Stats show Arsenal the most direct team in the Premier League

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The Football Faithful

·20 November 2024

Stats show Arsenal the most direct team in the Premier League

Mikel Arteta has often been dubbed a disciple of Pep Guardiola, having worked alongside the Manchester City manager before taking the reins at Arsenal.

Areta, however, has shifted that narrative with his team of contrasting style to the side they are aiming to displace at the top of the Premier League.

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Arsenal have boasted the best defensive record in the Premier League over the last two seasons and have forged a reputation as set-piece specialists. This season, the Gunners are going direct more than ever with no side in the Premier League taking a higher percentage of their goal kicks long.

The team immediately below Arsenal in the rankings, Everton, Nottingham Forest and Ipswich Town, are the three Premier League teams with the lowest average possession in 2024/25.

Defined by The Athletic as a goal kick played 40+ metres or more away from goal, Arsenal have gone long with 78% of such situations this season. David Raya’s distribution has been well utilised with Arsenal moving away from the trend of playing short and building through lines.

It’s a style markedly different from that of their rivals. None of the other ‘Big Six’ clubs – Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool or Tottenham go long with more than 26% of their goal kicks. Premier League leaders Liverpool have taken just 16% of their goal kicks long so far this season, Spurs (0%) have not done so once under Ange Postecoglou.