It’s not all sunshine and rainbows for Regis Le Bris, this Sunderland stat is extremely worrying
Sunderland have had the second fewest touches in their opponents’ box in the Premier League this season.
Sunderland triumphed in a 2-2 draw against Arsenal to finish fourth in the Premier League before the November international break.
Dan Ballard was Sunderland’s Man of the Match in what was another outstanding team performance from the Black Cats.
While overlooked at the beginning of the season, Sunderland are now expected to compete in the Premier League until the end. As a result, Regis Le Bris will want to ensure the Black Cats do not disappoint.
Sunderland’s attacking approach is too conservative
Sunderland have recorded 193 touches in the opposition box in the Premier League this season.
For reference, league leaders Arsenal top the chart with 375 touches and Manchester City are not far behind with 356 thus far.
Meanwhile, the feat places the Black Cats in 19th, with just 25 more touches than Burnley, who are rock bottom.
There are exceptions to the rule, but most of the top-performing Premier League sides are positioned higher up the list.
Meanwhile, Sunderland are accompanied by both West Ham and Wolves, who are both battling relegation. This will be a concern for Le Bris, who will want his team in close quarters with the best the league has to offer.
Sunderland’s attacks must be more purposeful
Sunderland’s limited touches in their opponents’ box make sense when considering their other attacking statistics.
Indeed, the Black Cats have netted 14 goals, which averages to around 1.3 goals per game according to Sofascore.
- Sunderland have netted the eighth fewest goals in the league
- The Black Cats create 1.7 big chances per game
- They take around 10.1 shots per game
Meanwhile, Man City, who lead the league in goals scored, averages 2.1 goals and have created 3.1 big chances per game. They have also taken an average of 13.8 shots per match.
The difference is clear to see, and if not for the strong arm of Robin Roefs in the Premier League this season, the Black Cats could’ve found themselves further down the table.
Therefore, Le Bris must analyse solutions for Sunderland’s attacking woes this international break, before it derails their season for good.
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