William Saliba is an interesting case study of why added context is needed with traditional metrics. His quality is evident to the eye, but his 'win rates' as a centre-back tell a misleading story.
Among CBs to meet the 20% threshold of total challenges in the Premier League this season, this is where he ranks:
50/50 Duel Win % - 59th/61
Aerial Duel Win % - 45th/61
Tackle Win % - 53rd/58
Saliba also ranks last among CBs in block attempts per 30 minutes out of possession (0.64) and 49th among 51 CBs in clearances per 90 (2.44).
Much of this is by design. Saliba's win rates are modest because his positioning means he rarely finds himself in a situation where he needs to contest for the ball in the first place. It is precisely here that the depth of our data set allows us to identify what makes him so effective, and why defensive volume does not necessarily correlate with defensive success.
His Positioning Grade of 92.1 ranks 1st among all Premier League players, and his 0.47 positional mistakes per 30 minutes out of possession ranks 1st among centre-backs by a considerable margin.
Pair that with a 74.3 Passing Grade and an 85.3 Ball Control Grade, and the full picture of Saliba begins to emerge: composed on the ball and the most effective positional defender in Europe's top five leagues.
#AFC
Remember when Arsenal were the joke?
Now rival fans need us to lose a Champions League final on penalties just to enjoy their season.
What a turnaround. 👏🏾
For years, the running joke was “Arsenal 4th”
Then the running joke was “Arsenal 2nd”
Now they’re making fun of Arsenal for winning the Premier League and losing in a Champions League final on pens to the reigning champs
Our rivals’ biggest games this year were watching us 😂