Newcastle fans – look away now…
Premier League shots on target after two weekends of the season:
1) Arsenal – 62%
2) Stoke – 59%
3) Fulham – 57%
4) Liverpool – 57%
5) Everton – 55%
6) Manchester City – 55%
7) Manchester United – 52%
8) Swansea City – 48%
9) Crystal Palace – 47%
10) Southampton – 47%
11) Norwich – 47%
12) Cardiff – 44%
13) Aston Villa – 43%
14) Cardiff City – 40%
15) Chelsea – 39%
16) Tottenham – 34%
17) West Ham – 29%
18) Sunderland – 29%
19) West Brom – 23%
20) Newcastle – 6%
Analysis:
– Maybe Arsenal don’t need a new striker after all… Giroud and Podolski have already scored two goals apiece – and as a team they have the highest shots on target percentage than any side in the league.
– Newcastle desperately need attacking reinforcements… Only 6% of the shots Newcastle have had in their opening two matches have been target – which is a truly woeful statistic. Joe Kinnear and Alan Pardew need Loic Remy to return from injury, badly.
– Tottenham will be a very dangerous side when they find their shooting boots… Spurs have won both matches 1-0 thanks to two Soldado winners, and only Everton and Chelsea have taken more shots than them. If Spurs can up their 34% shots on target, the top four is a definite possibility.
– Liverpool have been unlucky to only score two goals… Two Daniel Sturridge winners mean Liverpool are in joint second place, but they could have won their matches far more convincingly. They battered Stoke for the full 90 minutes, and outplayed Villa in the first half, with 57% of their 30 shots on target.
– Chelsea should give Lukaku a chance, or sign another forward… Despite topping the table with seven points – Mourinho’s men have been far from clinical in front of goal. Only 39% of shots have been on target, and wins over both Aston Villa and Hull City should have been more convincing. Against United, Mourinho didn’t even start a striker. No wonder he’s so desperate to bring in Wayne Rooney.
– Everton should have more than two points so far… Roberto Matinez’s men have had an impressive 55% of shots on target, and only Chelsea, who have played an extra game have had more attempts on goal. An inspired Ben Foster goalkeeping performance against West Brom though helped the Baggies secure a 0-0 draw, and Norwich also held them on the opening day of the season.
