Sandi Basu

I make football boring with data.
Arsenal-leaning.
↓ Substack

[Sandi Basu @professorscarn]

I was 9 years old when we last won the Premier League.

I've spent 22 years waiting to write this letter. To the club, to Arteta, to every fan who stayed when staying made no sense.

We bottling they said.

Now we holding that bottle.

https://t.co/9RYwBclewZ

[Sandi Basu @professorscarn]

@journalsentinel Just published an article on him. Link in my profile.

[Sandi Basu @professorscarn]

@Sorare Just published an article on Esmir!

[Sandi Basu @professorscarn]

There's a 21 year old at the World Cup whose market value is €8m.

https://t.co/vAWiQiKhl5

[Sandi Basu @professorscarn]

@fc_mossman The only two overachiever who has never averaged out is Messi. Rest all eventually do.

[Sandi Basu @professorscarn]

@mixedknuts I hope they don't. Watching Mbappe (can't believe I am saying tis) is a treat!

[Sandi Basu @professorscarn]

@footyspeakerbox Beautiful!

[Sandi Basu @professorscarn]

So the next time someone says "they only score from set pieces," the numbers are right there. Open play carried the attack, the defence carried the season, and the corners were a bonus on top.

THAT IS HOW YOU WIN A LEAGUE.

[Sandi Basu @professorscarn]

Arsenal won the league 15 days ago and the main thing people are still arguing about is corners.

The "set piece team", "PGMOL title" labels are so corny. Here are the numbers.

[Sandi Basu @professorscarn]

The actual reason they won the title gets almost no airtime.

They conceded 27 goals with an xGA for 33. 6 FEWER THAN THEY SHOULD HAVE.

[Sandi Basu @professorscarn]

Here's the full breakdown:

Open play: 44
Corners: 19
Other set plays: 4
Penalties: 4
Direct free kicks: 0

Corners are a weapon — 19 goals is elite. But it's one tool in a full box, not the whole story.

[Sandi Basu @professorscarn]

Arsenal scored 71 goals this season.

44 came from open play. That's 62%.

The "set-piece team" scored nearly two-thirds of its goals in open play.

[Sandi Basu @professorscarn]

@dushimudgal Thank you my friend!

[Sandi Basu @professorscarn]

@ZachLowy I love it when data confirms the eye test!

[Zach Lowy @ZachLowy]

I said going into this season that Sunderland would have an easier time than the other two promoted sides simply because they look to play vertically and hit on the counter.

This is a fascinating data analysis by @professorscarn on how different Premier League teams use the ball.

[Sandi Basu @professorscarn]

Would you agree with these clusters?

[Breaking The Lines @breakthelines]

Every Premier League team has a distinct style of play.

But which teams look to patiently build possession, which teams hit on the counter, and which teams sit back?

@professorscarn crunches the numbers in his debut story for Breaking The Lines: https://t.co/CtDpflt9yC

[Sandi Basu @professorscarn]

@nytimes @TheAthleticFC If my grandmother had wheels she would have been a motorcycle.

[Sam/FIFA Brit @FIFABrit]

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 😂

[Sandi Basu @professorscarn]

@Lea_EFC Kai Havertz goal hahahaha