A free-flowing, expansive side like Arsenal who play the ‘sexy’ football, the neat passing game, the team that possesses a wealth of intricate and delicate footballers should, I’m sure you all agree, have players in and around the top of assist charts, no?

Just two seasons ago, Theo Walcott bagged double figures for assists in the Premier League, Lukas Podolski achieved 10 across the league and Champions League, Santi Cazorla set-up 11 goals for his team-mates and even Olivier Giroud chipped in with seven.

So, if you add a Mesut Ozil, the rise of Aaron Ramsey towards world-class status and a Jack Wilshere finding his feet again to that foursome of clearly creative players then Arsenal should be flying in the assist charts, right?

Well, yeah, you’re right, they be should be but for some reason the Gunners aren’t.

What has changed?

Theo Walcott’s long-term absence, Mesut Ozil’s loss of (statistical) form, Olivier Giroud’s absence, Lukas Podolski’s barely featured and Santi Cazorla hasn’t effected a game dramatically for almost 18 months.

So, the fact Oli G, Theo, Podolski and Santi have barely been used of late, for one reason or another, surely the replacements have to make their absences not feel like a big hinderance?

We’ve brought in Danny Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez into our starting XI, whilst Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has featured a lot more regularly. The Chilean has four goals and three assists from nine combined appearances across the Premier League and Champions League which is a more than respectable return.

Welbeck has five goals and one assist across seven appearances, whereas Oxlade-Chamberlain has just a sole goal and assist from 10 appearances.

I actually started this piece envisaging that I’d be talking about Sanchez’s desire to hold onto the ball more, would be the reason for less assists. However, seven goals or assists in his last nine Premier League or Champions League games suggests my early thoughts were misplaced.

In truth, I’m now a bit stumped as to why we only have Alexis Sanchez with more than one assist in the Premier League whilst Cesc Fabregas and Dusan Tadic sit pretty at the top with seven assists each.

Maybe it’s a balance thing?

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