After tonight’s Merseyside Derby, Premier League fans will have to go a whole week without any action.Nonetheless, there’s still a full weekend of drama, controversy, surprise results, shocking performances and a subsequent array of intriguing statistics to reflect on before the seven-day drought kicks in.Indeed, it was another enthralling weekend in the Premier League, starting off with another dominant performance from Chelsea and finishing with a potentially fatal defeat for Arsenal at the hands of Manchester City.Somewhere in between, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur dragged themselves a little closer to the top four, Sunderland moved just one point away from safety and Swansea City and Hull slipped further adrift at the foot of the table.As per usual, FootballFanCast have spent Monday morning mulling through the stats in the hope of unearthing a few numerical gems. With that in mind, here’s a look at the biggest, most shocking and intriguing stats from the weekend’s Premier League action.
Classy Carrick
It’s astonishing to think Michael Carrick couldn’t get a game at the start of the season. Since his reintroduction into the starting XI, Manchester United have enjoyed a dramatic uplift in results and that’s no coincidence. Indeed, the Red Devils have won an impressive 60% of Premier League games in which Carrick has started over the last three seasons, compared to just 38% without him. The veteran midfielder may be 35 years of age, but he’s as important as ever.
Clean sheet Courtois
No player has benefited more from Chelsea’s recent winning run than Thibaut Courtois, who has now conceded just two goals in his last eleven games. That’s taken his clean sheets tally for the season to ten – the most of any glovesman involved in Europe’s five biggest leagues. Last term’s critics are becoming increasingly muted.
Giveaway Gunners
A worrying week saw Arsenal’s title hopes crumble around the edges as Arsene Wenger’s boys surrendered 1-0 leads against Everton and Manchester City to leave both games without a single point. Incredibly, the Gunners have already lost three games from winning positions this term, a higher total than last season with less than half of the campaign gone.
Priceless Pogba
Paul Pogba couldn’t escape criticism during the opening few weeks of his Manchester United return but the world-record signing has since proved worthy of his £89million price-tag. Indeed, he’s becoming increasingly crucial in the Red Devils’ engine room and leads the way throughout the United squad on four statistical fronts this season, not least including chances created and successful take-ons.
Comeback err.. Kings?
Manchester City came back against Arsenal to seal a crucial win at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, a feeling the Citizens faithful aren’t exactly used to. Indeed, that was the Manchester outfit’s first second-half comeback in the Premier League for over four years, harking back to a win against Spurs in 2012. That will likely make even more worrying reading for Arsenal fans.
Missing Mustafi
While we’re on the subject of Arsenal’s debasing week, could their drop in results be down to the absence of summer signing Shkodran Mustafi? Many Gunners fans have been impressed with the former Valencia defender’s start to life in north London, providing a sturdy basis alongside Laurent Koscielny, but he’s been absent for all of Arsenal’ defeats this season – four across all competitions.
Wonderful Walcott
Theo Walcott might not have won everybody over with his impressive scoring form this season but the opening goal on Sunday made him Arsenal’s fifth-highest scorer in the Premier League. Of course, longevity has played a key role; the England international has plied his trade with the Gunners for over a decade. But considering some of the talents to grace the north London pitch in that time, Walcott’s tally is a fantastic achievement nonetheless – especially for a player who’s spent much of his career on the wing.
World-class?
We won’t get into the debate over what does and doesn’t constitute world-class, but there’s no question Alexis Sanchez and Diego Costa have been amongst the most ruthless forwards in Europe this season, contributing heavily in terms of both goals and assists. In fact, the Premier League duo lead the way throughout the continent in that regard, whilst Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and their El Clasico accomplices don’t even make it into the top four!
Jack the lad
Jack Wilshere’s enjoying a decent if somewhat unspectacular season on loan at Bournemouth, getting somewhere back to the fitness and form you’d expect of an England international who plies his trade with a top four club. Nonetheless, output still remains an issue for the 24-year-old, who claimed his first Premier League assist in two years against Southampton on Sunday.
First-half heroes
Arsenal may have capitulated at half-time during their last two performances but they’re still the Premier League’s undisputed kings of the first 45. Indeed, Arsene Wenger’s boys are yet to head into the interval losing, boasting the lead on eight occasions – including a 1-0 margin over Manchester City on Sunday.
PvA Glue
Patrick van Aanholt may not be the most convincing of defenders, but it’s easy to overlook his lack of natural ability in that regard when he’s making such a difference at the other end. David Moyes’ boys have transformed their home form in recent weeks and claimed another impressive result against Watford on Saturday, with PvA netting the winner in a 1-0 affair. Since the start of last season, he’s scored more Premier League goals than any defender in the division.
Modern Day full-backs
And while we’re on the subject of marauding full-backs, Tottenham have this duo to thank for their win over Burnley on Sunday. It was a cagey affair at White Hart Lane, especially after Ashley Barnes opened the scoring for the visitors, but Kyle Walker provided the assist for Dele Alli’s equaliser whilst his left-sided counterpart Danny Rose netted the winner in the 71st minute. The epitome of modern day full-backs.
Killer Combo
Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic don’t form the most youthful or energetic of forward lines but class is permanent and the duo have linked up well this season. Wazza Roo supplied Zlatan for his second strike against West Brom on Saturday just after half-time, making himself and the Swedish icon the joint-most common scoring combination in the Premier League this season, alongside Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil and Yannick Bolasie and Romelu Lukaku.
Conquering Conte
Antonio Conte certainly hasn’t disappointed since taking over at Stamford Bridge during the summer, guiding his Chelsea side to pole position in the Premier League table. And the Blues’ winning run of eleven consecutive fixtures has secured him a rather astonishing feat – becoming the only manager in Premier League history to win all but three of his first 17 games. Liverpool, Arsenal and Swansea have stopped it from being a perfect record.