Giroud. Hard working but wasteful.
Want to be the pub/terrace know-all this weekend? Want to know who has committed the most fouls? Or who has covered the most ground? Which player has provided the most crosses and who last week put in a true captain’s performance? Then read on and let the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index arm you with enough stats to impress everyone but girly girls.
Saturday 17th November
Arsenal vs. Tottenham 12:45
It’s often said that form doesn’t count for anything in a derby game. How both Arsenal and Tottenham will hope that that is true this weekend. The north London rivals meet in Saturday’s lunchtime kick off on the back of two poor weeks in the league. The Gunners poor form continued as they followed up their loss at Old Trafford with a home draw against Fulham last weekend.
Oliver Giroud made a timely contribution against Fulham, scoring two goals to ease the pressure on the French striker since his arrival at the Emirates. Giroud now has 3 goals from 16 shots on target, however he has also wasted a number of chances, shooting 16 times off target, the 5th highest in the league. Giroud has also been making an effort to endear himself to Arsenal fans by assisting defensively, having made more clearances than any other striker in the league with 14.
Podolski also grabbed his third league goal of the season against Fulham. The former Cologne star has now converted 3 of his 10 shots on target and placed just 6 wide.
As well as being one of Arsenal’s biggest threat in attack, Santi Carzorla has shown he is willing to work for his team, covering 6.36 miles against Fulham, the most of any Arsenal player. That is the 6th time this season that Carzorla has lead his side in terms of miles ran, according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
Mikel Arteta saw an injury time penalty well saved by Mark Schwarzer against Fulham. Arteta has seemingly conceded midfield goal scoring duties to Carzola this season, as the Spanish midfielder has had just 9 efforts at goal with 5 on target, but has attempted 44 tackles, winning 19.
Arteta and Carzola are also in a battle with Man City’s Yaya Toure to be crowned the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index’s pass master. Carzola leads the charts having completed 495 passes in his opponent’s half this season, with Toure second with 479 and Arteta third with 469
Spurs were unable to bounce back from the home loss to Wigan, losing 2-1 to Manchester City after taking the lead. Pressure continues to mount on manager Andre Villas-Boas as he struggles to get the best out of his side on a weekly basis and is yet to win over the majority of Spurs’ fans.
Emmanuel Adebayor started against former club Man City, but has endured a frustrating start to the season, playing just 239 Premier League minutes. In those minutes he has mustered just four efforts at goal with two on target and two off target.
For the third Premier League game in a row, Clint Dempsey covered more ground than any of his teammates. The American international recorded 7.14 miles on the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, the most ground any Spurs player has covered this season. Last season Dempsey covered more ground over the season than any other Premier League player covering 226.68 miles, so his work rate is a sign that he is now settling in at Spurs and returning to his best.
The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index supports the general consensus that Gareth Bale has been Tottenham’s best player so far this season. In 10 appearances he has scored 3 times, made 2 assists and put in 36 crosses.
The Welshman could improve shot to goal ratio however – he has shot 21 times on target for that return of three goals, a conversion rate of just 14%. Bale has, somewhat surprisingly, also completed just 10 dribbles, few than players such as Suarez (23), Ben Arfa (22), Hazard (17) and Pienaar (12).
Steven Caulker scored for Spurs against City and also on his England debut to mark a great week for him individually, although he was on the losing team on both occasions. Caulker’s Spurs goal was his second of the season, an impressive return for a defender who has also contributed 24 interceptions, 15 clearances and 3 blocks.
Caulker converted a free kick from Tom Huddlestone, who has returned from long-term injury for Spurs. Huddlestone has now made four appearances for Spurs, covering 21.77 miles and already notching up 2 assists from 70 passes completed in the opponent’s half and 7 crosses delivered.
Liverpool vs. Wigan 15:00
After earning a well-deserved point away at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, Liverpool will be looking to stay ahead of Wigan in the league. Currently there is just one point separating the sides sitting in 13th and 14th position respectively.
Liverpool are unbeaten in 6 league games but have now drawn 6 out of 11 matches in the Premier League this season.
Suarez has now scored 8 times in the league this season and amazingly has over half of Liverpool’s goals, according to EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. Sunday’s goal was the 4th successive away game that the Uruguayan has scored and further highlights his importance to a Liverpool side that carries little threat elsewhere in attack.
