Premier League's Best Statistical Performances of Week 4
Here for its fourth edition is a look back at the Premier League's leading statistical performances of Week 4.
Love them or hate them, stats are becoming increasingly entwined in football with every passing season, frequently used by clubs, journalists and fans in various capacities.
What isn't always clear, however, is exactly how relevant each category is.
At times, these articles will serve as a platform to laud some individual brilliance, but it's also a chance to gauge the importance of each number and consider why certain players thrive in certain departments. We will also discover whether those repeatedly lauded in the media are the same players producing statistical dominance.
The following all thrived in numerical terms during Week 4.
All statistics via WhoScored.com.
Statistics will occasionally change upon further analysis post-match. The numbers in this article are compiled immediately after the final whistle.
Defensive Leaders: Hamer, Szczesny, Jagielka, Dawson
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Most Saves: 6—Ben Hamer and Wojciech Szczesny
Leicester City's Premier League debutant, Ben Hamer, and Arsenal's Wojciech Szczesny led the way for goalkeepers in Week 4.
Both bailed out their sides with six saves as they faced a busy afternoon of work. Compiling saves is an obvious way to earn plaudits, and Hamer's performance was noted in most match reports, aided by the fact he kept a clean sheet in a 1-0 win.
Elsewhere, Thibaut Courtois, Asmir Begovic and Simon Mignolet all failed to record a save, and Liverpool will be disappointed at only forcing Brad Guzan into one save during their loss to Aston Villa.
Most Clearances: 18—Phil Jagielka
Everton's captain was Week 4's most proactive defender, clearing his lines 18 times. This is the second-most clearances in a game this season (behind Martin Skrtel's 19 vs. Southampton) and Jagielka now leads the Premier League in this category with 46.
Given the defender's horror show in Week 3's 6-3 loss to Chelsea, it would seem West Brom attempted to target Jagielka and attack his channel.
The Baggies forced the centre-back into two more clearances then the rest of Everton's defenders combined, also making more than West Brom, Chelsea, Manchester United and Newcastle needed to make as a team (or managed to make, in Newcastle's case).
The fact the Toffees kept a clean sheet suggests Jagielka's showing against Chelsea was merely a blip.
Most Blocked Shots: 5—Michael Dawson
Michael Dawson's five blocks for Hull against West Ham match Wes Morgan's season-leading total from last week, representing an impressive individual contribution.
The Hammers' managed 16 overall shots, so for Dawson to prevent almost 33 per cent of that volume from hitting the target arguably prevented another goal.
The centre-back's blocking was noted in Henry Winter's report, per The Telegraph.
Possession Leaders: Herrera, Rodwell, Koscielny, Crouch, De Laet, Jedinak
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Most Tackles: 8—Ander Herrera and Jack Rodwell
Eight tackles was the leading total from Week 4's action, achieved by both Ander Herrera and Jack Rodwell.
Rodwell's return is less surprising given Tottenham's vast array of dribblers, each attempting to cut through their opponent's defence with a slice of individual brilliance. It also suggests a strength of Rodwell's game is quickly returning after such infrequent action at Manchester City.
Herrera's production is a little less predictable but reflects the game scenario and highlights a surprising effectiveness in this department.
The Spaniard is more noted for his skill on the ball, so this will encourage fans worried about their side's grit in midfield.
Most Interceptions: 9—Laurent Koscielny
Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny proved an effective shield against Manchester City's relentless combinations in the final third.
As Manuel Pellegrini's side probed for a way past the Gunners, Koscielny showed exceptional anticipation to record nine interceptions. He terminated several City attacks and the Frenchman's return is the most by a player in any Premier League game this season.
Despite missing Manchester United's fixture with QPR, Phil Jones still leads this overall category with 17 interceptions
Most Aerial Duels Won: 15—Peter Crouch
Peter Crouch produced a dominant return in the air, winning 15 aerial duels against Leicester, four more than any player has managed in a game this season. It also doubled the tally of every player in Week 4 (bar Dejan Lovren's eight).
This paints a decent picture of Stoke's—ultimately unsuccessful—strategy against the Foxes. Mark Hughes bemoaned his side's inability to break down a crowded final third, per BBC Sport, and, as these numbers suggest, he will feel his side panicked and went long too early.
Crouch was an effective target, but his aerial supremacy failed to break Leicester down and highlights the gamble involved in these methods. Stoke's 27 shots were the second most of any team in Week 4 (behind Chelsea's 30 vs. Swansea) but only six tested Hamer in goal.
Most Fouls: 5—Ritchie de Laet and Mile Jedinak
Five fouls led the way in Week 4, committed by both Mile Jedinak and Ritchie de Laet.
De Laet's contribution was probably another aspect of Leicester's play that frustrated Hughes, as the defender wasn't even booked despite some persistent fouling.
Jedinak did receive a yellow and seemed uncharacteristically clumsy in his display against Burnley, conceding a late penalty that almost cost his side a point.
Over the season, Marouane Chamakh still leads the way despite not playing this week. His foul count of 16 is inflated by his incredible return of 11 fouls in Week 1.
Passing Leaders: Henderson, Speroni, Moses
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Most Passes: 121—Jordan Henderson
Week 4 was a heavy passing week, mainly thanks to QPR and Aston Villa. Both sides were unable to—or unwilling to—maintain possession, enabling Liverpool and Manchester United to pile up the passes.
