Are You Not Being Entertained? This Fall of the Goal Scoring
A major talking point of the Premier League season so far has been the reduction of goals scored in open-play scenarios and how sides are finding goals increasingly from set-pieces as an alternative.
Looking at scoring methods to matchday 11 the prior season, we see 39 fewer goals in open-play and 26 more from set-plays and spot-kicks, leading to 13 less altogether.
If we look at the broader view, shot attempts clubs are making have seen an incredible drop of 370 in open-play than at this stage last time out.
And despite the big increase in set-piece goals, there have actually been only two additional shots generated from them outside of spot-kicks, demonstrating the proficiency teams have been at discovering methods to score from set-pieces.
Goal Statistics Show an Interesting Narrative
Over 300 goals recorded in 110 matches to date works out at 2.74 goals each match, which if it continued for the entire campaign could be the smallest for half a decade, from five seasons ago (2.69).
But just under 200 goals coming in open-play translates to 1.78 each match and is heading to be the lowest for since 2009-10, from 16 years ago (1.76 per game).
That campaign additionally represents the sole English top-flight season to experience scoring more frequently from dead-balls without spot-kicks than this campaign's frequency of 0.77 per game (0.79 average).
Which Teams Bear the Most Responsibility?
When it comes to goals scored from open play, Wolves have seen by far the biggest drop, netting just four in their first 11 fixtures, 10 fewer than at this stage last season.
Excluding Wolverhampton, England's top division's decline in open play goals is largely a London phenomenon, with five out of the London's seven clubs recording five or more fewer goals from open-play than last season.
Honestly, this is primarily due to them netting many scores at the beginning of last season as opposed to them really struggling to convert in open-play this campaign.
Conversely Man City have seen the most significant jump, with almost every one of their 23 goals to date originating in open-play.
Set-Play Proficiency
Looking at newly promoted sides with those that were relegated they took the place of. Play-off winners the Black Cats have recorded three more goals in open-play than Southampton managed in their first 11 games leading to relegation last season.
When it comes to scoring from set-pieces (excluding penalties), the Gunners and the Blues have recorded the most significant jump, with each team replacing the reduction of five scores that they've scored in open play with an equal amount from dead-ball situations.
United have recorded two times more goals from set-plays as they managed in the 11 games last season before their coach took over, while the Black Cats additionally are more effective at converting than the fellow red-and-whites that went down.
Manchester City appear not to have received the memo about scoring more from set-pieces, because they've scored three less than the previous campaign, like Nottingham Forest, though this may result from the tactical shift they've attempted to adopt.
General Tendencies
Six clubs – Arsenal, the Blues, the Cottagers, the Magpies, Spurs and the Hammers – represent this season's primary examples by scoring fewer goals from open play and more from set-pieces, while Man City represent the unique club to defy the pattern up to now by doing the exact opposite.
It will be fascinating to observe if teams carry on to depend greatly on set-plays as matches continue or if they find again their all-round creativity and commence netting increased totals in open-play as well.