After 11 games, Suarez remains by far the most prolific goal threat in the league, having already had 58 shots at goal, 14 more than nearest rival Jermain Defoe.
In an intriguing match up, Suarez will this weekend face the goalkeeper who has made the most saves of anyone this season – Ali Al Habsi. Al Habsi has made 66 saves in 11 games to sit top of the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
Although he has only been used 6 times this season in the Premier League by Brendan Rogers, Sanchez Jose Enrique was Liverpool’s man of the match on Sunday. He covered 6.34 miles and has only lost 2 tackles all season.
Joe Allen has covered the most ground in the Liverpool side on 8 occasions this season, in the Premier League, according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. His 6.75 miles against Chelsea is the most by a Liverpool player in a single game this season, contributing to a team total of 63.83 miles which is also a season high.
Steven Gerrard has been in the top 2 for Liverpool in 7 matches, showing the impressive engine that even at 32 keeps him one of the first names on the team sheet for England and Liverpool
Gerrard received his 100th cap for England this week. Having spent the first half of last season injured Gerrard has been back to his best this term, completing 338 passes in his opponent’s half (the 6th highest in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index) and delivering 53 crosses (the 2nd highest)
Following their excellent win at White Hart Lane, Wigan will be ruing the two soft goals they gave away against West Brom and their number one aim this weekend will be to contain Luis Suarez.
Despite scoring a decisive own goal last weekend vs. West Brom, Gary Caldwell has been Wigan’s best defender according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
The Scot has made 12 blocks (5th in the league), 26 clearances (4th in the league) and 93 interceptions, the most from any player in the league.
James McCarthy, Maynor Figueroa and Ivan Ramis have supported Caldwell admirably, making 31, 29 and 28 tackles respectively. The joint 3rd. joint 4th and joint 5th most in the Premier League as noted by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
At the other end of the pitch, Arouna Kone has started his Premier League career well, becoming Wigan’s main attacking threat. The forward has completed 17 dribbles and scored 4 goals in 11 appearances, including Wigan’s goal against West Brom. The Ivory Coast striker has also created 2 goals for team mates this season.
Shaun Maloney covered the most ground in his side for the 5th time this season, against West Brom. The midfielder covered 5.32miles, the fewest miles he has run when topping his team’s charts this season. He has been in Wigan’s top 2 positions for miles covered in 7 of his appearances this season.
The facts don’t lie Edin. You’re a super sub.
Manchester City vs. Aston Villa 15:00
City and Villa took part in very contrasting endings to their matches last weekend. Manchester City were pushed all the way by Spurs before coming from behind to win at home, while Villa led Manchester United 2-1 before capitulating to a 3-2 defeat.
Edin Dzeko may not want to be seen as a ‘super-sub’, but the label fits as 5 of Dzeko’s 6 league goals this season have come as a substitute and 3 have proved decisive in winning matches, against Fulham, West Brom and Spurs.
Dzeko now has six goals so far this season, averaging one every 71 minutes and 10 seconds and getting them from just 25 efforts at goal
Former Villa star Gareth Barry clocked 7.31miles against Spurs, the most out of any player on the pitch and the fourth highest by a player in a single game all season. Aleksander Kolarov also put in an impressive shift, covering 7.3 miles, sitting just behind Barry in 5th in the individual distance covered charts this season.
The overall City performance of 68.66 miles covered in the game is the most by team in a single fixture this season, trumping Southampton’s 67.85 miles v Fulham
Barry has been City’s hardest worker in 3 of his 7 games in the league this season according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, and will undoubtedly want to put in a hard working performance against his former club.
Sergio Aguero was also on target against Spurs with his third Premier League goal of the season, and more are surely on the way as the Argentine striker has an impressive shots on target percentage of 64%.
Aston Villa looked to have dealt Manchester United their 3rd league defeat of the season until a dramatic comeback broke Villa hearts. It was a performance, however, which Villa can build on and will have given players and fans belief they are heading in the right direction.
A loss at the Etihad on Saturday afternoon could see Villa in the relegation zone, if Reading beat Everton at home.
The manner of the loss to Manchester United last weekend would have been hard to take, however Villa can take heart from their performance, particularly as 7 players in the side Paul Lambert fielded were 23 or younger, including 22-year-old Enda Stevens who made his full league debut.
Another young player, Ashley Westwood, covered the most ground in the game with 7.16 miles, the tenth highest by a player in a single game this season and the most by a Villa player, breaking his own record of 7.01 miles from the previous game.
