Who
will win the battle between the Premier League's joint top goalscorers Diego
Costa and Alexis Sanchez? We check the stats...
A mouth-watering London derby kicks off the live Premier League football on
Sky Sports this weekend with league leaders Chelsea taking on second-placed
Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.
Antonio Conte's Chelsea hold a nine-point lead over their London neighbours
and defeat for Arsene Wenger's side will surely end their title challenge.
With London pride, as well as a crucial three points up for grabs, the
performances of the Premier League's leading goalscorers will be vital in
deciding which team will come out on top.
Sanchez has already bettered his goal and assist tally from the last
campaign. The Chilean forward has scored 15 goals and made eight assists in
the Premier League this season. In the first meeting between the teams this
season, Sanchez scored the opening goal and made an assist for Mesut Ozil as
Arsenal won 3-0.
Despite press speculation regarding Sanchez's future, his form since the end
of November has been sensational. He has scored nine goals and made five
assists in the last 11 Premier League games. He has either scored or made an
assist in 10 out of those 11 games, failing only in the 1-0 win against West
Brom on Boxing Day.
Sanchez is also the leading away scorer in the Premier League this season.
His tally of 11 away goals is three more than the trio of Sergio Aguero,
Costa and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Only PSG's Edinson Cavani (12) has scored more
away goals in Europe's top five leagues this campaign.
Premier League top scorers this season
Overall
Away
1. Diego Costa 15
1. Alexis Sanchez 11
= Alexis Sanchez 15
2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic 8
3. Zlatan Ibrahimovic 14
= Diego Costa 8
4. Harry Kane 13
=Sergio Aguero 8
5.Romelu Lukaku 12
5. Dele Alli 7
=Jermain Defoe 12
= Christian Benteke 7
= Romelu Lukaku 7
In Arsenal's last five away games, Sanchez has made two assists and scored
six goals including a hat-trick in an impressive 5-1 win at West Ham at the
start of December.
Overall, Sanchez has made three assists and scored 11 goals in 11 Premier
League away games this season. However, in 10 Premier League away career
appearances at the current top six clubs, Sanchez has found the net only
twice, scoring at Man City and Tottenham.
Top Five European Leagues
Most away goals this season
1. Edison Cavani
PSG 12
2. Alexis Sanchez
Arsenal 11
3. Alexandre Lacazette
Lyon 10
= Lionel Messi
Barcelona 10
6. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Dortmund 9
Despite rumours of a switch to the Chinese Super League and a falling out
with Antonio Conte, Costa scored on his return to the Chelsea team earlier
this month against Hull on Super Sunday. His total of 15 Premier League
goals this season is already three more than in the last campaign, while he
has also chipped in with a further five assists.
Costa's form throughout the season has been outstanding. In his 21 Premier
League appearances this season, he has made a goal or assist in 16 of them.
This is better than any other player in the Premier League with Sanchez the
next best with 15.
Premier League
PL games with either a goal or assist
1. Diego Costa
16
2. Alexis Sanchez 15
3. Zlatan Ibrahimovic 12
= Kevin de Bruyne 12
4. Gylfi Sigurdsson 11
The 28-year-old Spanish forward's form at Stamford Bridge has been even more
impressive. In 10 Premier League home appearances this season, Costa has
made three assists and scored seven goals including a goal in each of the
last three games.
The only Premier League home game this season when he has failed to register
a goal or assist was in the 4-0 win against Manchester Utd in October.
Chelsea will take another step towards the title if Costa can score in a
fourth consecutive Premier League home game, while the rest of the teams
chasing Conte's men will be hoping Sanchez can inspire Arsenal to victory.
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