One of Southampton’s unsung heroes so far this season has been Scottish midfielder Stuart Armstrong.
He may not grab the headlines like Danny Ings or Nathan Redmond for sizzling displays, but he is a consistent performer in midfield and key to how Southampton play in the Premier League.
This has been proven by statistics tweeted by popular Twitter account TheOther14, showing the difference in Southampton’s game when Armstrong is in and out of the side.
Twitter: As requested by @sfcdan, comparing the team stats for @SouthamptonFC when Stuart Armstrong is playing with when he… https://t.co/NQ9r3n2ytO (@Other14The)
The stats show that, in less minutes, Southampton have scored more and conceded less with Armstrong on the pitch. In 1140 minutes, Southampton have scored 22 and conceded 17 with Armstrong playing, compared to 13 goals scored and 35 goals conceded without him on the pitch.
This is a huge difference and, whilst it may not all be down to him specifically, it shows how important Armstrong is. He may not dominate individual statistics in terms of goals and assists, although he has managed three Premier League goals, but he is excellent at pressing from the front and defending his own goal.
Armstrong helps Southampton to build pressure on teams by working his socks off to give opposition players no time on the ball. This helps Southampton defensively and offensively, as it pushes teams back and limits their attacking output whilst giving Southampton the chance to get on the front foot.
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