Goals either side of half time from Andreas Weimann, the Austrian’s first league goals of the season, looked to have set up a famous win in front of a sell-out crowd, before United turned the game on its head in seven second-half minutes. Weimann had previously had 14 attempts at goal though he had an impressive 71% on target, showing that if his team mates provide the opportunities he will test the goalkeeper.
Fellow striker Christian Benteke is showing a similarly impressive eye for goal, getting 63% of his efforts on target.
Ron Vlaar was unfortunate to concede an own goal in the game as he has been one of Villa’s stand out performers this season. The Dutch defender has made the 2nd most clearances in the league with 32 in 11 appearances including an incredible 11 against Manchester United, the most by a single player in a game this season.
Vlaar is also joint 5th in the league for blocks (11), behind James Collins (15), Ryan Nelson (14), Ashley Williams (13) and Olsson, Gary Caldwell and Carols Cuellar who have each made 12 blocks.
Newcastle United vs. Swansea 15:00
Newcastle were unable to beat manager Alan Pardew’s former club, West Ham, at home on Sunday. The Magpies are 10th and face Swansea, who are a position and a point behind them in the Premier League.
Demba Ba was a revelation on Tyneside last season and is leading the Newcastle side again with 7 league goals so far this term. He is the third top goal scorer in the league behind van Persie and Suarez, who both have 8 goals to their names.
Hatem Ben Arfa was nominated for FIFA’s Puskas Award for goal of the year this week, and he continues to be one of Newcastle’s best attacking threats this season. He has dribbled the ball more often than any other player (22 times) in the league apart from Luis Suarez (23 times).
Ben Arfa ran with the ball 6 times against West Ham, only one player has completed more dribbles in a single game this season and that’s Suarez with 7 against Norwich. He has also contributed two assists and scored twice himself.
For the 7th time this season, Yohan Cabaye topped the distance run charts for Newcastle with 6.55 miles against West Ham. He also won ten tackles in the game against West Ham, the most by a single player in a game all season, while Shane Ferguson won 8, the joint third highest of the season
Swansea will be without Korean midfielder Ki Sung-Yeung who is ruled out with a hamstring injury. The Swans were grateful for Southampton defender Maya Yoshida’s mistake, which allowed substitute Nathan Dyer to grab his side a point on the south coast in their last game.
Dyer has three goals so far this season from 13 efforts at goal with an impressive 77% on target, and has also contributed 2 assists.
Wayne Routledge comes up against a former club in Newcastle united. The midfielder will be looking to build on the 2 goals and 4 assists he has already this season. Routledge has looked impressive for Swansea this season, completing 186 passes in his opponent’s half so far.
Summer signing Miguel Michu has converted 6 of his 12 shots on target in the Premier League this season. The attacking midfielder will no doubt be looking to contribute more assists though, after providing just one opportunity for a teammate.
Chico Flores has returned to training following a thigh injury and could be in line to face Newcastle. The £2m summer signing has established himself as a first-choice centre-back for Swansea winning 17 of 24 attempted tackles and made 41 interceptions in 7 appearances.
Ashley Williams leads his side in terms of interceptions however. The Welshman 74 interceptions, the 6th most in the league according to the EA SPORTS P has completed layer Performance Index.
Pablo Hernandez covered more ground than any other Swansea player with 6.66miles vs. Southampton last week. However it is Angel Rangel who is the Swans’ workhorse. He has covered 69.65 miles overall this season to top the cumulative distance charts.
QPR vs. Southampton 15:00
QPR and Southampton contend a big relegation six pointer this weekend. QPR are yet to record a win in the league this season while Southampton have only won once.
QPR fans will have been relieved to see Djibril Cisse’s equalizer vs. Reading last weekend. Not only did it rescue a point at home for his side, but it was also his opening goal this season in the Premier League. In 10 appearances Cisse has had 16 shots at goal this season, with 10 on target,
Former Inter Milan keeper Julio Cesar has made 40 saves in 8 Premier League appearances, some way behind the league’s top goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi who has made the most saves with 66 so far
Ryan Nelsen is second in EA SPORTS Player Performance Index for most blocks with 14, behind James Collins who has made 15 for West Ham.
Anton Ferdinand has also contributed with 10 blocks, putting him at joint 6th in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index with Mariappa, Jagielka and Cahill.
