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Cesc Fabregas on record pace for most assists in a Premier League season

Julian Finney/Getty Images

Courtesy of the Premier League's official website, we're about to jinx Cesc Fabregas.

Thanks, Premier League!

Fàbregas already holds the third spot on the all-time list with 17 from 2007/08, though he was also on pace to break that (and Lampard's 18 and Henry's record 20) in 2009/10 when he had 10 in the first 11 games.  Injuries (Arsenal, check) and a dip in form (narrative? check) prevented him from doing so and he finished with "just" 13.  Should he manage to avoid either of those hindrances (Chelsea, check; narrative, check), he might just do it this year.  One thing that will help him in his quest is our ability to score off set pieces:  3 of his 9 assists have come from corners, which has equaled or bettered all but one of his seasons at Arsenal.

Matches Assists Set-play assists Chances created Chances
created /match
Goals/ chances
created
Passes
into final third 
2006/07 38 11 2 116 3.05 9% 537
2007/08 32 17 7 112 3.50 15% 507
2008/09 22 8 3 71 3.23 11% 366
2009/10 27 13 1 95 3.52 14% 366
2010/11 25 11 1 72 2.88 15% 317
2014/15 11 9 3 32 2.91 28% 137

In related data baubles, Fàbregas has covered more distance in the Premier League so far this season than all but one player.  Third on the list is Nemanja Matić of course.  We only need to look to the number "sprints" (going with the obvious definition in lieu of a legend) to see a drastic, yet complementary difference in how our two midfielders approach the game.

Player
Team
Matches Distance
(km)
Ave speed
(km/h)
Top speed (km/h) Sprints
Schneiderlin Southampton 11 134.3 7.6 34.9 572
Fabregas Chelsea 11
130.9 7.5 32.6 342
Matic Chelsea 11 129.1 7.3 34.8 573
Colback Newcastle 11 128.3 7.4
32.8 638
Livermore Hull City 11 127.0 7.3
33.9 625
Arfield Burnley 11 127.0 7.3
33.6 753
Ki Swansea 11 125.7 7.5
32.9 481
Sigurdsson Swansea 11 122.5 7.2
35.0 608
N'Zonzi Stoke City 11 121.9 7.6
35.8 441
Janmaat Newcastle 11 120.9 6.8
33.3 645

Keep up the good work, keep up the good health, and the title shall be ours!

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