Close encounters of the Premier League kind
With this in mind, Playmaker's latest 'Stat Attack' focuses on the teams to target their opponents' six yard boxes most effectively in the 2024/25 season.
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In terms of peppering their adversary's goal, Mikel Arteta's Arsenal were the stand-out performers in the Premier League last term: the Gunners averaging an even two shots-per-game inside the six yard box, more than any other team. Just behind the north Londoners, in this regard, were Bournemouth (1.8 shots-per-game), Newcastle (1.7), Liverpool and Brentford (both 1.6).
Interestingly, the two Arsenal players to take most close range shots last season had very different profiles. Tied on 13 shots and three goals apiece inside the six-yard box, were forward Kai Havertz and defender Gabriel Magalhães - the former offering more of a threat from open-play situations, while the latter was a real menace from set-pieces, especially corner-kicks.
However, while the Gunners may have taken the most shots from close quarters, the most clinical team in the Premier League last season were actually Eddie Howe's Newcastle United.
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The Magpies scored 21 of their 68 top flight goals (31%) last season from inside the six-yard box and their prime source of close range threat was unsurprisingly the free-scoring Alexander Isak, who notched eight of his 23 Premier League goals (35%) last term from within six yards.
Brentford's Yoane Wissa ranked second in terms of the top tier's best close range marksman, with seven goals, while a posse of players (Johnson, Gakpo, Evanilson, Salah and Schade) hit five goals apiece from the inner sanctum of their opponents' boxes.
We'll finish off with a revealing look at the Premier League teams to take their shots closest to goal on average last season.
Top of the pile are, in fact, Thomas Frank's Brentford - the Bees firing off their shots 14.9 yards away from goal, Arsenal (15.1 yards) next on the list of close-range shooters.
Such numbers give a fascinating insight into modern shooting trends - and the fact that Arsenal (69 goals), Newcastle (68) and Brentford (66) all finished the season within the Premier League's 'Top 5' most prolific teams is surely no coincidence.
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