According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, England international Bobby Zamora has been QPR’s best player so far this season. The imposing striker has 3 goals in 10 games, scoring from just 9 shots on target and shooting wide only 3 times.
Southampton boss Nigel Adkins is the bookies favorite to be the first Premier League managerial casualty of the year. A defensive error with 15minutes to go threw away 2 points last time out against Swansea.
Last weekend was the fifth time this season Southampton have dropped points from winning positions.
For the 6th time this season, Morgan Schneiderlin lead the Southampton stats for most distance run during the game, covering 7.38 miles against Swansea, the second highest distance run by a single player all season. Schneiderlin now holds five of the top ten slots for distance covered in a single game this season and has 69.81 miles on the clock in total.
The French midfielder also scored Southampton’s only goal vs. Swansea, his second of the campaign. He has also won the second most tackles in the league (32), behind only Mark Noble (34).
Rickie Lambert has started this season in good form, scoring 4 goals in 11 appearances. That is currently the same number of goals as scored by Premier League stars Javier Hernandez, Fernando Torres, and Carlos Tevez, according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
Saturday’s game will see an interesting midfield battle between Adam Lallana, 24, and Adel Taarabt, 23. Although both players pose attacking threats for the opposition, their roles within their teams are very different. The Englishman has created 4 goals for Southampton, swung in 26 crosses and linked with teammates 246 times in the opponents half. He has also contributed in defense, making 18 tackles and 14 interceptions.
Taarabt is far more direct with his attacking, with 29 attempts on goal, 10 dribbles and just 8 crosses with 0 assists.
Reading v Everton 15:00
Reading played out a 0-0 draw with Norwich in their last game, their sixth league draw and the first time they have managed to prevent their opponent’s scoring all season.
Jobi McAnuff has been impressive for Reading so far this season, and has contributed five assists so far, more than any other English player in the Premier League.
Mariappa has made four appearances so far this season, but for his time on the pitch has been the league’s most effective defender. He has attempted 11 tackles, made 7 clearances, 67 interceptions and 10 blocks, averaging a defensive contribution once every 4 minutes, the best in the league.
Everton beat Sunderland 2-1 in their last game thanks to goals from Marouane Fellaini and Nikica Jelavic
Fellaini’s goal was his sixth of the season, an incredible return from the player who scored just 3 goals in the whole 2011/12 season.
Jelavic made an incredible start to life at Everton when he scored 9 goals in 13 games at the end of last season, averaging a goal every 112 minutes. This season goals have been a little slower coming, but his rate of a goal every 171 minutes this season is still not to be ignored.
Leon Osman was celebrating this week as an excellent season so far culminated in an England call up. Osman has completed 277 passes in his opponent’s half this season, the 14th highest overall and the 4th highest among English players in the league.
Phil Jagielka has been in outstanding form this season, and made 23 interceptions in the game against Sunderland, the joint 4th highest by a player in a single match this season.
Leighton Baines remains top of the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index for crosses delivered and contributed another 8 crosses against Swansea, the most by a player in the last round of games.
Kevin Mirallas’ impressive play continues to frustrate when it comes to turning that into goals. Mirallas still has just one goal to his name despite an impressive 21 shots on target, the fifth highest in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
Everton’s Irish full back Seamus Coleman had an impressive game for Ireland in the week. Coleman has completed 10 dribbles this season, more than any other defender in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
James Morrison. The Cutter has been banging on about this for ages. At some point people will realise that this lad is a player.
West Brom v Chelsea 15:00
James Morrison scored from a Chris Brunt free kick before Billy Jones forced an own goal from Gary Caldwell as high flying West Brom beat Wigan 2-1 in their last game.
James Morrison has been in exceptional form this season and is now ranked 18th overall in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, an incredible performance from a player who ended last season ranked 176th
Morrison has three goals and three assists to his name this season, contributing to a goal once every 146 minutes for the Baggies. Morrison’s goals have come from 16 efforts at goal with exactly half on target.
Morrison’s 183 passes completed in his opponent’s half, meanwhile, puts him ahead of Premier League superstars such as Newcastle’s Yohan Cabaye (179), today’s opponents Chelsea’s Ramires (153) and Spurs’ Gareth Bale (177).
Romelu Lukaku has looked in exceptional form since joining West Brom from today’s opponents Chelsea. The Belgian international has had an incredible 19 of his 21 efforts at goal on target, an on target percentage of 90% and the highest in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index (excluding players who have had fewer than ten efforts at goal).
