Some hope for Arsenal fans? RC
Barcelona currently boast the three best players in the world as individuals, however it’s their connection and understanding that the trio share which makes them, arguably, the most frightening front-line in football history. The combined force of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez make the Catalans hot favourites to become the first team in the Champions League era to retain the European Cup.
Arsenal have been dealt the unenviable task of facing Barcelona once again when the pair meet at the Emirates in the first-leg of the last 16 on Tuesday night.
In the build up to the clash between the English and Spanish sides, fantasy football game www.oulala.com have studied the stats to reveal the best combined XI based purely on player performance data from the Premier League and La Liga.
Oulala’s stats team have taken a look at two players in each position and analysed a host of key areas to determine who makes the grade and features in our combined Arsenal and Barcelona stat-based best eleven.
Unfortunately, someone had to go head-to-head with Lionel Messi, so Mr Chamberlain – we apologise.
Here’s who made the cut…
Goalkeeper
Petr Cech beats Claudio Bravo to the number one jersey. Cech has kept more clean sheets (12 to 11), however Bravo has conceded fewer goals per game (0.62 to 0.88). Cech fights back with more saves per game (3.3 to 3), but Bravo boasts more saves per goal (4.8 to 3.7). Cech goes on to lead for catches (2.1 to 1.6) and punches (0.5 to 0.2) per game. .
Left-Back
Nacho Monreal comfortably claims the left-back spot over Jordi Alba. On a per game basis, Monreal has won more tackles (1.7 to 1.2), made more interceptions (2.9 to 2.1), more blocks (0.3 to 0.2) and more clearances (3.6 to 2.4). The 29-year-old also dominates his Spanish counterpart offensively having completed more successful dribbles (0.5 to 0.2) and created more chances (0.9 to 0.5) per game.
Centre-Back
Laurent Koscielny has statistically outperformed Javier Mascherano this season. The Arsenal man has made more interceptions (3.7 to 1.9), more blocks (0.9 to 0.5), more clearances (6 to 2) and has won more aerial duels (2.7 to 1.1) per game. Mascherano boasts more tackles won per game (1.8 to 0.9) and the superior tackle success rate (51 to 37 per cent).
Centre-Back
Gerard Piqué narrowly edges Per Mertesacker for the second centre-back spot. On a per game basis, Piqué has made more successful tackles (1.2 to 1.1), more interceptions (2.2 to 1.3) and more blocks (0.6 to 0.4). While Mertesacker has made more clearances per game (5 to 4.4) and boasts the better tackle success rate (71 to 58 per cent). The duo cannot be separated aerially having each won an average of 2.2 aerial duels per game.
Right-Back
Hector Bellerin shades the right-back spot from Dani Alves. The duo are inseparable for tackles won (1.3 to 1.3), interceptions (1.9 to 1.9) and blocks (0.2 to 0.2) per game. The Arsenal full-back has made more clearances (3.2 to 1.4) and successfully completed more dribbles (1.5 to 0.9) per game. While Alves has created more chances per game (0.8 to 0.6).
Defensive Midfielder
Francis Coquelin has overshadowed Sergio Busquets statistically this season. The Barcelona midfielder may have created more chances per game (0.6 to 0.2) and matched Coquelin for blocks per game (0.2), but the Frenchman has led the way in every other key area this season. Coquelin has a better pass completion rate (90 to 89 per cent), has won more tackles (2.3 to 2), made more interceptions (2.3 to 2) and more clearances (1 to 0.8) per game.
Central Midfielder
Aaron Ramsey has justified why Barcelona were linked with a move for the Welshman, dominating Ivan Rakitić in a host of key areas this season. The 25-year-old has completed more successful passes (59 to 43), created more chances (1.4 to 1), more key passes (1.3 to 1) and has won more tackles (1.9 to 1.2) per game. Ramsey has also registered more assists (3 to 0) and more goals (4 to 3).
