Best defences in the league so far

After a turbulent start to the season the international break has arrived. We look back and reflect on some of the best defences in the league so far with the help of the Fantasy Football Scout members area and its underlying statistics.

Its has been a rough start to the campaign in terms of teams keeping clean sheets. Only two teams have managed to bank two clean sheets from their first two matches. That may be the case but there are teams maintaining some fantastic underlying data so in that regard lets take a look at some of the best defences in the league so far.

Manchester City

Many expect Manchester City to have the best defence every season and that looks to be the case early on in the new campaign. In fact the league holders are one of only two teams to have managed two clean sheets from their first four games.

Clean sheets are great but underlying defensive data can be a huge indication of how good a defence can be moving forward. When compared to every other side Manchester City rank the best for expected goals conceded (2.74). Interestingly they have actually under performed on their data which could suggest they may only get stronger.

Manchester City have also been sustaining some other fantastic defensive data. Amongst all teams they rank the best for shots in the box conceded (18), the best for shots on target conceded (seven) and the joint best for big chances conceded (four).

Arsenal

Arsenal are another side who managed to keep a strong backline last campaign. An example of that is amongst all teams in the league they ranked joint second best for goals conceded (43) and joint second best for clean sheets kept (14).

This season is no different for the ‘Gooner’s. In fact although they have kept just one clean sheet from their first four matches they are maintaining some brilliant underlying defensive data. In fact, they currently sit second best for expected goals conceded (3.70), third best for shots in the box conceded (27), joint second best for shots on target conceded (nine) and joint second best for big chances conceded (five).

Chelsea

Chelsea finished in the bottom half of the table last season and their defensive data was reflective of that. However, although the Blues have managed to keep just one clean sheet in the league so far (and that was against Luton) they are actually keeping some quietly impressive underlying data.

So far this season Chelsea rank third best for expected goals conceded (4.27), second best for shots in the box conceded (26), third best for total attempts on goal conceded (48) and third best for shots on target conceded (11). This could be a sign that the Blues can keep clean sheets moving forward and even more so considering their fixtures ahead.

Crystal Palace

This may come as a surprise to many but Crystal Palace were statistically one of the best defensive units in the Premier League last campaign. In fact they ranked fourth best for expected goals conceded (48.83). Interestingly they have started the new season in the same way.

Like some Crystal Palace have also picked up just one clean sheet but their underlying data suggests that they could keep a lot more looking ahead. When compared to every other side so far they rank fifth best expected goals conceded (4.67), joint second best for shots on target conceded (nine) and joint third best for big chances conceded (six).