Arshavin Week: Andrey's complete season stats

Andrey Arshavin is the runner-up in our Player of the Season poll after receiving 19.4 per cent of the votes cast. As a result we're dedicating a week on the website to the Russian playmaker.
 
Today we’re taking a look at Andrey’s complete season’s stats. His explosive impact after joining in February was obvious and today you can see exactly what he did well and what he did better in his 12 appearances.

ARSHAVIN'S STATS

	Andrey Arshavin
Appearances	12
Minutes played	997
Assists	7
Blocks	3
Bookings	2
Clearances	4
Unsuccessful crosses	10
Successful crosses	7
Unsuccessful dribbles	4
Successful dribbles	8
Free-kicks	14
Goals scored	6
Interceptions made	2
Offsides	3
Complete passes	58
Incomplete passes	34
Pass success %	63
Shots blocked	5
Shots off target	8
Shots on target	23
Shooting accuracy %	74
Woodwork struck	1
Tackles lost	5
Tackles won	3
Tackle success %	37.5

At first, it does seem a little strange that a player with only 997 minutes of game time could claim the runner-up spot in the Player of the Season vote. But a quick glance at Andrey’s stats shows exactly why.
 
First and foremost there are the goals. The Russian finished with six in his 12 appearances, one in every two games, securing the highest goals-per-game ratio in the first-team squad.
 
He went one better in assists and only Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas could beat his total of seven. This is clearly a man entrenched in the goalscoring process.
 
There was no let-up in the dribbling and passing stakes with a success rating of over 60 per cent in both disciplines. His shooting accuracy was even better: 74 per cent was the second best ‘shots on target’ percentage in the whole squad.
 
Of course Arshavin’s role in the team is a thoroughly attacking one, but when stationed in midfield, he is not exempt from defensive duties. In total Andrey won three of his eight tackles in addition to four clearances, three blocks and two interceptions.
 
This must be encouraging for his manager who knows how important it is for the creative players to pull their weight. But, that said, Arsène Wenger has no intention of curbing the 27-year-old’s flair.
 
“Many times in the game Arshavin has his own ideas,” said Wenger in April.
 
“But we have no forbidden ways for our creative players as long as they respect when we lose the ball that they share the job well.
 
“We are a team who wants to play in a mobile game so you have to give them freedom to go where they feel they will be dangerous.”
 
Based on his first 997 minutes in the Premier League, Arshavin knows exactly where that is.

Please note these statistics are Premier League only.

[Wednesday, July 08, 2009]

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