1 March MW 26
FERTILE FEBRUARY
A few of us have been banging on endlessly about the number of goals that have been flying in this season and February’s total underlined the remarkable scoring rate that has been reached. A total of 158 goals in the space of 42 matches gave an astonishing rate of 3.8 goals per match – the highest monthly rate in Premier League history.
Looking a little deeper into that deluge of goals, in more than half the matches [22 out of 42] one side scored at least three goals. Indeed fourteen of the clubs scored at least three goals in one of their matches, Arsenal did it four times, including successive 6-0 and 5-0 victories away from home against West Ham and Burnley. Even poor old Sheffield United managed to notch three in their away win at Luton.
It almost goes without saying that there were no goalless draws during February. The last 0-0 was on 30th January when Fulham and Everton drew blanks, only the eighth of this goal-laden season.
HAT-TRICK HEAVEN
Unsurprisingly, the number of hat-tricks have also been piling up with Jarrod Bowen’s against Brentford the twelfth this season, which is four are than were scored in the whole of last season. Only twice in the last ten years have there been more in the entire season – 13 in 2011/12, 14 in 2015/16. The record of 18 set in 2011/12 is also in sight.
The running total of goals for this season is 834 at 3.23 per game and the 2006/07 season’s overall total of 931 is within reach and at the current rate, will be overtaken by Week 29, with 70 matches still to be played. This season is on course to amass 1,227 goals, obliterating last season’s record of 1,084.
The Football Mine 