10 concerning stats from Arsenal’s slow start to the Premier League campaign

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Arsenal might have finished eighth last season, their lowest placing since 1995, but there was a sense of optimism at the Emirates over the summer.

Mikel Arteta has plenty of credit in the bank for leading the Gunners to a Wembley double with wins over Chelsea and Liverpool in the FA Cup and Community Shield respectively.

But things haven’t quite gone to plan so far in 2020-21, with the club languishing down in 14th with more defeats than wins in the Premier League. Here are 10 stats that will concern any Arsenal fan.

– Arsenal are averaging just a goal a game so far in the Premier League this season. Only the current bottom three, Sheffield United, Burnley and West Brom, have scored fewer.

– It’s now 566 minutes without a goal from open play in the Premier League.

– After signing his new contract on September 16, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hasn’t scored from open play in his last nine Premier League appearances, totalling 807 minutes. His only league goal in that time was the penalty against Manchester United.

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READ: Five transfers Arsenal missed out on in 2020 & how they’re faring this season

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– One major issue for Aubameyang is that he’s struggling to even find opportunities to score. He registers just 1.6npxG (non-penalty expected goals) in the Premier League this season (via FBref). To put that in context, Leeds United’s Patrick Bamford has registered 7.2npxG.

– The Gunners register just 9.5 shots per game collectively. Only Crystal Palace, Burnley and Newcastle average fewer.

– They also rank last for tackles per game so far this season (11.7 per game).

– In terms of ‘shot-creating actions’, only Newcastle, West Brom and Burnley have registered fewer than Arsenal’s tally of 138, while only Burnley have registered fewer key passes (those that lead directly to a shot).

– Alexandre Lacazette remains their top scorer in the Premier League with three goals. He hasn’t scored since September.

– Tottenham’s Harry Kane, with nine, has two more Premier League assists than Arsenal’s entire squad combined so far this season.

– For xA (expected assists), only Dani Ceballos (20th – with 1.6 via FBref) is the only Arsenal player in the top 30.

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