https://twitter.com/markrstats/status/1727782350719975466?t=S-7BKtrqJ7jCGh6o9oJzyw&s=19
Measured by “fields gained via pass per possession lost”:
- One-sided Newcastle and Chelsea
- Arsenal struggles centrally
- United and Liverpool, though both direct in the first phase, showcase varying levels of effectiveness
Nketiah and Havertz starting, and especially starting together as much as they have, explains this.
That is an extremely reductive take (though a partially correct one)
It’s a factor but imo the real big factor is the fact that we’ve changed 2/3rds of our midfield. And Rice for Partey leaves us quite defensive minded in midfield. Rice has been immense and a clear upgrade, but he still doesnt have Partey’s passing range, we’ve lost a lot of incisiveness there.