Courtesy of the Premier League's official website, we're about to jinx Cesc Fabregas.

Thanks, Premier League!

Fàbregas already holds the third spot on the all-time list with 17 from 2007/08, though he was also on pace to break that (and Lampard's 18 and Henry's record 20) in 2009/10 when he had 10 in the first 11 games. Injuries (Arsenal, check) and a dip in form (narrative? check) prevented him from doing so and he finished with "just" 13. Should he manage to avoid either of those hindrances (Chelsea, check; narrative, check), he might just do it this year. One thing that will help him in his quest is our ability to score off set pieces: 3 of his 9 assists have come from corners, which has equaled or bettered all but one of his seasons at Arsenal.

Matches Assists Set-play assists Chances created Chances

created /match Goals/ chances

created Passes

into final third

2006/07 38 11 2 116 3.05 9% 537 2007/08 32 17 7 112 3.50 15% 507 2008/09 22 8 3 71 3.23 11% 366 2009/10 27 13 1 95 3.52 14% 366 2010/11 25 11 1 72 2.88 15% 317 2014/15 11 9 3 32 2.91 28% 137

In related data baubles, Fàbregas has covered more distance in the Premier League so far this season than all but one player. Third on the list is Nemanja Matić of course. We only need to look to the number "sprints" (going with the obvious definition in lieu of a legend) to see a drastic, yet complementary difference in how our two midfielders approach the game.

Player

Team

Matches Distance

(km) Ave speed

(km/h) Top speed (km/h) Sprints Schneiderlin Southampton 11 134.3 7.6 34.9 572 Fabregas Chelsea 11

130.9 7.5 32.6 342 Matic Chelsea 11 129.1 7.3 34.8 573 Colback Newcastle 11 128.3 7.4

32.8 638 Livermore Hull City 11 127.0 7.3

33.9 625 Arfield Burnley 11 127.0 7.3

33.6 753 Ki Swansea 11 125.7 7.5

32.9 481 Sigurdsson Swansea 11 122.5 7.2

35.0 608 N'Zonzi Stoke City 11 121.9 7.6

35.8 441 Janmaat Newcastle 11 120.9 6.8

33.3 645

Keep up the good work, keep up the good health, and the title shall be ours!