Arsenal faced a whopping 96 shots already this season – more than any club in Europe’s top five leagues
ARSENAL have faced the most shots of any team in Europe’s top five leagues.
The Gunners’ goal has been targeted by a whopping 96 shots already this season, with just five games played.
That places them top – or bottom – of the pile from the 98 teams across the Premier League, La Liga, Ligue 1, Bundesliga and Serie A.
Almost a third of all the shots – including those blocked – aimed at Bernd Leno’s net so far this term came in yesterday’s 2-2 draw at Watford.
The Hornets managed a staggering 31 attempts with ten on target and scoring twice.
Tom Cleverley capitalised on Sokratis’ error to pull a goal back after half-time and Roberto Pereyra netted an equalising penalty after David Luiz tripped the Argentine.
It is the most shots Arsenal have faced in a match since data collection began in 2003.
Incredibly, Watford’s shots in the second half alone accounted for 2 per cent of all shots in the Premier League this season – four times more than the average.
WORST OF THE REST
With Arsenal conceding the most shots – and eight goals from them – next on the list across Europe is Norwich with 93 from their five matches, including 25 against champions Manchester City on Saturday.
And it is a Premier League one-two-three with Tottenham in third – Mauricio Pochettino’s men have had 82 shots at their goal already this season.
Toulouse are next on the list with 79 before English duo Aston Villa (77) and Bournemouth (76), the same as Amiens.
Unlike the rest who have played five, Villa’s 77 comes from just four matches as they take on West Ham tonight.
Southampton have had 75 shots at their goal while Newcastle have faced 74 and Rennes – despite being second in Ligue 1 and conceding just three – complete the top ten with 73.
It means seven of the ten teams to have faced the most shots at their goal so far this season are Premier League sides – suggesting either the defending is simply not good enough, the football is far more attacking in England or a combination of both.
At the other end of the scale, Manchester City have conceded the fewest shots in the Premier League with 31.
That is 11 shots better than anyone else in the top flight with Everton next on 42 ahead of Leicester (47), Chelsea and Manchester United (both 48) and Liverpool (50).
Frank Lampard’s Blues, though, have conceded 11 goals from the 48 shots on their goal – only Norwich have shipped more in the Prem so far.
