Arsenal: Why Hakan Calhanoglu transfer should be avoided

Hakan Calhanoglu Statistical Analysis for Arsenal

Most players have their forte; their crowning glory trait that they’re best known for, whether it’s late penalty box arrivals or an Arjen Robben cut inside bend one top corner move. For Calhanoglu, he excels when the ball is sat still.

In other words, a set piece specialist.

His expected assists compared to player of his position across the last 365 days is 0.32 per 90 minutes, putting him in the 97th percentile. Those numbers are glorious, and they’re backed up by 3.38 key passes per 90 which has him in the 99th percentile.

Where do they come from, though? They almost solely come from dead balls. Using Understat, we can see his total xA for the 2020/21 season with Milan was 8.86, with 3.34 of that coming from open play. He notched ten assists in the division and scored four goals.

Few on the continent boast a delivery quite like his and free-kicks, whether indirect or not, have his name on them. Furthermore, you want him on corners.

That is playing him short, however, as his overall passing figures are immense and his SCA (shot creating actions) from live passes is 3.59 per 90, putting him in the 97th percentile, while he also averages close to six progressive passes per game.

What’s not to like? Arsenal were hopeless on attacking set pieces last season and relied on Willian for the best delivery around. For a team that struggles to create, the additional threat of set pieces could easily have bumped a few more points on the table, whether from free-kicks or corners. He isn’t too shabby at carries or entries into the final third, either.

But this is not a deal Arsenal should pursue.

Continued…