xGunners: Top 5 chances of the Premier League weekend

xG seems to be everywhere these days in modern soccer coverage, but the values of each individual shot are not always easily apparent.

To help with that, I’ll be doing a weekly post where I post the top 5 Premier League shots of the week, ranked by their xG (plus the best one from Arsenal, if it didn’t make the cut).

There will be a GIF of the shot (as long as I can find the video of the shot somewhere) and a quick explanation of each of the pertinent variables that went into why the shot was rated that way according to my xG model.

5) Gabriel Jesus, Manchester City

Assisted shot from feet, taken from the center of the six yard box, classified as a big chance.

The beauty in this goal comes in the passing move before the tap-in. The one touch give and go with the third man, David Silva who started the move, continuing his run to be found with a defense splitting pass. Manchester City are good.

This goal, to be honest, seems underrated by my xG model.

4) Gabriel Jesus, Manchester City

Assisted shot from feet, taken from the center of the six yard box, classified as a big chance.

Jesus has a knack for getting into great goal scoring positions but was unable to convert this one. When I looked a couple weeks ago, Jesus was the best at xG per shot, after this weekend I bet he still is.

On a side note, Manchester City again benefited from generous refereeing that they didn’t play almost the entire match with 10 men, and were thus able to create the last two chances.

3) Callum Wilson, Bournemouth

Shot from head, from the center of the six yard box, following a cross, from a corner, classified as a a big chance.

Headers are hard, headers from crosses are really hard. It becomes a lot easier, though, when the defense doesn’t challenge you. Huddersfield should really work on that.

2) James McClean, West Brom

Shot from feet, from the center of the box, following a fast break, classified as a big chance.

I am all aboard the conspiracy theory that Tony Pulis is tanking the season trying to get fired (get the buyout money Tony) and planning on taking either the Wales job or Swansea. I love a good conspiracy and this would explain why West Brom are so uninspiring this season. Update- Pulis has been fired by West Brom

1) Alexis Sánchez, Arsenal

Assisted shot from feet, taken from the center of the box, following a fast break, classified as a big chance.

Sánchez was rampant against Tottenham, he was arguably fouled right before the shot but, defying the accusations of certain supporters that he is a diver, he stays on his feet and is only denied a second goal by a good save.