Chelsea’s form, conversely, has hit a blip which has seen them drop from first to third in the Premier League table.
John Terry seemed to have made a dream return from suspension by heading the Blues ahead, but was later taken off with a knee injury.
Terry’s goal was his first in the Premier League this season having previously had just one effort on target and two off target. Those stats are surprising considering last season Terry scored six goals from 25 efforts at goal, the most of any Premier League defender.
The stats show that Terry is leaving attacking adventures to fellow defenders David Luiz, Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic, as Terry’s defensive stats for this season remain exceptional. Terry has made 16 clearances, 10 interceptions and 2 blocks.
Oscar wasted a clear chance to win the game for Chelsea, meaning the Brazilian spends another week labeled as the player to have had the most shots on target without scoring (12).
Norwich v Man Utd 17:30
Norwich played out a 0-0 draw with Reading in their last game to give them an impressive return of just one goal conceded in their last four Premier League games.
Sebastian Bassong has divided opinion throughout his career, but looks to be back towards his best at Norwich. He made 8 clearances against Reading, the joint second highest by a player in a single match this season and adding to his tally of 24 this season so far.
Leon Barnett has been instrumental to Norwich’s defensive performances, winning 8 of his 15 attempted tackles and making 10 clearances, 35 interceptions and 3 blocks. That’s an average of a defensive interception every 9 minutes 44 seconds.
John Ruddy, meanwhile, continues to impress and the England number two has been the fifth busiest goalkeeper in the Premier League so far this season, making 55 saves. Ruddy has conceded 18 goals for those saves, averaging 3.05 saves per goal conceded. England rival Joe Hart, however, has conceded just ten goals, but has only had to make 28 saves behind one of the league’s tightest defences, averaging 2.8 saves per goal conceded.
Wesley Hoolahan topped the chart for ground covered against Reading with 6.77 miles, the third highest by a Norwich player all season.
Manchester United beat Villa 3-2 in their last league game, but Villa gave United a scare in the game going two goals up with both goals coming from crosses from the left.
Rafael da Silva has come of age in an attacking sense this season, completing 241 passes in his opponent’s half, second only to Leighton Baines among defenders in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. However, he may want to sharpen up his tackling, as he has come away with the ball after just 57% of his 30 tackles attempted this season, displaying the defensive frailty exposed by Villa.
When delivering balls into the box Norwich should be wary, however, of Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evan’s ability to clear the ball. Both are in the top 20 for clearance this season with 19 and 16 respectively, an impressive feat considering only Vincent Kompany and Phil Jagielka feature in the top 20 from the other current top 4 sides.
However, winning the ball from the feet of a player is another matter. Rafael da Silva’s 17 tackles won is the highest among his United team mates, ranked 50th in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, while Ferdinand has won just ten tackles, suggesting that running at United may be more fruitful than high balls into the box.
That’s not necessarily great news for Norwich, as no Canaries’ player has completed more than five dribbles this season. New signing Robert Snodgrass has that tally to his name.
Michael Carrick has been at the top of his game this season, quietly dictating play for United. He made an incredible 92 passes in his opponent’s half against Villa, more than one a minute and the most by a player in a single game this season.
That performance by Carrick, and Paul Scholes who completes a pass in his opponent’s half more than once every two minutes, typifies United’s passing style of play. Conversely last season Nani finished the season top of the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index for crosses with 133 and Valencia in fifth with 107, averaging 16 crosses per game while their passes completed in their opponent’s half averaged 238 per game.
This season United have averaged 11 crosses per game and 256 passes completed in the opponent’s half, as United seem to have focused their play through the middle to feed to the feet of league top scorer Robin van Persie.
Norwich will need to beware the trademark United sucker punch, should they find themselves leading against Manchester United. Javier Hernandez has made a habit of coming off the bench to rescue Manchester United this season. Hernandez has the best minutes per goal contribution (a goal or assist) in the league, having contributed a goal or assist every 39 minutes 48 seconds while on the pitch this season. His goals have come at a rate of one every 59 minutes 45 seconds, the best in the league.
Sunday 18th November 2012
Fulham v Sunderland 16:00
Fulham played their part in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Arsenal in their last game. Two goals from Dimitar Berbatov plus one from the impressive Alex Kacaniklic and a penalty save by Mark Schwarzer earned the Cottagers a fantastic point.
