Southampton 1-1 Arsenal: By the numbers

It feels weird to see Arsenal draw, before this draw Arsenal haden’t drawn since January last season. That has been good for Arsenal getting points, especially because it seems like a fair amount of those mising draws have turned into wins.

It is a bit of a bummer to drop points in a match that was winnable but hard to get too down when there was a weekend of dropped points for Spurs, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester United.

Southampton 1-1 Arsenal: By the graphics

Southampton 1-1 Arsenal: By the numbers

3 – Big chances for Arsenal in this match, 1 of those turned into a goal

12 – Shots for Arsenal in this match, this is the third match in a row in the Premier League where they have taken les than 14 shots, they had managed more than that in 6 of their opening 8 matches before that.

8 – Shots in the first half, with just 3 shots in the second half, and 2 shots after Southampton equalized.

0.9 – Expected goals for Arsenal in the first half, with just 0.4 in the second half, and just 0.09 after Southampton equalized.

38% – Chances that Arsenal only score 1 goal from the chances that they created. 39% that they score more than 1.

Arsenal got out to a fast start and looked set to roll to a pretty easy win. Even when Southampton put together a string of corner kicks to exert a little pressure this was still a match that looked like it was all Arsenal.  After half time things really took a turn for Arsenal where they came out looking tired and let Southampton back into it.

This is becoming a bit of a concern. At an even game state (score tied, 11v11) Arsenal have the best expected goals difference (+1.46 per 90) and the best goal difference (+1.85 per 90) but when Arsenal are ahead by just a goal things don’t look nearly as good, they have the 8th best goal difference (+0.5 per 90) but only the 11th best xG difference (-0.3 per 90). They have not been good enough at extending the lead with the same ability to get the lead.

Jesus looks off

27 – Pass Attempts

77.8% – Pass completion percentage

2 – Progressive Passes

1 – Deep Completions (not Cross)

0 – Key Passes

4 – Shots

0.60 – xG

4 – Times Fouled (that were called at least)

14 – Progressive Passes Received

6 – Touches in the box

3 – Dispossed

1 – Miscontrol

6 – Aerial Duels

25% – Aerial Win%

Since the Liverpool match, Jesus has looked a bit off. I am not a doctor but I do wonder if he is still not quite at 100 percent after the blow to the head that he recieved in that match. He has also not seen the same levels of service that he was seeing to start the season, before the Leeds match he was getting 10.7 touches in the box per match but has had just 9 over the last two combined.

He did still end up with 4 shots and 0.6 expected goals but it was not great to see him retreating away from the penalty box as the match went on. In this match he seemed to be dropping deeper and deeper looking to get into the match, ultimately having more touches in the middle third than the final third. That could also be a reflection of what happens when you get bear hugged everytime you’re in the final third as well.

Gabriel is a rock at the back

10 – Clearances (led all players)

4 – Aerial Duels

100% – Aerial duel win rate

1 – Tackle

1 – Blocked shot

71 – Passes completed (led all players)

5 – Progressive passes completed

909 – Progressive Pass Distance in yards (led all players)

10 – Progressive carries (led all players)

317 – Progressive Carry Distance in yards (led all players)

He doesn’t have the catchy song but I think that this was a match where the fans owed an ode to Gabriel. I thought that he was immense in this match. With Southampton firing balls into the box left and right from crosses and long throws he was there taking care of those without too much fuss. He was also pivotal in turning a couple of sitiuations that could have been dangerous into things that didn’t hurt Arsenal.

I am glad that he was rewarded with a new contract, I think that he will be an important part of this team for a long time.

Sources: Opta via whoscored, my own database