Playmaker
Mesut Özil gets the better of Andres Iniesta in the playmaker role. The players share the same pass completion rate (88 per cent), while Iniesta has made more successful passes per game (61 to 53). However, the German has led every other key stat this term. Özil has created more chances (4.4 to 1.3) and made more key passes (3.7 to 1.2) per game. He has also registered more assists (17 to 1) and scored more goals (4 to 1).
Left Forward
Neymar comfortably takes the left-sided forward spot from Alexis Sánchez . The Chilean edges pass completion (81 to 80 per cent), but then the Brazilian takes over. Neymar has made more key passes (2.8 to 1.8), created more chances (3.2 to 1.8) and has completed more successful dribbles (4.6 to 3.2) per game. He has also scored more goals (18 to 6) and recorded more assists (9 to 1).
Right Forward
Lionel Messi unsurprisingly beats Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to the right-sided forward spot. Messi has scored more goals (15 to 1), registered more assists (7 to 0), made more key passes (1.5 to 0.9), created more chances (1.9 to 0.9) and completed more dribbles (4.1 to 1.6) per game. Chamberlain fights back with the better pass completion rate (82 to 81 per cent).
Centre-Forward
Luis Suarez dominates Olivier Giroud in every key area. The Uruguay international has scored more goals (25 to 12), enjoyed a better shot accuracy (57 to 54 per cent) and a better conversion rate (28 to 16 per cent) from a higher number of shots per game (3.8 to 3). Suarez comes out on top creatively too. He has created more chances per game (1.4 to 0.9) and has registered more assists (10 to 4).
Russell
Great article, appreciate the time and effort gone into pulling these stats.
I don’t think any team would be able to replace/better their three strikers, although I still think Arsenal need better up front. Giroud has improved, but in general our strikers have been average/poor this season and this I feel is where our downfall has been…lack of goals. Just look at the amount of chances created compared to chances converted – it paints a clear picture.
I agree Big Gun, we need to convert more, but remember we are playing against top teams (and goalkeepers!) every week
Man City and Chelsea were playing against the same goalkeepers and teams in the last 2 years and were winning games left and right.
It’s a fact we need better strikers
I really appreciate your efforts in digging up these stats.
As you said, ‘but goals’.
It’s unfortunate that goals are what count.
Hull City are not a top team and their goalkeeper is 2nd choice yet we still failed to convert that’s simply not good enough
If every team done exactly what they are supposed to do on paper well then things would be incredibly boring ..not to mention the poor bookies getting taking to cleaners every week.
Good morning fellow gooners I don’t know why but I’ve got good vibes about tonight’s game. Let’s hope. my feelings are correct.
Goals are what matter every other stat does not,when we beat Bayern 2-0 they had over 70% possession yet we still won
The goal stat could mean nothing without great tackling intercepting and conceding stats.
Impossible but i’d be happy with a 0-0 game tonight.
Que sera, sera. I am looking at a pleasant game, that’s it. There’s no other way around it, Barcelona are hyper favorites not only for this round but for the UCL as a whole. I hope the boys knows it and they will enjoy playing against the favorites. If they will smell blood I hope that they take the chances, that’s it. Here’s for a nice game and no injuries. Up the guns!
Beat Barcelona great.
Lose to Barcelona great.
There is no pressure on
Arsenal to beat Barcelona.
Even losing to Hull in the
FA cup replay does not matter.
The Barca game is excellent
preparation for Utd on Sunday.
The EPL is the real goal this season
any thing else is a bonus.
This is actually the best comment i’ve read regarding todays game.
Finally a comment I can agree on with you
Fab…..good to know we are better than them in every aspect aside from most crucial and most important…..
Is a great article and I never would have guessed. The end result would make one hell of a team. Id imagine they would do much better playing in a Barca shirt than the Gunners, for a number of reasons.
Well, thank God for stats. There was me thinking that I would be able to make my own mind by watching the game. Also I have now found out that Mertesacker actually wins 2.2 of aerial duels each game. Disturbing, so he is better than I thought.
I feel we are going to miss Santi Cazorla, BIG time!
Comment of the day!