Saturday analysis: Solid Gunners, lethal Toffees and Pulis's Palace

How FourFourTwo saw Saturday's games through the analytical prism of Stats Zone...

Every weekend, FourFourTwo follows the Premier League action live with Stats Zone, our constantly updating analytical tool fed by Opta and now available on your browser as well as via an iOS app.

Watching, analysing, tweeting and screensharing, we keep you up to date with the action around the grounds, taking you inside the games with an expert eye. Won't you join us?

Here's some of the things that caught our attention today.

Aston Villa 0-0 Sunderland

Not a game to echo down the ages. Villa had more shots, but each side was wasteful. 

The pass total reflect the home side's slight superiority of possession (51.9%).

Sunderland's brightest sparks were jinky Giaccherini and clearance king Wes Brown.

Aston Villa 0-0 Sunderland: Report • Analysis

Cardiff 0-3 Arsenal

In the first half, Mesut Ozil completed more attacking-third passes than Cardiff. So did Santi Cazorla.

The home side picked up a lot in the second half, though.

However, kudos to Arsenal's dogged defence - as well as those sleek boys further forward.

Cardiff 0-3 Arsenal: Report • Analysis

Everton 4-0 Stoke

The shot count will tickle Toffees fans but petrify Potters supporters.

Stoke attempted more than 400 passes and completed more than 300. They didn't hide - but nor did they create.  

Goalscoring loanees Gerard Deulofeu and Romelu Lukaku caught the eye for the home side.

Everton 4-0 Stoke: Report • Analysis

Norwich 1-0 Crystal Palace 

A late Palace flurry meant they ended up with more shots, but most of them were blocked.

Palace were very Pulis, with low possession (40.5%) and plenty of tackles, but Norwich played more long balls.

Marouane Chamakh might not strike you as a very Pulis player but he certainly put himself about a bit - no player had more ball recoveries, suffered more fouls or attempted more aerial duels, while only Leroy Fer attempted more tackles. What he needs, though, is a goal - which is just about all Gary Hooper did in the area for Norwich, but Chris Hughton won't mind. 

Norwich 1-0 Crystal Palace: ReportAnalysis

West Ham 3-0 Fulham 

Oh dear, Martin Jol. The supposedly blunt strikeforce of the Hammers managed 12 shots on target, the Cottagers not a single one.

Fulham actually had more possession and passes, but rarely where it worried West Ham.

The 63 aerial duels just about all over the pitch speak volumes for the kind of game it was - again, not that Sam Allardyce will give a hoot.

West Ham 3-0 Fulham: Report • Analysis

Newcastle 2-1 West Brom

The two stripey sides rained in 14 shots apiece, but whereas half of the home side's were accurate, the Baggies only hit the target once - for Chris Brunt's goal. That's right, the White Hart Lane hero Tim Krul didn't make a single save...

Steve Clarke's half-time team-talk obviously worked, because after the break the Baggies were twice as effective in Newcastle's third. 

Nobody made more tackles or interceptions than Yohan Cabaye, who was also Newcastle's second busiest passer.

Newcastle 2-1 West Brom: Report • Analysis 

Gary Parkinson is a freelance writer, editor, trainer, muso, singer, actor and coach. He spent 14 years at FourFourTwo as the Global Digital Editor and continues to regularly contribute to the magazine and website, including major features on Euro 96, Subbuteo, Robert Maxwell and the inside story of Liverpool's 1990 title win. He is also a Bolton Wanderers fan.

Latest in Analysis
England players celebrate after Myles Lewis-Skelly scored the opening goal in the 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Albania at Wembley Stadium, London, March 2025
Stats and facts to set the scene as England face Latvia in World Cup qualifying
Wales players celebrate a goal against Iceland during the UEFA Nations League match at the Cardiff City Stadium, November 2024
A goal-fest in store as Wales entertain Kazakhstan in their first game of 2025?
Northern Ireland players celebrate after Isaac Price scored to complete a hat-trick in the UEFA Nations League match against Bulgaria at Windsor Park in Belfast, October 2024
Here's what to watch out for as in-form Northern Ireland gear up for Switzerland friendly
Thomas Tuchel, Head Coach of England, looks on during a training session at St Georges Park on March 18, 2025 in Burton-upon-Trent, England Journalist and Media pundit, Henry Winter looks on from the press box during the international friendly match between England and Bosnia & Herzegovina at St James' Park on June 03, 2024 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England
'Where’s the "one of our own" that’s remotely good enough? The FA needed to be pragmatic, not patriotic.' Writing exclusively for FourFourTwo Henry Winter reminds England fans why they have good reason to be smiling
Andy Robertson celebrates with John McGinn after scoring Scotland's winning goal in stoppage time against Poland in the Nations League in Warsaw, November 2024
Three things to keep an eye on as Scotland look to avoid Nations League relegation in Greece play-off
England manager Thomas Tuchel speaks at a press conference, March 2025
What to look out for as Thomas Tuchel's England tenure gets underway with Albania clash
Latest in Features
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola holds aloft the Premier League trophy at the Etihad in May 2023.
Quiz! Can you name every Premier League champion... in just 90 seconds?
 Sheila Garcia of Real Madrid CF battle for the ball with Alessia Russo of Arsenal FC during the UEFA Women's Champions League Quarter Finals First Leg match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal FC at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on March 18, 2025 in Madrid, Spain.
'Over two legs I expected Arsenal to beat Real Madrid in the Champions League, I still think they can despite being 2-0 down,' says former Lioness Izzy Christiansen
Luiz Diaz of Colombia celebrates with James Rodriguez of Colombia after scoring his team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers match between Brazil and Colombia at Arena BRB Mane Garrincha.
How to watch Colombia vs Paraguay: Live streams for World Cup qualifier
Uruguay's Argentine head coach Marcelo Bielsa (R) gives instructions during the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualifiers football match between Uruguay and Argentina at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo, on March 21, 2025.
How to watch Bolivia vs Uruguay: Live streams for Conmebol World Cup qualifying
BRASILIA, BRAZIL - MARCH 20, 2025: Vinicius Junior of Brazil in action during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers match between Brazil and Colombia at Arena BRB Mane Garrincha.
How to watch Argentina vs Brazil: Live streams for blockbuster World Cup qualifier
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Southampton FC at Anfield on March 08, 2025 in Liverpool, England.
Quiz! Can you name FourFourTwo's greatest Premier League players ever?