Martin Odegaard vs Kevin De Bruyne: A Statistical Analysis
As the 2023/24 Premier League season nears its conclusion, the title race has intensified, with Arsenal and Manchester City leading the charge. Central to their success have been their respective midfield maestros, Martin Odegaard and Kevin De Bruyne. Both players have been in scintillating form, showcasing their exceptional abilities on a consistent basis.
Despite missing a significant chunk of the season due to injury, De Bruyne has maintained his world-class standards, while Odegaard has been in red-hot form since joining Arsenal, contributing significantly to their title challenge.
Shooting
Neither Odegaard nor De Bruyne are renowned for their goalscoring prowess, as they often defer to their teammates for the finishing touches. However, De Bruyne holds a slight edge in terms of goals scored, with 0.4 goals per 90 minutes compared to Odegaard’s 0.3. Notably, a larger proportion of De Bruyne’s goals have come from outside the penalty area, exhibiting his exceptional long-range shooting ability.
In terms of accuracy, Odegaard reigns supreme, converting 19.05% of his shots compared to De Bruyne’s 15%. His shot accuracy is also superior, with a 5% higher success rate.
Dribbling
Odegaard outshines De Bruyne in all aspects of dribbling, showcasing his exceptional close control and ability to navigate through tight spaces. He completes more take-ons per 90 minutes (1.1 vs 1) and boasts a higher success rate (51.61% vs 47.06%). Additionally, Odegaard draws more fouls (1.1 per 90 minutes) and loses possession less frequently (13.1 times per 90 minutes) than De Bruyne (25.1 times per 90 minutes).
Passing
De Bruyne’s reputation as one of the world’s best passers is well-deserved, as evidenced by his remarkable assist tally. With 0.8 assists per 90 minutes and 5.1 chances created per 90 minutes, he surpasses Odegaard’s respective tallies of 0.3 and 3. Furthermore, De Bruyne attempts more passes (63.8 per 90 minutes), completes a higher percentage (82.93% vs 87.12%), and exhibits greater proficiency in long passing and crosses.
Conclusion
Both Odegaard and De Bruyne have been instrumental in their teams’ title aspirations. While De Bruyne’s passing prowess gives him an edge in terms of assists and chance creation, Odegaard’s accuracy and dribbling skills make him a formidable force in the Arsenal midfield. Ultimately, De Bruyne’s experience and proven track record at the highest level currently give him the slight advantage (with a score of 16.5-11.5 in his favor), but Odegaard’s exceptional talent and potential suggest that he could match or even surpass De Bruyne’s influence in the years to come.
