Premier League Matchweek 9 attacking stats: Most goals, shots, xG and more – plus top FPL performers

Matchweek 9 of the Premier League season saw champions Arsenal go top, Chelsea pile more misery on Manchester United and Tottenham continue their revival with a third straight win.

It was a low-scoring weekend in the context of the Premier League campaign so far, with the 10 games averaging a touch over two goals, but, as ever, the action produced plenty of intriguing statistical threads. Here, we run through the top-performing individuals in a number of key attacking metrics…

Premier League most goals: Just one each, please

For the first time this season, no player scored more than one goal in Matchweek 9 – so we’ve got no ‘leader’ in this category.

There were, however, three 1-0 wins over the weekend, meaning three players’ goals counted for more than most.

Yasin Ayari was the first to strike the decisive blow, his 11^th-minute goal enough for Brighton to finally secure their first victory away to Manchester City. Kai Havertz then scored similarly early for Arsenal against Liverpool on Sunday – ending the Gunners’ long wait for a win at Anfield – before Thierno Barry’s second-half tap-in secured all three points for Everton at Newcastle on Monday night.

Premier League most shots: Estevao’s efforts deserved more

Estevao impressed on his first Premier League start of the season, giving Manchester United’s defenders plenty to think about as Chelsea ran out 2-0 winners at Stamford Bridge.

The young Brazilian wasn’t able to open his account for the campaign, but he did lead the way for shots (six) and touches in the opposition box (12), as well as creating the joint most chances in the game (three).

Two players had five shots in Matchweek 9 – and both scored: Julio Enciso the equaliser for Ipswich in their 2-2 draw at Hull and Jan Paul van Hecke Tottenham’s second goal in their 2-0 win over Crystal Palace.

Premier League most shots on target: Unlucky Estevao

He might not have scored, but Estevao did test Man United goalkeeper Senne Lammens on three occasions, going closest with a fizzing effort from outside the box (he also had a would-be opener ruled out for offside).

A clutch of players had two shots on target in Matchweek 9, with Julio Enciso, Jan Paul van Hecke, Cole Palmer (Chelsea) and Nicolas Jackson (Aston Villa – drew 1-1 vs Fulham) all scoring.

Premier League highest xG: Barry buries unmissable chance

Thierno Barry’s match-winning shot into an empty net from pretty much on the goal-line was worth 0.99 expected goals – as close to perfect as is possible. It would have been considerably harder for the Everton frontman to miss.

The only other player to accumulate 1.00 xG or more, Cole Palmer, scored a penalty, as did Sunderland’s Enzo Le Fee – while John McGinn hit the bar with the first spot-kick he’d taken for Villa outside a shootout. As such, Barry, Jan Paul van Hecke and Spurs teammate Mohammed Kudus were the top three performers in terms of non-penalty xG in Matchweek 9.

Premier League most big chances scored: It could have been more for pair

No player scored multiple big chances in Matchweek 9 – and only two of the nine who scored one even had another clear-cut opportunity to miss. They were Thierno Barry and Jan Paul van Hecke.

By contrast, three players missed two big chances out of two: Amad for Man United against Chelsea, Iliman Ndiaye for Man City against Brighton and Pau Torres for Villa against Fulham.

Top FPL attacking performers in Matchweek 9: The leading attacker is… a defender?

Jan Paul van Hecke topped the Fantasy Premier League points charts in Matchweek 9. A centre-back he may be, but the Netherlands international’s goal paired with Spurs’ clean sheet saw him pick up 15 points.

Six other players reached double figures, including Hull’s Oli McBurnie (11) – who struck with a pinpoint free-kick against Ipswich – and Brighton matchwinner Yasin Ayari.