It is not a surprise to learn that no Premier League player has lost more challenges than Cesc Fàbregas, whose opponents have waltzed past him 20 times. As crucial as his partnership with Nemanja Matic was for Chelsea last season, it has become a huge source of concern for the champions. Yet at least Fàbregas has company on the naughty step, for it transpires that Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey and West Ham’s captain, Mark Noble, have each lost 20 challenges as well. Perhaps that helps to explain why Arsène Wenger has moved Ramsey away from central midfield, while Noble’s place could come under threat from Pedro Obiang if he continues to leave his defenders exposed.
Chances created
No player has more created more goals than David Silva, whose six assists emphasise his importance for Manchester City (Wes Hoolahan is second with five for Norwich City). However, others have created more chances. Although Eden Hazard has been criticised for a dip in form, the Chelsea winger has made the fourth-most chances for his team-mates (28). Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla is third with 29 and it is interesting to note that his team-mate Mesut Özil, whose effectiveness is often doubted, is second with 31. However the player who leads the way is West Ham United’s Dimitri Payet, who has carved open opposition defences 33 times.
Hazard has also completed the second-most dribbles (27) in the league, which suggests that others in Chelsea’s attack need to contribute more. However the Belgian is eclipsed by Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez, who is out in front with 33 dribbles. The Algerian has been excellent, although he was an unused substitute when Leicester won 2-1 at Norwich City on 3 October. Other dribblers who have been hard to contain are Arsenal’s Alexis Sánchez (24), Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha (22) and Everton’s Ross Barkley and Southampton’s Sadio Mané (both 21).
Crosses from open play
It is telling that four of the top 10 are full-backs – Palace’s Pape Souaré (36), Aston Villa’s Jordan Amavi (35), Bournemouth’s Simon Francis (34) and City’s Aleksandar Kolarov (33) – and that two of them, Robbie Brady (37) and Ikechi Anya (30), have occasionally been used as full-backs by Norwich and Watford respectively. With wide midfielders no longer hugging the touchline as much, defensive players are being asked to push forward. However, old-fashioned wing play is not extinct. Swansea’s Jefferson Montero has sent in the third-most crosses, 40, and one of them led to a goal for André Ayew against Tottenham on 4 October, and the player who tops the list with 46 crosses, Southampton’s Dusan Tadic, has also created the fifth-most chances (25). The challenge is to be accurate. City’s Jesús Navas has hit 41 crosses but he was widely derided for his aimlessness against West Ham.
Crystal Palace’s board feared that signing Yohan Cabaye for £12.8m and paying him more than the rest of the squad would damage their wage structure. However Alan Pardew, Palace’s manager, persuaded them to budge and Cabaye has been typically inventive so far. Another side to his game is his anticipation out of possession and his intelligence means that he has made the most interceptions, level on 30 with Amavi. Cabaye’s ability to protect his side by winning the ball quickly has given Palace another dimension.
Successful passes
The usual suspects are up there. Cazorla leads the way with 591 passes, while Fàbregas is second with 525. They have also had the most touches: Cazorla 841, Fàbregas 758. If only Fàbregas was doing more with all that possession. If he does regain his touch, it appears that he is well placed to start hurting opponents again. Another name stands out. Bournemouth’s Andrew Surman, a neat and tidy player who goes about his job with out too much fuss in central midfield, has made the fourth-most passes (485).
Surman has also been a tireless runner as well, covering 59.8 miles. His team-mate Matt Ritchie is third with 59.3 miles and it is clear that if Eddie Howe’s side go down, it will not be because of a lack of effort. Another two who catch the eye are Noble in eighth place (55.9 miles) and Fàbregas in ninth (55.7 miles) – presumably because they spend so much time chasing after opposition midfielders. Yet the identity of the player who has run the most will shock no one. Who else could it be but Liverpool’s James Milner on 62.1 miles? Jürgen Klopp will love him.
Save percentage
Petr Cech demonstrated his value to Arsenal by making a superb save to prevent Anthony Martial from dragging Manchester United back into the game at the Emirates Stadium 10 days ago and the former Chelsea goalkeeper has the highest save percentage in the league (81.58%). Palace’s Alex McCarthy is second with 80.56%, City’s Joe Hart pipped into third place with 80%.
Statistics courtesy of Opta
