SHEFF UTD 0–6 ARSENAL: BY THE VISUALS
SHEFF UTD 0–6 ARSENAL: BY THE NUMBERS
Having seen Liverpool score a last-minute winner and Manchester City inevitably pick up three points in the Manchester Derby despite going a goal down, Mikel Arteta’s men knew they had to respond at Bramall Lane.
Going into Monday night, the hosts had allowed the most shots on target of any team in the Premier League this season (173), while their opponents Arsenal had allowed the fewest (65).
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A slight deflection, which would somehow cost him the assist, sent a Declan Rice cross into the path of Martin Ødegaard, who finished well (0.56 xG, 0.89 xGOT), just five minutes in to give Arsenal a well-deserved lead.
Bukayo Saka eased past Auston Trusty, before sending in a low cross that Jayden Bogle inadvertently back-heeled into his own net in the 13th minute.
Martinelli played a one-two with Jakub Kiwior in the box and scored with a deflected strike (0.08 xG).
Involved again, Martinelli dispossessed Anel Ahmedhodzic and found Kai Havertz, who drove it low past Ivo Grbic (0.08 xG) in the 25th minute to make it four.
Six minutes before the break, Ødegaard slipped the ball to Saka, who pulled it back for Rice to sweep home a first-time effort (0.19 xG).
5 – Goals for Arsenal before half-time. The first time in the Premier League that we’ve been five goals ahead before the break.
Ben White made it six with a 58th-minute strike (0.04 xG) after beautiful control and lay-off from Havertz.
3 – Consecutive away matches won by 5-0 or more. Arsenal become the first team in Premier League history to accomplish this.
22 – Shots for Arsenal, marking the fifth-highest number we’ve registered in a league game this season.
5+ – Goals scored by Arsenal in four Premier League games so far in 2024, two more than in the entirety of 2023.
34 – Goals in Arsenal’s seven Premier League games so far in 2024, with 31 scored by Arsenal (91%).
5 – Goals so far this season for Declan Rice, marking his highest return in a single Premier League season.
7 – Goals so far this season for Kai Havertz, achieved from just 11 shots on target in the Premier League.
5 – Arsenal players with 10+ goal contributions in the Premier League this season. More than any other team.
10,000 – Goals scored by Arsenal in all competitions throughout our history, with Benjamin White scoring the milestone goal.
150,000 – Goals in English top-flight league history – the milestone was achieved when Kai Havertz scored Arsenal’s fourth goal.
22 – Completed passes by David Raya, the Arsenal goalkeeper, exceeded the number completed by any Sheffield United player. Jack Robinson, leading the hosts, completed 18 passes.
9 – Clean sheets for David Raya, more than any other goalkeeper this season, and he didn’t even start the season.
4 – Key passes for Kai Havertz (joint first overall). The German completed 43 of his 46 attempted passes (93.5%) and made two carries into the opposition area (joint second overall). He also had eight touches in their box (second overall) and recorded six recoveries (second overall), while contributing a goal and an assist.
167 – Passes completed by William Saliba, who surpassed Santi Cazorla’s record for the most passes by an Arsenal player in a single Premier League game. His 167 completed passes were 24 more than Sheffield United managed as a team. Since 2003, only three players in the Premier League have completed more passes throughout the entire competition.
MARTIN ØDEGAARD’S GAME BY NUMBERS
Most touches in the attacking third (56), most passes into the penalty area (5), most crosses into the penalty area (1), most shot creating actions (8), most successful take-ons (3/3), joint most key passes (3) and another goal scored in the Ø Zone.
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On a night when many of us felt a bit nervous before kickoff because, you know, football – it was a relief to see Arsenal perform as expected and pick up the three points. That said, we’re witnessing football being played at an extraordinary level. Whatever happens come May, it has to be enjoyed. With seven consecutive league wins now under our belt, having earned a maximum 21 points in 2024, tougher challenges lie ahead. But what we’re doing at present should be applauded and appreciated. Next up: Brentford at The Emirates on Saturday night and a chance to go top.
Follow me on Twitter @jonollington
Sources: Opta, fbref, @Orbinho twitter feed
Been waiting for this article! Hooray!
Lovely Arsenal.
Thanks, great stuff as usual!I
One minor point, haven’t we scored 31 goals this year in the PL?
And worth mentioning our 10,000th goal, scored by Benjamin?
Updated both, thank you!
Thanks! And thanks for your posts, always an interesting read.
Can we coin Marty’s sweet spot as the “Øzone”?
My first thought was more like the “Ooooh” zone especially when he passes it into the Gabi spot…. Ok I’ll stop there
And grab my coat
Just failed to get all 10 players of our outfield players average position into the opposing half. Still work to do!
I personally want to see what Raya can do in the opposition penalty area, or at least be given a chance at the 6 :))
Come on David Raya!
Such domination makes for nice reading the week after.
Small quibble though: are you sure Odegaard’s three key passes were the joint-most in this match? You wrote above that Kai Havertz’s four key passes were joint-most. Which is correct?
Good spot and a question I’m glad has come up – I rely heavily on FBRef for the match stats, but the raw data often differs. I’m in the process of setting up my own database that will ensure all stats are synced, but it’s taking me a lot of time and should be in place for next season. Please bear with me until then!
Notable that Kai Havertz has 10 goal involvements which is already on par with Granit Xhaka’s output for the whole of last campaign. He plays further forward more often than the Swiss did so it’s not quite apples to apples, but it’s notable. Also notable how much we spread the goals around. Lovely balance.
Thanks Jon, love the breakdown as always. Odegaard oof we’re lucky to get to watch him bloody hell what a talent.
What does it mean, in the graph, that Sheffield United has greater xT for that first 3 minutes of the game?
Maybe it is a rolling average and they were holding the ball in the tunnel before the start.
” Since 2003, only three players in the Premier League have completed more passes throughout the entire competition. “
Who are they?
Great read, as always!
Thanks Jon.
On to Brentford and Porto next.
COYG 💪
We did everything right with the subs resting some players and giving minutes to those who need it. But part of me say if we just kept going with first 11 that started the game we could have got 10-0 and broke the Premier League record.