The 2025/26 Premier League season is approaching its halfway mark, and while the title race and top-four battle dominate headlines, a host of surprising statistics are painting a fascinating picture of the campaign so far. Beyond the obvious narratives, the data reveals unexpected trends in discipline, tactics, and individual performances that are shaping the fortunes of every club.
Table Toppers and Tactical Trends
Arsenal not only lead the league table in December but have also established themselves as the division's set-piece specialists. Mikel Arteta's side have scored an impressive 12 times from dead-ball situations, more than any other team, while conceding just twice from them. This efficiency has been a cornerstone of their success.
In contrast, a high defensive line appears to be a favoured tactical approach across several top clubs. The top five players for short passes completed this season are all defenders, with Brighton's Lewis Dunk leading the way on 1123, followed by Virgil van Dijk, Ruben Dias, Jan Paul van Hecke, and Trevoh Chalobah.
Discipline, Misfortune, and Record-Breaking Woes
When it comes to discipline, Chelsea are in a league of their own, but not in a good way. The Blues have seen four players sent off this season—double the number of any other club. Moises Caicedo, Trevoh Chalobah, Robert Sanchez, and Malo Gusto have all received marching orders.
Manchester United's push for a top-four spot has been hampered by sheer bad luck. Ruben Amorim's team have struck the woodwork a league-high 10 times, with Bruno Fernandes accounting for four of those near-misses. Meanwhile, at the opposite end of the table, Wolverhampton Wanderers are facing a historic crisis. With just two points from 16 games, they are on course to challenge Derby County's infamous record low of 11 points in a season.
Quirky Individual Highlights and a Throw-In Revolution
Several individual stories stand out in the data. Since his £125m move to Liverpool, Alexander Isak has averaged a remarkably low 14 touches per game. Bournemouth's Evanilson leads an unfortunate chart, having been caught offside 13 times, costing him four disallowed goals. For Wolves, Hugo Bueno's 21 successful open-play crosses is a league-high, but his teammates have converted just two of them.
Perhaps the most unexpected trend is the dramatic resurgence of the long throw. Compared to last season, there has been a 162% increase in long throws taken per match, with the average rising from 1.5 to 3.8. Brentford's Michael Kayode, with 54 long throws launched into the box, is the modern exponent of this revived art.
Finally, in the midfield battle, Tottenham's returning loanee Joao Palhinha has made the most tackles (65), quickly re-adapting to English football and outperforming his nearest challenger, Nottingham Forest's Neco Williams, by 13.
