Normally after a match I would focus on what just happened in the match, but the Arsenal vs Qarabag match had no bearing on how the future fixtures would play out and was played that way. On a scale of an intense Derby to a preseason friendly, this was much closer to the preseason style tune up than any other match Arsenal have played this season.
Arsenal had already confirmed that they would win the group, and that Sporting would be the runner up to advance from the group. So instead of the regular focus on the match, this post will take a bigger picture look at the Europa League as a whole.
10.4 – Arsenal xG during their group stage matches, 9th highest among all teams.
12 – Arsenal Goals during their group stage matches, tied for 7th most among all teams.
81 – Total shots for Arsenal during their group stage matches, tied for 17th most among all teams.
15 – Big Chances for Arsenal during their group stage matches, tied for 10th most among all teams.
5.2 – Arsenal xG allowed during their group stage matches, 7th lowest among all teams.
2 – Arsenal Goals allowed during their group stage matches, tied for the lowest among all teams.
63 – Total shots allowed by Arsenal during their group stage matches, tied for 18th fewest among all teams.
4 – Big Chances allowed by Arsenal during their group stage matches, tied for the least among all teams.
5.2 – xG Difference for Arsenal in the group stages, 7th best among all teams.
10 – Goal Difference for Arsenal in the group stages, tied for the best among all teams.
18 – Shot Difference for Arsenal in the group stages, 18th best among all teams. For how good the other numbers are this is a bit weird, for example Chelsea were first and had a shot differential of 97. That’s a pretty huge difference.
Overall Arsenal were among the top teams during the group stages. Chelsea were the biggest leaders in shots and xG but Arsenal spent a lot of time winning and were able collect enough points were the last 2 games were dead rubbers and had the luxury of heavy rotation. It was interesting that one of the teams that out xG’d Arsenal was group mate Sporting, who ended up with the 4th best xG differential but couldn’t get past Arsenal.
13 – Shots for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the Europa League, leading Arsenal and 37th overall.
2.0 – xG for Danny Welbeck in the Europa League, leading Arsenal and 33rd overall.
2 – Goals for Welbeck, Aubameyang and Emile Smith-Rowe leading Arsenal in the group stages. All tied for 28th most among all players.
It was really too bad the Smith-Rowe was injured for the last match because he looked really impressive in his earlier appearances. Arsenal were able to rotate effectively in this tournament and that shows that they don’t have a player dominating the top of the individual charts.
39 – Final Third entry passes for Matteo Guendouzi, leading Arsenal and 7th most among all players in the Europa League
3.37 – xG chain for Matteo Guendouzi, leading Arsenal and 39th most among all players in the Europa League
1.6 – Offense Value Added for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, leading Arsenal and 49th most among all players in the Europa League
15 – Successful passes into the box for Alex Iwobi leading Arsenal. Tied for 24th behind the leader Willian at 34.
Arsenal’s rotation made it so they didn’t have any leaders in these stats but it was nice to see a pair of young players leading the way for Arsenal in these stats.
193 – Total Defensive Actions for Arsenal in the Europa League, that is the second lowest overall.
When you are one the big teams and control the possession in all the matches that you play you really limit the number of chances that you have to create defensive actions. I would imagine that with Arsenal winning a vast majority of the time also contributed to these stats.
66 – Tackles for Arsenal, 4th lowest in the Europa League
13 – Interceptions for Arsenal, the lowest in the Europa League
56 – Blocked Passes for Arsenal, 9th most in the Europa League
Looking at the total defensive stats is hard in a competition like the Europa League, because Arsenal have a talent advantage and play ahead for so much of the time the really don’t have to press at the same level that they do during the league. Keeping an eye on these stats during the knock out stage will be interesting.
Sources: Opta via my own database
The stats read like Arsenal got through the stages with real efficiency.
And Smith-Rowe being absent for the last match was unfortunate. Hopefully he’s back soon.
Shot difference vs wins relationship tells me it’s quality over quantity.
Also tells me (with the assistance of my own anecdotal evidence) we’re still not closing down crosses and distance shots very well in Europa.
We are playing weak teams and winning even with lots of our youth side. More challenges to come though it is an easier competition by far for us.