuracy is pretty poor; at 33.1% it is the joint lowest(along with Tottenham) among the top 10 teams. This certainly has something to do with the areas from which Chelsea are taking their shots.
- Last season, Chelsea had a Shot Accuracy of 33.8%. They had a total of 626 shots last season of which 212 were on target.
- With 71 goals from 229 shots on target, Chelsea’s Conversion Rate of 31% is much lower than the 42.7% and 38.8% posted by Manchester City and Chelsea.
- Last season, Chelsea scored 75 goals from 212 shots on target with a Conversion Rate of 35.3%.
- Arsenal created 403 chances this season. This is only the 7th highest in the Premier League. Everton(415), Tottenham(439) and even Newcastle United(420) created more chances than Arsenal.
- With a total of 521 shots, of which 212 were on target, Arsenal posted the highest Shot Accuracy of 40.7% in the league. This is probably indicative of the fact that Arsenal take more shots from within the 18-yard box.
- On the flip side, Arsenal’s total number of shots(521) is only the 9th highest in the Premier League. While this number as such does not explain anything, the number of shots taken by Arsenal has been on the decline for the past 5 seasons. As we will see later, they have also been conceding more shots over the past 5 seasons. This, possibly, explains, Arsene Wenger’s recent comments about wanting his team to improve its offensive potential.
- Tottenham created 439 chances this season; last season, they created 514 chances. Even accounting for the sale of Gareth Bale and managerial changes it is a staggering drop.
- Tottenham, with 55 goals this season, scored 11 more last season(66).
- Everton, who have improved “stylistically” under Roberto Martinez, created 415 chances this season; last season they created 486.
- Tottenham’s Conversion Rate of 28.5% is only higher than Norwich, Fulham, Newcastle and Crystal Palace. 51% of their shots are taken from outside the 18-yard box. These shots have a low probability of hitting the target.
- Manchester United created 387 chances this season; last season, they created 438 chances. Last season they scored 86 goals; this season they scored 64 goals.
- In 2013-14 United took 525 shots of which 184 were on target; in 2012-13 they took 561 shots on target of which 212 were on target.
- Manchester United made an astonishingly high number of crosses this season: 964. This is the highest in the league by some margin. The next highest is 764 by Manchester City.
- Stoke City, who have changed their style of play under Mark Hughes, created 327 chances this season; last season they created 282. In 2013-14 they scored 45 goals compared to 34 goals scored in 2012-13 under Tony Pulis.
- This improvement on the attacking side of things has come at the cost of a slight regression in their defensive performances. They conceded 7 goals more this season(52) compared to last season(45). Stoke also have the lowest number of headed goals-2- this season. Last season they had 10.
- Newcastle United took more shots than Arsenal, Everton, Manchester United and Southampton but have lesser Shots on Target compared to all these teams. There Shot Accuracy stands at 32.2%
- Compounding matters further, they have the second worst Conversion Rate in the league: 23.2%. They have 43 goals from a 185 shots on target. With 54% shots taken from outside the box they lead the league in terms of this parameter. From the 310 shots taken from this zone, they scored 8 goals.
- Crystal Palace’s goal tally of 33 is the second lowest in the league. Cardiff City are the worst with only 28 goals.
- Crystal Palace took 413 shots which is the lowest in the league. But their Shot Accuracy of 34.4% is the 7th highest in the league. In contrast, their Conversion rate of 23.2% is the joint second worst in the league.
- Of the relegated sides, Cardiff City created the least number of chances in the league: 297. Interestingly, Hull City-who survived comfortably-too created the same number of chances. That is down to Hull City’s defence which conceded 53 goals compared to Cardiff’s 74. We will look at this in another article.
- Norwich City, who were the lowest scoring side of the league with 28 goals, created more chances(343) than Crystal Palace, Hull City, West Ham United, Aston Villa, Fulham and Cardiff City.
- They also took more shots than all the above mentioned teams. Their Conversion Rate of 18.9% though is the lowest in the league by a considerable margin. Crystal Palace and Newcastle United are the next best with a Conversion Rate of 23.2%.
- Fulham had the 6th highest Shot Accuracy at 34.6%.
- Their conversion rate of 26.8% is also the highest among the relegated sides. Their relegation can be better explained by looking at their defensive numbers which we shall do in the next article.
Stats are compiled by Chaitanya Gööner with the help from squawka & whoscored
Arsenal
Eni Aluko Responds to Laura Woods’ Damning Comments With Long Statement as Ian Wright Row Continues
Eni Aluko has responded to a lengthy social media thread from Laura Woods amid the ongoing controversy surrounding her feud with Ian Wright. Aluko caused outrage in 2025 when she accused Wright of blocking opportunities for female pundits, and she has reaffirmed her stance this week.
The former England international, who represented the Lionesses 105 times during her career, bemoaned the fact that two men, Wright and Nedum Onuoha, were on the punditry panel for the Women’s Euro 2025 final. This reignited a debate that many thought had been settled months ago.
Woods Pushes Back on Caps Argument
Woods took to social media on Monday morning to post a long thread explaining that caps don’t win automatic work. That comment came after Aluko pointed out she was sitting in the stands of last year’s final next to Fara Williams, who has 172 England caps.
The TNT Sports presenter added, “The women’s game should be by women for women is one of the most damaging phrases I’ve heard. It will not only drag women’s sport backwards, it will drag women’s punditry in all forms of the game backwards.” This is a fair point from Woods, who has built her career on merit rather than relying on playing credentials.
