statistically speaking, the least effective striker of the top five forwards on current form in
domestic action.
He has played one fewer game than his striking rivals and, while he is the most prolific at
getting his shots away (one shot made every 23 minutes), he is the more wasteful in front of
goal and has an effectiveness that pales in comparison to Aston Villa talisman Christian
Benteke , Liverpool front-man Daniel Sturridge , Arsenal ace Olivier Giroud and Manchester
City hero Sergio Aguero .
The 30-year-old Dutchman was crucial to the club's successes last term and began the
current campaign in jaw-dropping fashion thanks to a brace that included a
golazo volley
against Swansea City mid-August. Community Shield and European exploits aside, van
Persie's sole contribution aside from the Swansea theatrics was a penalty spot conversion
against Crystal Palace.
The striker with the worst strike rate (one shot every 57 minutes) is, extraordinarily, the one
who has the best efficiency in front of goal as, across Manchester, Sergio Aguero is in bang
tidy form. The Argentine may have only peeled away six shots from 341 minutes and five
appearances but he has returned three goals and one assist already, meaning he is
contributing to a goal once every 85 minutes.
What may obscure Aguero's stats, though, is that two-thirds of his goals in the Premier
League arrived just yesterday, as he returned a double against City's neighbourhood rivals
United. His only other domestic goal was a cool finish versus Newcastle United on City's
opening game of the season. He has, however, added a European goal to his overall tally as
he sealed the 3-0 victory over Viktoria Plzen last week.
One striker who is thus far proving a
reliable outlet for goals spread over a
number of matches is Arsenal finisher
Giroud. The club's fans were deafening in
their enthusiasm in the Gunners' pursuit of
Gonzalo Higuain and Luis Suarez, however,
if France international Giroud maintains his
current efficiency then perhaps there will
be little need for striking recruitment when
the transfer window reopens in January.
Giroud has shot 15 times to date in the
2013/14 campaign, with 40% of his efforts
finding the target. He puts his laces
through the ball for a strike rate of one
shot every 28 minutes and either scores or
assists every 86 minutes. So far, his
contributions have aided results against Fulham and Sunderland, he was the solitary hero in
the club's 1-0 triumph over Tottenham Hotspur, he opened Arsenal's account against Aston
Villa and he even scored a penalty in Europe, against Fenerbahce.
Benteke, like Giroud, spreads his goals over a number of games but, due to Villa's results, he
is more often than not on the losing side when compared to Giroud and Arsenal.
Benteke secured the equaliser against Newcastle United (before the Magpies went on to win),
he leveled the scoreline versus Chelsea (before the Blues went on to win) and he secured the
equaliser against Arsenal, before scoring another to ensure it was the Villans who won. He
even scored in the League Cup.
In league duty alone, though, his efficiency (one goal scored or assist created every 97
minutes) is bettered only by Aguero and Giroud, while Daniel Sturridge lags someway behind
despite scoring just as many goals as Benteke.
Liverpool goal-getter Sturridge has returned four games from five matches to share the number
one spot in this seasons golden boot race, however, he has been on the pitch for far longer
than any of his striking rivals, playing every minute of the five games. He takes a shot once
every 32 minutes, which compares to Giroud, but his overall efficiency is only slightly better
than fifth-placed Van Persie.
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