Using EA SPORTS data, we have taken a look at the following data. Chelsea may not have got the result that they were after against Manchester United on Sunday, but one Blues player who featured in the match surpassed another rival to take his place at the top of the Premier League table in one particularly category.
It may not be a trait that he is particularly well known for, but after he completed 46 passes against the Red Devils, César Azpilicueta overtook Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson to become the player who has completed the most passes in the league this season, as data courtesy of EA SPORTS shows:
| player | Position | Passes Attempted | Passes Completed | Passing Accuracy % |
| César Azpilicueta | Defender | 2028 | 1777 | 87.62% |
| Jordan Henderson | Midfielder | 2057 | 1767 | 85.90% |
| Paul Pogba | Midfielder | 2070 | 1763 | 85.17% |
| N’Golo Kanté | Midfielder | 1899 | 1686 | 88.78% |
| Ander Herrera | Midfielder | 1853 | 1629 | 87.91% |
| Granit Xhaka | Midfielder | 1793 | 1591 | 88.73% |
| David Silva | Midfielder | 1816 | 1590 | 87.56% |
| Fernandinho | Midfielder | 1759 | 1517 | 86.24% |
| Harry Arter | Midfielder | 1694 | 1483 | 87.54% |
| James Milner | Midfielder | 1847 | 1475 | 79.86% |
As the above data shows, César Azpilicueta is now the top passer in the Premier League, having completed an impressive 1,777 passes so far this year. The feat is particularly impressive, when you consider that all other players in the top ten are traditionally classed as midfielders (though Liverpool’s James Milner has operated for much of the season at left back).
The data above also shows that the Spaniard is not wasteful in possession, as his overall passing accuracy is better than both Henderson’s and Pogba’s, and of the top ten players who have co-+96+3.36
completed the most passes, he sits fourth when it comes to passing accuracy, having completed 87.62% of the passes that he’s attempted.
| Player | Position | Passes Completed in Opposition Half | Successful passes in opposition half % |
| Paul Pogba | Midfielder | 1191 | 82.54% |
| David Silva | Midfielder | 1168 | 86.07% |
| Mesut Özil | Midfielder | 1132 | 85.63% |
| Eden Hazard | Midfielder | 1033 | 83.44% |
| Granit Xhaka | Midfielder | 1027 | 86.52% |
| N’Golo Kanté | Midfielder | 996 | 87.68% |
| Christian Eriksen | Midfielder | 993 | 77.76% |
| Jordan Henderson | Midfielder | 987 | 81.17% |
| Ander Herrera | Midfielder | 985 | 84.40% |
| James Milner | Midfielder | 944 | 76.75% |
| Fernandinho | Midfielder | 930 | 83.48% |
| Kevin De Bruyne | Midfielder | 910 | 79.13% |
| Nathaniel Clyne | Defender | 880 | 81.41% |
| César Azpilicueta | Defender | 877 | 85.64% |
| Harry Arter | Midfielder | 841 | 84.44% |
| Mousa Dembélé | Midfielder | 835 | 91.96% |
| Roberto Firmino | Forward | 827 | 77.29% |
| Alexis Sánchez | Forward | 826 | 70.90% |
| Ross Barkley | Midfielder | 819 | 80.22% |
| Victor Wanyama | Midfielder | 796 | 84.41% |
The above data shows that Azpilicueta still fares impressively when it comes to passes completed in the opposition half too, completing the fourteenth most passes of any player in the Premier League and the second most of any defender (behind Nathaniel Clyne).
What is particularly impressive though, is that of the above list, the former Marseille man has the fifth highest pass accuracy when it comes to passes in the opposition half, having completed 85.64% of the passes that he’s attempted – showing that he isn’t just thriving at passing the ball to his fellow defenders.
