Shots on Target – The Tale of Two Extremes

As we enter the third week of the Premier League, the differences between teams that have mastered the art of shooting on target and those still struggling to find their range couldn’t be starker. Week 2 has given us a clear view of who’s been sharp in front of goal and who needs to start working overtime on the training ground.

Let’s start with the teams who are making every shot count. Nottingham Forest, a team many expected to struggle this season, has come out firing, leading the pack with a whopping 16 shots on target. It’s the kind of performance that makes you think Nuno might just be pulling off something special at the City Ground. Right behind them, Liverpool and Tottenham are showing they’re serious about their title ambitions, each racking up 13 shots on target. And then there’s Chelsea, with a respectable 11, getting a majority of these shots at their blow out in Wolverhampton. Arsenal rounds out the top five, continuing to display that free-flowing attacking football that fans at the Emirates have come to expect.

Taking a glance at the opposite side of shots on target, its very alarming that Everton is so low on the list. They are truly struggling to create any offense and it’s going to hurt them if they can’t turn it around. West Ham being down this low is an interesting one. With Julen Lopetegui at the helm and beginning to make his impact on the Hammers, it will take time for the team to embrace his juego-de-posición ideology that the Spaniard has employed.

Shots on Target Against: Who’s Blocking Shots and Who’s Waving Them In?

As we roll into Week 3 of the Premier League, it’s already clear which teams are putting up a fortress and which ones might need to reinforce their backlines. On one side of the spectrum, we’ve got teams like Tottenham, Manchester City, and Liverpool, who are giving their keepers a pretty relaxed time between the sticks. These clubs have kept their opponents down to just a handful of shots on target, showing off some rock-solid defensive cohesion that will likely pay dividends as the season progresses.

Tottenham, in particular, are looking like a team transformed. With just four shots on target against them, it’s a sign that the new era under Ange Postecoglou might not only be about offensive flair but also defensive solidity. Manchester City, the reigning champions, are as clinical at the back as they are upfront—no surprise there, Pep’s machine doesn’t leave much to chance. Liverpool and Brighton are also in the mix, proving that their defenses aren’t just there to make up the numbers.

But the other end of the pitch tells a different story. Brentford and Wolves fans might want to look away now—14 shots on target conceded? That’s almost a free-for-all. It’s early days, but those numbers could be a sign of bigger issues, whether it’s a shaky defense, a midfield that’s not tracking back, or perhaps a new system that’s yet to click. Bournemouth, Everton, and Leicester City aren’t too far behind, which might explain some of their early struggles.

For Brentford, this could be a warning sign that the Bees need to shore things up if they want to avoid a season of staving off relegation battles. Leicester, too, might want to rethink their strategy if they’re planning on a staying in the Premier League—12 shots on target against is flirting with danger. And for Wolves, who’ve got the same number as Brentford, something has to give, and fast.