United were eminently more successful with this scenario, repeatedly scything through QPR, while Liverpool drew a blank against Aston Villa.
In three rounds of action, just six players have reached 100 passes in a game, but Jordan Henderson, Dejan Lovren, Mamadou Sakho, Daley Blind and Jonny Evans all passed that number in Week 4.
Henderson led the way with 121, the second-most passes by a Premier League player this season. It was almost four times as many as Aston Villa's leading passer, Fabian Delph, who made 31—not that it seemed to matter.
Most (Accurate) Long Balls: 14—Julian Speroni
If stats provide nothing else, they can often be a decent measure of understanding tactics and style. The fact Julian Speroni recorded the most long balls in Week 4 gives an indication of Crystal Palace's preference for a direct method against Burnley.
Speroni has now attempted more long balls than any other player this season (97) as Palace seemingly persevere with Tony Pulis' philosophies.
Most (Accurate) Crosses: 10—Victor Moses
On its own, this return is completely baffling. No player records 10 accurate crosses in a match; teams will rarely reach that number in total.
Aside from this return for Victor Moses against Leicester, the most accurate crosses by any player in a game this season is just four, and no player has recorded more than 10 in total. Moses' tally beats the combined return of all 19 Premier League teams, including Arsenal and Everton who didn't even record a single one.
However, as we have already discovered through Crouch's aerial return and Hughes' frustrations, this is very much distorted by the former England man's effectiveness in the air, as well as Stoke's direct tactics.
Moses would fire in at every opportunity and Crouch would use his height to win the ball. The fact Stoke failed to score underlines the managers reaction and highlights the inconsistencies of this ploy.
Creative Leaders: Silva, Fabregas, Ivanovic, Downing, Wilshere
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Most Chances Created: 6—David Silva, Cesc Fabregas, Branislav Ivanovic and Stewart Downing
There was a bit of a pile up in terms of creativity this week, as David Silva, Cesc Fabregas, Branislav Ivanovic and Stewart Downing all contributed six chances for their team.
That return equalled Newcastle's dismal total against Southampton and, remarkably, doubled Aston Villa's tally of three in a seemingly opportunistic triumph at Anfield.
Fabregas has been pulling the strings at Chelsea ever since his return to England and now leads the way for the season with 16 chances created.
Most Successful Dribbles: 10—Jack Wilshere
One player to receive a flood of praise for his performance in Week 4 was Jack Wilshere. The England international scored, but his most noticeable contribution was his quick play in and around the final third where he was regularly seen darting away from tackles.
Statistically, this translated into 10 successful dribbles, the most by a player this season, eclipsing Eden Hazard's nine against Burnley in Week 1. It was also more than 10 teams managed in total during Week 4.
Hazard so often dominates this category and put in another outstanding return of nine against Swansea, putting him on 25 successful dribbles for the season, already 13 more than any other player.
Most Through Balls: 2 (1 successful)—David Silva and Jack Wilshere
This was not a vintage week for through balls with half of the Premier League not even attempting a single one.
Two players that found success were Wilshere and Silva, slotting through a pair of attempts and each finding success with one. Both players were two of the most praised performers this weekend, lauded for their production shown on this slide.
Most Turnovers: 6—Gylfi Sigurdsson and Leonardo Ulloa; Most Dispossessed: 6—Fernandinho
In the less positive categories of turnovers and dispossessions, the players highlighted hampered their team's effectiveness at certain stages of their games.
Gylfi Sigurdsson has been in fine form this season, behind much of Swansea's creative success. This week, however, it seems he found the attention of Chelsea's nagging midfielders too much to deal with.
We have already discovered Leicester's counter-punch performance against Stoke. Though Leonardo Ulloa scored the winning goal, there were times his inability to maintain possession contributed to his side's lack of the ball.
For Fernandinho to be dispossessed six times is especially sloppy. The majority of players found in this category are strikers or attacking midfielders, all faced with far less time on the ball. This suggests the Brazilian struggled to cope with Arsenal's high pressing game, which was boosted by Danny Welbeck's arrival.
Attacking Leaders: Costa, Fabregas, Oscar, Coutinho
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Most Goals: 3—Diego Costa
Diego Costa continued his relentless scoring spree, netting the Premier League's first hat-trick of the season.
The Brazilian-turned-Spaniard now has seven goals, more than double that of any other player. His start to the season is the second best in Premier League history, just behind Wayne Rooney's eight goals in the first four games of the 2011-12 campaign.
The powerful forward out-scored 17 of the other 19 teams in Week 4, and only Southampton, Swansea and Everton have more goals than him this season.
Most Assists: 2—Cesc Fabregas
Just as Diego Costa is dominating the scoring, Cesc Fabregas continues to prove the Premier League's most effective provider.
The former Arsenal man was the only player to register two assists this week, a return that puts him on a total of six for the season. To put that into context, only Gylfi Sigurdsson (four) has created more than two goals in the Premier League so far.
Fabregas has produced an assist in every game this season and, dating back to his Arsenal days, is now the first player to record an assist in six straight Premier League games. Will the run continue next week?
Most Shots: 6—Oscar and Philippe Coutinho
Two Brazilian attackers fired in the most shots of Week 4, though neither managed to get on the score-sheet.
While two of Oscar's attempts tested the goalkeeper, alarmingly, all six of Coutinho's missed the target, making his the most wayward shooting return of the season so far.
Oscar joins Wilfried Bony as having hit the most shots (11) without finding the net this season.
