Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal: By the numbers

Winning at Stamford Bridge isn’t for everyone.

Going into this match Chelsea hadn’t lost at home since April last season when they also lost to Arsenal.  Over the last 3 seasons (counting this one) Chelsea have lost 7 times at home in the Premier League, 3 of which have been against Arsenal.

Stamford Bridge is starting to feel like a home away from home.

Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal: By the graphics

Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal: By the numbers

14 – Shots from Arsenal

3 – Big Chances for Arsenal

1.96 – Expected Goals (xG) for Arsenal, rounding that to 2 that is the 7th time this season that Arsenal have had 2.0 or higher xG in a match.

53% – The percentage of Arsenal’s matches that they have produced 2.0 xG or better. Last year they managed it in 34% (13/38)

5 – Shots for Chelsea, tied for the fewest they have had in a match this season

11 – Times Arsenal have held an opponent to 10 or fewer shots. This is the 4th time that they have held an opponent to 5 or fewer shots, they did that just 3 times last year.

0.3 – xG for Chelsea, their lowest total for the season

2 – Shots in the second half for Chelsea

7 – The number of times that Arsenal have held an opponent under 1 xG this season.

3 – Shots allowed in the second half by Arsenal over their last two matches

0.85 – Arsenal’s goals allowed per match this season. That would be the lowest since 2007-2008 when they allowed 0.81 goals per match over the full season.

Arsenal’s attack has been impressive this season but I think one of the biggest reasons that they are currently top of the table is the defense (well really both but still…). In this match, Arsenal were rarely put under much pressure. Chelsea had 15 touches in the box in this match, three of those came as the result of a corner kick that didn’t result in a shot.

In the second half they had one in the 49th minute (the result of a bad Saliba touch) and then didn’t have another one until the 75th minute. Even chasing the game they managed just 3 overall touches in the box after going down a goal.

Arsenal’s defense just didn’t allow them to do anything. Arsenal pressed effectively in this match. This was Chelsea’s lowest overall passing percentage this season, Arsenal held them to just 83% passing in their own half and forcing them to go long over and over under pressure. Arsenal ended up with 15 High Ball recoveries (in the attacking 40% of the pitch) in this match compared to just 7 for Chelsea.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, nothing personal

5 – Pass attempts, the fewest among all players that started this match. He completed just 3 of them.

1 – Shot (blocked)

8 – Touches

0 – Dribbles

0 – Progressive carries

1 – Progressive pass received

0 – Tackles

0 – Interceptions

2 – Fouls committed

0 – Impact

Just some stats, nothing personal Pierre.

William Saliba is just so good

50 – Passes completed, second on Arsenal. 85% pass completion rate

5 – Final third entry passes completed, fourth on Arsenal

4 – Progressive passes completed

382 – Yards of progressive passing distance, third on Arsenal

2 – Progressive carries

181 – Yard of progressive carry distance

0.3 – The amount of total xG build-up he was involved in, most of all players.

0 – Dispossessed

2 – Tackles, he was dribbled past 0 times in this match. He has been dribbled past just once this season.

3 – Interceptions, leading all players

13 – Ball recoveries, leading all players

1 – Blocked shot, saving his own error leading to a shot

4 – Clearances, leading all players

1 – Time drawing a player offside and still beating him to the ball over the top in behind

William Saliba just oozes calm and cool. I don’t really know how to quantify things like that. There are no times that he seems rattled. Even after making a mistake today, he is able to recover and clean up his mess.

He is just a phenomenal player and deserves all the plaudits that are coming his way.

Bukayo Saka bounces back from his injury

5 – Progressive Passes, tied for second on Arsenal

373 – Progressive yards gained through passing

3 – Key Passes

1.02 – xA, most of this comes from his assist of Gabriel’s goal which might have been going in regardless

10 – Progressive Carries, leading all players

358 – Progressive yards carried, leading all players

2 – Times fouled (that were called)

7 – Progressive Passes Received, second among all players

13 – Final Third Entry Pass Received, leading all players

2 – Tackles

6 – Ball Recoveries

Bukayo Saka didn’t have his best match but he was incredibly influential. I think that is one of the things that makes him special, even when he is off his best he is adding incredible value to the team. He was a bit isolated with Arsenal preferring to attack down the left but when he did get the ball at his feet his ability to cause problems was apparent and a major problem for Chelsea. Some day he will get the respect he deserves and the foul calls that actually happen.

Sources: Opta via StatsZone, FBRef, my own database