The central defensive midfielder is considered the crux of most football sides in the modern era. They are responsible for protecting and screening the back four, making tough tackles, intercepting passes, dropping back into defence to facilitate overloads in build-up, and orchestrating attacks from a deep position. Often, they are required to perform all of the above roles. This specialist position demands players of the highest quality, and teams across the Premier League prioritise it.
In the summer transfer window, Erik ten Hag splashed an estimated £70m on Brazilian dynamo Casemiro to strengthen United’s midfield, which was struggling. When Fernandinho approached the latter stages of his time at Manchester City, Pep Guardiola wasted no time in finding a replacement.
During the 2019 summer window, Rodri stepped in after City met the terms of his £62.6 million release clause from Atletico Madrid. In the 2020/21 season, Arsenal activated Thomas Partey’s £45 million release clause, and he has been a crucial part of the team’s title charge. Arsenal was even willing to spend close to £60m on Moises Caicedo, an Ecuadorian midfielder, during the recent January window. After failing to secure his services, they signed Italian orchestrator Jorginho on an 18-month deal.
The importance of a trusted defensive midfielder is of such magnitude that it’s worth delving into the performance statistics of defensive midfielders in the Premier League this season. Thanks to Opta Sports and MyBettingSites, we were able to obtain the numbers behind the performances of Rodri, Declan Rice, Thomas Partey, and Casemiro to determine who is the highest-performing defensive midfielder this season.
Passing and Chances Created
In today’s game, where most teams in the league deploy some form of possession-oriented approach, the defensive midfielder must be competent on the ball at worst. Ideally, they should have an understanding of when to increase and slow the tempo of the game when in possession, can break lines with their passes, and have a diverse range of passing skills.
Manchester City’s Rodri leads the pack when it comes to assists this season, with five. Casemiro (5), Rice (2), and Partey (0) trail the Spanish midfielder. Meanwhile, in the assists per 90 minutes column, both Rodri and Casemiro share the honours, with an average of 0.2 assists per 90 minutes this season.
Rodri Open Play Touches 2022/23
Rodri Touches 2022/23
In addition to his impressive assist tally, Rodri also boasts the best stats when it comes to passes per 90 (93.7), passes completed per 90 (85.5), passing accuracy percentage (91.20%) and touches per 90 (106.3) There is a seismic gap between Rodri at 106.3 touches and Partey on 87.
On the other side of Manchester, Casemiro has thrived in creating big chances per 90 minutes with a 0.34 rating. He also leads in through balls per 90 (0.47) and forward passes per 90 (20.6), suggesting that he tries to be purposeful and positive with his passing for Erik ten Hag’s side.
Lastly, Casemiro has an expected assists (xA) per 90 of 0.18, showing that he has more to his game than the “water carrier” role he had at Real Madrid. West Ham’s Rice, who has been linked with some of the Premier League’s heavy hitters, has the best score for chances created per 90 (1.23). Despite West Ham’s struggles this season, Rice has been a key component in creating opportunities for his teammates.
Declan Rice’s Open Play Touches 2022/23
Declan Rice Touches 2022/23
While statistics are useful in evaluating a player’s performance, they should always be interpreted in context. Different managers have different philosophies when it comes to possession and passing, and they may instruct their players to prioritise certain types of passes over others. Additionally, the abilities and tendencies of a player’s teammates can influence their passing statistics, as they may be more or less likely to receive and capitalise on certain types of passes. Ultimately, the value of a midfielder cannot be fully captured by statistics alone, and must be evaluated in the broader context of their role within the team and their impact on the game.
Goals
Despite being plagued by injuries during his time in North London, Thomas Partey has emerged as a crucial player in Arsenal’s pursuit of the title this season. He has managed to make 23 appearances and play a total of 1864 minutes thus far. Notably, Partey has outperformed his fellow defensive midfielders in terms of goals scored (3) and goals per 90 minutes (0.14), indicating that he has been given the freedom to move forward and contribute to the attack.
Arsenal supporters will fondly recall his goal in the October North London derby, which helped secure a 3-1 victory over archrivals Tottenham. It is worth noting that while Partey leads in goals and goals per 90 minutes, Rodri currently boasts the best xG per 90 score at 0.16.
Defensive Actions
While much attention has been paid to the attacking contributions of midfielders, it is arguably their defensive capabilities that are most critical. This is particularly evident in the case of defensive midfielders, where their primary function is to protect the backline. Manchester United have long been in need of a world-class player in this position, with Michael Carrick being the last to come close.
However, this season, Casemiro has been a revelation for The Red Devils, leading his fellow midfielders in critical defensive actions such as interceptions per 90 minutes (1.61), tackles per 90 minutes (3.83), and tackles won per 90 (1.95). Additionally, Rodri outperforms Rice, Partey, and Casemiro in terms of possession won per 90 minutes (9.75).
Casemiro Open Play Touches 2022/23
Casemiro Touches 2022/23
Dribbling/Progressive Carries
In today’s game, the significance of midfielders who can evade the press has never been more crucial. As teams around the world seek to regain possession from opponents as quickly as possible by pressing high up the field, it is essential to have midfielders who are comfortable with the ball at their feet. This becomes even more important when facing defensive teams that deploy a mid or low block.
Progressive carries and successful dribbles are integral components of Pep Guardiola’s tactical philosophy, and he expects his players to excel in both areas. It comes as no surprise that Rodri, with 12.04 progressive carries per 90 and a 76.90% success rate in dribbling, dominates in these aspects of the game.
Thomas Partey leads the way with 1.55 successful dribbles per 90, a skillset that has proven invaluable to Mikel Arteta and his side’s progressive, free-flowing style of play. On the other hand, Rice tops the dribbles per 90 score with 1.54.
Thomas Partey Open Play Touches 2022/23
Thomas Partey Touches 2022/23
Discipline
Casemiro’s lack of discipline has been a concerning issue for his team. In 19 appearances, the Brazilian midfielder has already accumulated five yellow cards and two red cards. This has been a major setback for the United team, as they have struggled to fill the void left by his absence. Casemiro’s tendency to concede fouls, pick up cards, and lead the chart for the most undisciplined midfielder out of the four being analysed is worrying.
In contrast, Thomas Partey has shown the best discipline, having only received two yellow cards and no reds according to Opta. Manchester United and ten Hag acknowledge the importance of having a committed player like Casemiro, who is willing to do whatever it takes to win the ball back. However, this approach has its drawbacks when executed poorly or mistimed, resulting in cards or even suspensions.
Unfortunately, Casemiro’s recklessness on the field has led to him receiving his second red card of the season against Southampton, resulting in a four-match suspension. This suspension will undoubtedly be a major blow for the United team.
Summary
Rodri has been outstanding this season, particularly in his defensive midfield role, and his passing statistics are particularly impressive. However, it is worth noting that he benefits from playing for one of the best teams in the country, if not the world, in Manchester City. It is difficult to predict whether Rice could replicate similar statistics if he played for Manchester City, Arsenal, or Manchester United. However, if rumours are to be believed and he does join one of these teams next season, we may have the opportunity to find out.
In the case of Casemiro, he has shown this season that he is capable of much more than just his defensive actions, which he was previously known for during his time at Real Madrid. He leads the way in big chances created, forward passes, and through balls statistics, which suggests that he is a more progressive passer than many had realised.
This highlights the fact that a player’s statistics can be limited or enhanced by factors such as the team they play for, the style of play, their teammates, and the league they compete in. Ultimately, a player’s performance is a combination of various factors, and it is important to consider these when evaluating their overall contribution to a team.
