Opta data: Napoli's Arsenal display was their worst defensive showing on record
Napoli conceded 4.05 expected goals against Arsenal on Wednesday, the highest figure the club has recorded since Opta began tracking the metric — and the second alarming reading in a row.
Napoli conceded 4.05 expected goals to Arsenal on Wednesday at the Maradona, the highest total the club has recorded since Opta started measuring the metric. It is not a subjective read on a poor night: xG measures the quality of chances conceded, and it delivers a harsh verdict on the defensive display in a game Napoli lost 0-1 to a Martin Odegaard left-footed strike in the 75th minute.
It is not an isolated case. In the 3-2 defeat at San Siro against Inter, Napoli had already conceded 3.86 xG. Two matches, two warning signs, the same team giving up clear chances whenever the stakes rise. The one consolation in between was Alex Meret, by far Napoli's best performer for as long as he stayed on the pitch.
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The numbers point to a real defensive fragility, not a one-off, and put the spotlight back on work Allegri needs to do quickly. The Champions League table is a side issue, but the defence on show there is the same one that faces Bologna at the Maradona on Sunday.
Source: Il Napolista
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