Free-scoring Arsenal pair among the Premier League's most prolific marksmen
As we near the business end of the season, we take a look at the Premier League players who are making the difference in attack, scoring the highest percentage of clear-cut chances of those presented with a least five big opportunities. Featuring stars from title chasing pair Arsenal and Manchester City, we run through the 10 most prolific big-chance marksmen in the division.
Starting in 10th is Newcastle’s Miguel Almiron. The winger has had a quiet 2023, scoring only one goal, but when it comes to big chances; he has been clinical this season. Of the 10 big chances presented to him, he has scored six of them, and this means 60% of Almiron’s total goals this season have been deemed to big chances.
Danny Ings has represented two Premier League clubs this season in Aston Villa and West Ham and has looked lively up front for both, averaging a goal every 132.5 minutes in the league, which isn’t bad for a player who has only started 10 games. In terms of clear-cut conversion, he has finished 60% (6) of the 10 presented to him, with both of his goals as a Hammer coming from big chances in the 4-0 win over Nottingham Forest.
Ings’ new teammate, Michail Antonio is next in the list. Antonio has not found gametime as easy to come by this season with the respective purchases of Gianluca Scamacca and Ings, and as a result has only scored three times in the league, all of which were big chances. The other clear-cut opportunities he was presented with, he missed, with both coming in instances from the bench.
7. Bobby De Cordova-Reid – 66.7%
With a 66.7% clear-cut conversion rate, Fulham’s Bobby De Cordova-Reid makes the top 10. The Jamaica international has played in a variety of positions this term, most frequently on the right, but this hasn’t prevented him from having an impact in attack. Only Aleksandar Mitrovic (11) has scored more league goals this season than De Cordova-Reid (4) for the Cottagers, with all four of his goals coming from six big chances presented.
Similarly to De Cordova-Reid, Brighton’s Pascal Groß has scored four big chances from six presented to him, which accounts for a 66.7% clear-cut conversion rate. The German is currently the Seagulls’ joint second highest scorer in the league this campaign, despite playing in a number of different roles.
Arsenal’s top goalscorer in the Premier League this season is Gabriel Martinelli (11), who has benefitted from an abundance of creative players around him to make the most of his clever runs and movements. This is emphaised by the fact of those 11 strikes, seven have been deemed big chances. Altogether he has been presented with 10 big chances, giving him a 70% clear-cut conversion rate.
Martinelli’s new teammate Leandro Trossard joins him in having converted 70% of the 10 big chances presented to him. Only one of those seven came for the Gunners, scoring the opener in the draw with Brentford, while all three of his strikes against Liverpool playing for Brighton were big chances.
Despite being sidelined since January, it’s hard to deny that Rodrigo has been one of Leeds’ most important players this season, highlighted by their one league win in his absence. He has scored 10 of the Yorkshire side’s 29 league goals (34.5%) this season and of those 10, seven have come from 10 big chances presented, including his double in the dramatic 4-3 loss to Tottenham.
One player who has been in great form in recent weeks is Manchester City’s Phil Foden, earning three WhoScored man of the match awards in his last three competitive appearances. In the Premier League, he has again been key, scoring nine goals altogether, five of which came from big chances. He has been presented with seven big chances altogether giving him a 71.4% clear-cut conversion rate.
Topping the list and one of the top-ranking players in the Premier League this season is Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka. The Hale End graduate has been a big influence for the Gunners in their title push, highlighted by his 75% clear-cut conversion rate, scoring six of the eight big chances he has been presented with, including two against Liverpool, one against Manchester City and one against Manchester United.
