Willian | A statistically fantastic signing

Arsenals key issues when creating chances come in form of passing

As a midfield & a front line we are weak in 3 forms of passing which lead to chances:

Progressive passes (PP)
Passes into the final 1/3 (P3)
Key passes (KP)

Progressive passes are key in transition breaking defensive lines + linking MF & ATT

Arsenal sit 9th for PP 19/20 PL

Willian made a huge 189 PP (PL 19/20) more than next best winger Mahrez (147), Rashford (141)

Auba+Pepe made 170 comb. Willian made more than any Arsenal player

Passes into the final 1/3

Arsenal sit averagely 7th in the PL for P3

Willian though made 71 passes into the final 1/3 more than Firmino (70), Bernardo Silva (67), Mahrez, Alli

At Arsenal he would only be behind Dani, Xhaka, MG & Luiz - Willian as an AM would be interesting

Key Passes - Arsenal’s biggest weakness

Key passes are passes which directly lead to a shot

Arsenal sit 16th in the table for KP!!

Willian made 71 KPs in 19/20 PL - more than Bernardo, Firmino, Sterling, Mahrez.

Willian made 32 more KPs than Pepe (39) - Arsenals highest in KP

All in all signing Willian on a free helps solve so many creative issues

His stats show he has ability to play wide and also as an AM helping add the creativity we have missed all season

Willian will add a lot to our attack - don’t write him off just yet.