Chelsea vs Tottenham: Are Spurs Now the Best Team in London?

Thursday evening’s showdown at White Hart Lane is likely to be a fascinating encounter. Tottenham and Chelsea sit third and fourth respectively, with just a couple of points separating the pair and with both Chelsea and Arsenal in periods of transition, Harry Redknapp’s side have the chance to establish themselves as the top club in England’s capital city this season. Ahead of the crucial showdown, WhoScored looks at each side’s stats and analyses the performances of key individuals to see just how they’ve fared so far this season…

Team Stats

Spurs have the highest number of attempts (19.1) and shots on target (7.3) in the Premier League, such is their attacking menace. Chelsea, on the other hand have registered 17.1 and 6.1 respectively, fourth and fifth for each respective category. The Blues fare better when it comes to possession, averaging 56.5%, second only to Arsenal, while Harry Redknapp’s side average 54.5%.

Both sides are almost identical for tackles per game, with Chelsea just edging it 19.6 to 19.5 but Andre Villas-Boas’ side have the worst disciplinary record in the league, with 39 yellow cards and 3 reds. Tottenham, in comparison, have picked up a mere 17 bookings, the least in the league, and have seen a player dismissed just once.

Perhaps surprisingly, given their reputation as such a physical side, Chelsea have the third lowest tally for aerial duels won per game, with just 8.8, while Spurs have won 12.5. The Blues have conceded the least number of shots per game, though- only 10.6, with Spurs on 14.1.

Steel at the Back

Next, we take a look at the most-used centre-half from each team, Younes Kaboul and John Terry. Kaboul has played 14 of his side’s 15 games, missing the other through suspension, while Blues skipper Terry has played every one of the club’s 16 matches. Both are almost identical for tackles, with Terry just in front by 2.1 to 2, and he also betters Kaboul for interceptions, by 2.1 to 1.7, and blocks (0.7 to 0.6). Kaboul, however, has been far superior in the air, winning 4.5 duels per game to Terry’s 1.7 and he also makes twice the number of clearances on average, 10.2 to 5.1.

Key Creators

There is a substantial difference between the two clubs in terms of creativity and, upon analysis, it’s clear just why Andre Villas-Boas is looking for further acquisitions as he remoulds his newly-inherited side. When it comes to creating goalscoring chances,  only three Chelsea players have provided 1.5 key passes or more per game - Juan Mata (2.9), Frank Lampard (2.2) and Raul Meireles (1.5). Given that both Mata and Meireles arrived at Stamford Bridge in the summer, Villas-Boas clearly knows what type of player will fit into his system.

Tottenham, on the other hand, have seven players who’ve managed to surpass an average of 1.5 key passes, with creativity forged right through their attacking unit.  This includes three of Harry Redknapp’s first-choice midfield, Gareth Bale (3), Aaron Lennon and Luka Modric (both 2.3) have excelled, while both the club’s main forwards also exceed the 1.5 limit. Rafael Van der Vaart also produced 2.3 per game, while Emmanuel Adebayor manages 1.8.

Forward Finishing

Finally, a look at how each side are taking their chances in front of goal, focussing mainly on the frontmen from each side.

Playing on the right of Chelsea’s front three, Daniel Sturridge has been the club’s main goal threat this season.  Sturridge has been a revelation in his first full season at Stamford Bridge, grabbing 8 goals in 12 games, while far more experienced players fail to produce the goods. Sturridge has averaged 3.2 shots per game, a total of 38 shots, which is a goal every 4.75 attempts. Juan Mata has scored just 3 goals over his 14 games, but despite his quality in terms of creativity, he manages just 1.4 shots per game - scoring with every 6.66 attempts.

Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres, despite playing 12 and 11 games respectively, have scored just 2 goals apiece, an indication of the problems Chelsea are enduring right now. Drogba has 2.3 shots per game and scored a goal every 14 attempts, while Torres has managed 1.8 shots per game and scored with every 10 shots.

Tottenham’s front men have been far more consistent with their shooting. Like Sturridge, Emmanuel Adebayor is top scorer with 8 goals, but averages 4.2 shots. Over his 13 appearances, then, this is a goal every 6.87 attempts. Van der Vaart, Adebayor’s main partner in the 4-4-2, has grabbed 6 goals, as has Jermain Defoe, Redknapp’s other striking option. They average 3.5 and 3.3 shots respectively, which equates to a goal every 7.66 shots for the Dutchman and 1 for every 6.66 shots for Defoe.

Given the lack of real creativity and poor finishing on show at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea’s fourth-placed position is almost in spite of themselves, with the stats revealing under-par performances from far too many key individuals. In front of goal, both Sturridge and Mata have shown a level of finishing equal or better to Defoe, Spurs’ most clinical forward, but with Tottenham’s attack afforded far more opportunities to find the net, Redknapp’s side are producing the goods with a greater regularity.