It's very hard to sum up a player like Declan Rice in only a few words, but I had a go for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com He is one of the most complete midfielders in the world imo. And his performance against Newcastle showed that: theanalyst.com/articles/dec...

Declan Rice vs Newcastle: 🔴 105 touches (1st) 🔴 75 passes completed (1st) 🔴 17 line-breaking passes (1st) 🔴 260m carried (1st) 🔴 11.3km covered (1st) Arsenal’s midfielder is dominating all aspects of games. Is he the most complete midfielder in the Premier League?👇 theanalyst.com/articles/dec...

The greatest England manager ever?

Rayan Cherki created more chances per 90 than any player in Europe’s top five leagues in 2024-25. Last night, he dazzled for France on his debut. No wonder Man City want him. I looked at the numbers behind his incredible campaign ✍️📊 theanalyst.com/articles/ray...

Since his debut, among all Premier League defenders, Gabriel has: Most Goals (17) Most Headers (12) Most Clean Sheets (57) Rock.

A 26-pass goal, a suffocating high press and a goalkeeper who refused to be beaten. Was so impressed with PSG last night. Here's how they executed the perfect away performance against Arsenal in their Champions League semi-final first leg for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com: theanalyst.com/2025/04/arse...

📈 143 PL goals 📉 Just 3 outside the box 🎯 1 title, 1 golden boot, 1 unforgettable legacy Jamie Vardy’s having a leaving party — and here’s everything that made him a Premier League icon🦊 theanalyst.com/2025/04/jami...

Declan Rice's brilliant free-kicks were staggering – but Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Real Madrid was about so much more. From Saka’s levels of performance to Lewis-Skelley’s maturity at 18, this was a true team performance. My piece for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com theanalyst.com/2025/04/arse...

The Premier League run-in is here. Some teams have a dream schedule, others an absolute nightmare. Used the Opta Power Rankings to break down who has the easiest and hardest fixtures left... theanalyst.com/2025/03/prem...

Crystal Palace finally brought their away form home, thrashing Aston Villa 4-1 at Selhurst Park. At the heart of it was Adam Wharton, who marked his first start in nearly four months with a commanding midfield display. ✍️ @oliverhopkins.bsky.social theanalyst.com/2025/02/adam...

Nice to see Burnley owner Alan Pace sharing the love on my latest story for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com I’m very invested in their defensive record now 😂

More isn’t always better… I looked at the data behind the new Champions League format. Has it really worked?

Man City set to play Bayern or Real Madrid as things stand ☠️☠️

Myles Lewis-Skelly leads all Premier League players this season for duel success rate (72.2%). Declan Rice even compared his strength to Moussa Dembele. ✍️ @oliverhopkins.bsky.social on why last night's game against Tottenham was his coming of age moment: theanalyst.com/2025/01/myle...

Mo Salah (82) now has more Premier League assists than David Beckham (80)

Is Antonee Robinson the best left back in the Premier League right now? A piece for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com that looks at the data behind his blistering speed, lung-busting overlaps, and growing defensive maturity: theanalyst.com/2024/12/anto...

+2 tonight! Such a weapon

Arsenal have scored 20 corner goals since last season—five more than any other team. The secret? Blocking, decoys, crowded boxes, and Gabriel’s absurd aerial dominance. I break it all down here for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com theanalyst.com/2024/12/gabr...

Arsenal only take corners one way, but boy are they good at them:

Arsenal's Corner King 👑 Since the start of last season, Arsenal have scored more corner goals than any other PL team. Gabriel has 5 of them. We analyse how they unleash him through: — Inswingers — Blocking — Crowding the area ✍️ @oliverhopkins.bsky.social theanalyst.com/2024/12/gabr...

Inject it

'Indirect free-kick inside the box' klaxon! The one situation where the professional game descends into pure, school boy chaos

𝐌𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲'𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐞 Why their capitulation against Feyenoord was a symbol of their ongoing troubles — 🤦 Individual errors 📊 Conceding high-value chances 🧠 Mental fragility @oliverhopkins.bsky.social on the data from last night, and the season as a whole: theanalyst.com/2024/11/manc...

Uh, this is a problem

Michail Antonio’s headshot on Fotmob is … sensual

Matheus Cunha has directly contributed to seven goals in his last four games. Wolves have secured points in all four of them (W2 D2). ✍️ @oliverhopkins.bsky.social on Cunha's rise and why Wolves' survival relies so heavily on him: theanalyst.com/2024/11/math...

Wrote about Cunha over the international break; to say he’s integral for Wolves would be an understatement of all understatements

Cannot believe it's been two years since this; what a morning! Still remember Saudi Arabia's ridiculously high (and effective) line. Argentina had the ball in the net three times within the space of 13 minutes but their goals on 22', 28', 35' were all disallowed for offside!

Minutes per goal in Europe: Dani Olmo - 63 Jhon Duran - 69.5 Mateo Retegui - 70.7 Ayoze Perez - 73.9 Bradley Barcola - 75 With 11 goals in 12 games, Retegui is surely one of the signings of the season so far?! theanalyst.com/2024/11/mate...

From an unheard Argentinian to Italy's best striker in just 18 months, the story of Mateo Retegui's rise is incredible. The Atalanta striker has 11 goals in 12 games and I analysed his game in a little more detail for @optaanalyst.bsky.social: theanalyst.com/2024/11/mate...

Mateo Retegui's shot map at Atalanta is a thing of beauty. Some words from me coming on him soon 👀