Each one is significantly overperforming their xG. The scoring burden needs to be shared around rather than relying on Rashford.Īrsenal have Martin Odegaard (15), Gabriel Martinelli (15) and Bukayo Saka (13) all in double digits for the Premier League campaign. Martial made the stop relatively straightforward for Fabianski. Rashford also set up Martial with a backheel for an even better chance. Rashford accelerated into the box again late on at West Ham but drove his strike high, so Lukasz Fabianski had an easier save to make. It was a similar kind of burst that flummoxed Moises Caicedo at Brighton for the attempt pictured above. His first at West Ham, which resulted in a skied shot, came from him running through midfield. His xGOT figure being above his xG figure shows he is generally getting better strikes away than expected from the positions he is shooting from. Christian Eriksen blazing over from Antony’s lay-off after a nice team move was the most glaring. … then he hit the side-netting from inside the box.Īt West Ham on Sunday, United fashioned six presentable chances in the first 30 minutes and failed to hit the target once. Marcus Rashford’s effort was close to Steele but required sharp reflexes from the Brighton goalkeeper.Īnthony Martial hit a shot straight at him.Īntony was guilty of the worst misses, first dragging wide early on when put through by Bruno Fernandes after a smart run… Jason Steele was only required to save two. United had six shots from good positions in the first 40 minutes at Brighton. But, recently, the source of United’s profligacy has been the latter: themselves. United’s xGOT figure of 54.13 is only slightly down on their xG figure of 56.02, which suggests that over the course of the season, the former - goalkeepers pulling off fine saves - has been more common. Opta have a statistic called expected goals on target (xGOT), which takes into account the quality of the shot taken rather than just the position it is taken from. That aspect comes down to either opposition goalkeepers pulling off brilliant saves or United’s players failing to get their technique or shot selection right. Arsenal have missed 48, at a conversion rate of 49 per cent, the third-best in the division.Ĭlearly, because of the raised xG number, Arsenal are generating a higher volume of good chances than United and they are taking them at a much greater frequency. Only City (96) and Liverpool (94) have created more big chances than United, with Newcastle on the same (72), but United have missed 61 of them at a conversion rate of 34 per cent, the fifth-lowest in the Premier League. United have made 72 big chances, defined by Opta as where a shooter can be reasonably expected to score, compared to 69 by Arsenal. Interestingly, although United’s xG is nearly 13 off Arsenal’s figure of 68.96, Ten Hag’s side have created more big chances than Mikel Arteta’s team this season. At the top of this chart is Manchester City with plus-14.22 goals and Arsenal on plus-14.04, demonstrating how they are making the very most of their opportunities. Only Everton, Chelsea, and West Ham have a bigger negative disparity in goals scored compared to the quality of chances created. Over the course of the season so far, United’s xG figure in the Premier League, according to Opta, is 56.02, which is good enough for sixth in the division, meaning they are underperforming expectations by 7.02 - seven goals that could have proved pivotal in tight contests. Is United’s manager putting together sessions that provoke sufficient chances during games, then selecting the right players in the best positions? The answer to that question isn’t definitive, but the numbers back up the sense United’s players are not maximising the openings they do create.Įxpected goals (xG) is a measure of probability for each shot that is taken, weighted by various factors including the angle and distance. They have 49 goals in the Premier League this season, placing them ninth in the scoring charts, level with Leicester, and have drawn a blank in five of their last 10 top-flight games. Ten Hag cannot be removed from the scrutiny of United’s scoring record. Ten Hag places a high value on scoring first in his ideal brand of possession-based football, feeling that failing to do so allows opponents to gain a platform in the game. “I think we started well, we dictated the game, we created chances, we didn’t take them,” he said. 'Hands up, silly mistake' - but Shaw frustrated by Man United attackersĮrik ten Hag has said similar at various times this season and addressed the issue again after a second 1-0 defeat in four days, this time at West Ham.
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