Is the Entertainment Fading? The Decline of the Goal Scoring
A key narrative of the EPL this campaign is the decline of goals scored in open-play scenarios and how clubs are netting more from dead-ball situations instead.
Comparing scoring methods to the first 11 games the prior season, we see 39 fewer scored in open play and 26 more from set-plays and penalties, giving us 13 fewer overall.
If we look at overall statistics, shot attempts clubs are making show a staggering drop of 370 in open play than this time last season.
Regardless of the significant rise in set-piece goals, there have actually been a mere two extra shots produced from these situations outside of spot-kicks, demonstrating the proficiency clubs are at finding ways to net from dead-ball situations.
Goal Averages Tell the Tale
Over 300 goals notched in 110 matches so far averages out at 2.74 scores each match, which if it continued for the entire campaign could be the smallest for half a decade, from five seasons ago (2.69 average).
However, only 196 goals scored in open play equates to 1.78 per game and is on course to be the smallest for 16 years, since 2009-10 (1.76 per game).
2009-10 additionally represents the sole English top-flight season to see scoring at a higher rate from dead-balls without spot-kicks than the current rate of 0.77 each match (0.79 average).
What Clubs Are Most Responsible?
Regarding scoring from open play, Wolves have recorded the most significant decrease, registering a mere four in 11 matches, 10 fewer than this point the previous campaign.
Excluding Wolverhampton, England's top division's drop in open-play scoring is very much a London thing, with five out of the city's seven teams recording a minimum of five goals fewer from open-play than the previous year.
Honestly, this is mainly because them scoring many goals at the start of the previous campaign instead of them having difficulty to convert in open play this season.
At the same time Manchester City have seen the biggest increase, with all but one of their 23 scores this season originating in open-play.
Set-Piece Success
Looking at the promoted teams with those that were relegated they replaced. Play-off winners Sunderland have recorded three more goals in open-play than the Saints achieved in matchday 11 on their way to relegation the previous campaign.
Regarding goals scored from set-pieces (excluding penalties), Arsenal and the Blues have experienced the largest rise, with each team making up for the five fewer scores that they've netted in open-play with identical figures from set-pieces.
Man United have scored double the number scores from set-pieces as they did in the first 11 matches the previous campaign before their coach took charge, while Sunderland again prove more successful at netting than the fellow red-and-whites that went down.
Man City appear not to have received the memo about scoring more from set-plays, because they've recorded a reduction of three than the previous campaign, like the Reds, even if that might be down to the altered approach they have tried to implement.
Overall Patterns
Six sides – the Gunners, the Blues, the Cottagers, Newcastle, Tottenham and West Ham – represent this season's primary examples by recording fewer scores from open play and increased from set-plays, while Man City are the only side to defy the pattern up to now by performing the complete reverse.
It will be fascinating to watch if clubs persist to place such emphasis on set-pieces as the campaign progresses or if they regain their general attacking flair and begin scoring more goals in open-play too.