Aluko Stands Firm on Position
Responding to Woods, with whom she has worked previously, the 38 year old stated, “I respect Laura’s opinion as I have always done. I believe that women’s football should prioritise women as the faces of the sport. I think women should be the dominant force in the women’s game in the same way that men are the dominant force in the men’s game.”
Aluko also slammed Wright for declining her attempted apology last year. “When I apologised to Ian Wright publicly and privately, he had an opportunity to show grace. Unfortunately my sincerity, my humility, was met with disrespect.” This ongoing feud shows no signs of ending anytime soon.
Also read: London City Lionesses vs. Everton Women: Predicted Lineups + Match Preview
Arsenal‘s 2-1 win over Brighton on December 27 revealed three critical truths about their title challenge and season trajectory heading into the final stretch.
The Gunners showed resilience but exposed defensive vulnerabilities that could prove catastrophic against Manchester City. Martin Odegaard’s clinical finishing and Brighton’s own goal masked deeper problems within Arsenal’s structure. Mikel Arteta’s men survived because Brighton lacked quality, not because Arsenal dominated.
Arsenal’s Defensive Fragility Remains Their Achilles Heel
Myles Lewis-Skelly’s nervous display highlighted Arsenal’s defensive depth concerns. The young left-back was withdrawn after 67 minutes with Arteta forced to shift Piero Hincapie left and introduce Gabriel Magalhaes. Brighton created legitimate chances through Yasin Ayari and Yankuba Minteh, with the latter forcing a world-class David Raya save in the 89th minute.
Manchester City will punish these defensive lapses ruthlessly. William Saliba appeared uncomfortable throughout, and Lewis-Skelly’s inexperience showed repeatedly. Arsenal need Gabriel Magalhaes and Riccardo Calafiori back to full fitness immediately. Without consistent defensive solidity, no amount of Odegaard brilliance secures the title.
Fortuitous Circumstances Carried Arsenal Rather Than Merit
Georginio Rutter’s own goal proved the difference in reality. Arsenal should have been 2 to 0 up at half-time with multiple clear chances. Martin Zubimendi had a guilt-edge header saved by Bart Verbruggen. Leandro Trossard fired wide from close range.
The hosts never played at optimum level despite dominating possession. Brighton grew into the game after half-time and genuinely threatened. The narrative of Arsenal’s unstoppable form crumbles when examining performance metrics. They’re winning tightly contested matches through individual moments rather than systematic dominance.
Gyokeres Still Needs Time to Adjust
Viktor Gyokeres had a sloppy opening 45 minutes according to GOAL’s ratings. The Swedish summer signing is struggling to find rhythm in Arsenal’s system. His involvement in link up play remains pedestrian.
Arsenal invested heavily in Gyokeres expecting elite performance immediately. Instead they’re watching a player adapting to new surroundings without consistent output. Against City’s defensive intensity, Gyokeres cannot afford settling in periods. Arsenal need him sharp now, not eventually.
Also read: Opta Supercomputer Predicts Arsenal’s Upcoming Fixture Against Brighton
Arsenal
Arsenal Player Ratings vs. Brighton: Odegaard’s Clinical Finish and Rutter Own Goal Secure Gunners Top Spot
Arsenal secured a 2 to 1 win over Brighton on December 27 to maintain their Premier League summit position. Martin Odegaard’s clinical 15th-minute finish set the tone before Georginio Rutter’s own goal in the 53rd minute appeared to secure a comfortable victory.
Diego Gomez’s 64th-minute rebound sparked a nervy finish, but David Raya’s world-class save from Yankuba Minteh sealed crucial three points as Arsenal held their two-point cushion over Manchester City.
Goalkeepers and Defence
David Raya (8/10): Didn’t really have a great deal to do for the first 60 minutes. He could do little about Brighton’s goal but made a world-class stop to deny Minteh late on with fierce curling strike.
Declan Rice (7/10): Playing in an unfamiliar right-back role, the midfielder played his part in the buildup to Odegaard’s goal. His corner led to Arsenal’s second. Did a solid job once again for his team in an energetic display.
William Saliba (6/10): The Frenchman had no real howlers but didn’t excel in Arsenal’s backline either. Will be glad to have centre-back partner Gabriel Magalhaes back alongside him soon.
Piero Hincapie (7/10): The summer signing has been a solid addition for Arsenal and didn’t do much wrong, both at centre-back and left back against Brighton.
Myles Lewis-Skelly (5/10): On his first Premier League start of the season, partly due to Riccardo Calafiori’s withdrawal from the warm-up, he did not do a great deal. Arteta chose to take off the left-back, move Hincapie to that position, and bring on Gabriel instead.
Midfield and Attack
Martin Odegaard (7/10): Rifled in a terrific finish when given time and space to do so. Had a bit of swagger early on but that dimmed as Brighton turned on the pressure.
Martin Zubimendi (6/10): Was part of a midfield that looked in control and then that switched after the Brighton goal. May need to offer a bit more going forward.
Mikel Merino (6/10): The Spaniard has been excellent as a makeshift striker but wasn’t nearly as effective in his usual midfield role.
Bukayo Saka (7/10): Calmly assisted Odegaard for Arsenal’s opener and had the beating of left-back Maxim De Cuyper. Didn’t have many moments to shine but still can produce something from nothing.
Viktor Gyokeres (5/10): Had a sloppy and unconvincing start, both with and without the ball. Improved a bit but it’s just not clicking for the summer signing.
Leandro Trossard (6/10): The Belgian, who was getting a bit of stick from the travelling support, had a decent game against his former club but wasn’t as effective as the encounter wore on.
Also read: Arsenal vs. Brighton: Predicted Lineups + Match Preview
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