Dimitar Berbatov has been plagued by questions over his work ethic throughout his career, but he is shining at Fulham and has fought to win the ball back making 21 interceptions, more than any other striker in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
More importantly for a striker, Berbatov has five goals and 3 assists already this season, contributing to a goal every 78 minutes and 23 seconds.
Kacaniklic now has two goals and two assists to his name this season, averaging a goal or assist every 145 minutes of play. He has also completed 104 passes in his opponent’s half, one every 5 minutes 34 seconds.
Striker Bryan Ruiz has teamed his impressive engine with a lethal supply service to his team mates this season. The Costa Rican striker has 7 assists to his name, second only to Eden Hazard in the EA SPORTS player Performance Index.
Sunderland finally broke their goal scoring jinx against Everton, but Adam Johnson’s goal wasn’t enough to prevent a 2-1 defeat.
Previously the Black Cats had scored just once in five Premier League games and Steven Fletcher had scored 5 of their 6 goals all season, with the other an own goal by Demba Ba. Johnson’s was the first goal by a player other than Fletcher all season.
Adam Johnson has played 607 minutes for Sunderland this season, and his goal against Everton was his first goal or assist for his new team. Last season Johnson ended with 6 goals and 6 assists to his name at Man City, averaging one every 102 minutes 48 seconds, so Sunderland fans will be hoping that now he has his first league goal he can improve his return.
Despite their struggles in front of goal, Sunderland maintain one of the most frugal defences in the league. They have conceded just 11 goals this season including just 3 at home, the joint second lowest goals against tally in the league.
Craig Gardner has been one of Sunderland’s best performers this season, making 53 interceptions and 8 blocks, both are the most by a midfielder in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index .
Despite limited opportunities to play this season Titus Bramble as shown he can perform at his best again, having won 6 of his 7 attempted tackles and also made 2 clearances, 28 interceptions and 1 block, making him one of the most effective defenders in the league for his minutes on the pitch.
Similarly John O’Shea has been a key part of Sunderland’s excellent defensive contributing 6 blocks, 89 interceptions and 16 clearances, while winning 18 of 24 attempted tackles.
Monday 19th November 2012
West Ham v Stoke 20:00
West Ham secured a 1-0 win against Newcastle in their last game as Kevin Nolan and Sam Allardyce returned to haunt their former club
Nolan’s goal was his fifth of the season, making him the joint highest scoring Englishman in the Premier League this season alongside Jermain Defoe. Nolan, however, has needed just 27 efforts at goal for his tally compared to Defoe’s 44, as the debate continues over how the West Ham captain remains uncapped by England.
Mark Noble put in another huge performance for West Ham against Newcastle, covering 7.23 miles, the 9th highest distance covered by a player in a single game this season.
Jussi Jaaskelainen has looked a good signing for West Ham this season. The veteran goalkeeper made ten saves against Newcastle, the most by any goalkeeper in last weekend’s round of games.
James Tomkins has an unusual credit to his name for a defender. Tomkins has had 7 efforts at goal without missing the target. Only one player has a higher number, Manchester City’s £24 million midfielder Samir Nasri.
Charlie Adam scored the only goal in Stoke’s 1-0 victory over QPR in their last game.
That was Adam’s first league goal for Stoke, and came after 14 efforts at goal with 8 on target so far this season. Adam also has an assist to his name but will hope for more this season having delivered 17 crosses.
Stoke and Man City may not often come in the same breath when it comes to playing styles, but the two clubs share the best defensive record in the league having each conceded just ten goals in eleven games. Amazingly Stoke have conceded just once at home this season.
Stoke keeper Asmir Begovic has had to work harder for his record than City keeper Joe Hart as well. Begovic has made 53 saves so far this season compared to Hart’s 28 saves.
Ryan Shawcross earned his first senior England cap this week, and despite coming close to clearing Ibrahimovic’s sensational fourth goal from crossing the line, he largely endured a torrid time at the hands of the Swedish striker.
Shawcross’ selection was well deserved, however, having won 78% of 28 tackles attempted this season and also making 10 clearances, 52 interceptions and 11 blocks, averaging a defensive intervention once every 10 minutes 34 seconds.
Fellow centre back Robert Huth has been in equally excellent form, winning exactly half of his 36 attempted tackles and adding 15 clearances, 63 interceptions and 8 blocks to average a defensive contribution every 8 minutes 40 seconds.
