Goal-scoring frenzy in Premier League: Burnley and Man City dominate active game time rankings
Burnley and Man City lead in active game time as the Premier League sees a rise in average playing duration to nearly 60 minutes Bournemouth and Luton record league-low averages, while the league maintains an impressive goal ratio of over three goals per game
Referees are tightening their grip on time-wasting this season by incorporating extended periods of additional time - but what impact is this having on teams and the history books?
According to data providers Second Spectrum, the average playing time in a Premier League match has surged by over four minutes this season. In the 2022/23 season, the average playing time was approximately 54 minutes, whereas this term it has increased to 59 minutes.
The average game time has reached its highest point on record, surpassing the previous record of 56 minutes and 43 seconds from the 2013/14 season by two-and-a-half minutes. It is rapidly approaching the widely-discussed goal of 60 minutes of effective game time.
Furthermore, the total duration of a game now exceeds the 100-minute mark for the first time.
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Time-wasting crackdown explained
Which teams play the most?
Manchester City could clock an extra three games' worth of playing time this season as a result of referees clamping down on time-wasting.
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That could help City score even more goals, with their current average of 2.67 per game close to their record-breaking ratio of 2.79 - when they netted 106 goals in 2017/18.
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Indeed, the Premier League is on course to average more than three goals per game in a campaign for the first time in history.
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Interestingly, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was one of the leading sceptics when the new guidelines on added time were unveiled.
After the August Community Shield defeat to Arsenal, the City manager expressed, "The games will now last for 100 minutes, that's certain. Just imagine if they added time for every goal in a 4-3 match, adding 30 or 45 seconds for seven goals. Tomorrow morning at 9am, I will still be here playing."
Interestingly, the extensive additional time seems to favor Manchester City's possession-based style of play. However, it is a team lower in the standings that currently leads the rankings for active gameplay.
Burnley made a comeback to the Premier League this season, showcasing an innovative and appealing style of play led by Vincent Kompany. Surprisingly, they managed to outshine Guardiola's team in terms of effective game-time this term, averaging an impressive 64 minutes and three seconds.
The opponents they have faced so far have not significantly affected their average. When playing against Manchester City, they only had 34.7% possession, but they had the majority of possession when playing against Manchester United, Aston Villa, and Nottingham Forest. They were almost equal in possession when playing against Spurs. Additionally, Manchester United and Villa are also among the top four teams for having the most active gameplay.
Games involving Bournemouth have recorded the shortest duration of action so far, averaging just 56 minutes and 20 seconds. Luton, Everton, Sheffield United, and Brentford follow closely behind. Notably, Chelsea, Newcastle, and Tottenham also fall in the bottom half, with Bournemouth being particularly efficient in reducing time-wasting this season. Last term, they registered a league-low average of only 50 minutes and 54 seconds.
On average, games with Aston Villa and Tottenham last over 104 minutes, taking into account both active and inactive periods. However, Luton and Bournemouth are the only two teams whose games have an average duration of under 100 minutes.
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The scatter chart presented shows the average duration of games played by each team in the Premier League over the last two seasons. The current season is highlighted in blue. The findings indicate a significant increase in game length across all teams in this campaign, with Luton, despite their challenges, standing out as the exception.
Among all the teams, only Burnley and both Manchester clubs consistently exceed 62 minutes of actual playing time. On the other hand, Aston Villa and Spurs have extended periods of inactivity, leading to a total game time surpassing 104 minutes, which is above the average.
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Arsenal Manchester City
In terms of individual games, Manchester United's 3-1 defeat to Brighton at Old Trafford produced a season-high 69 minutes and 14 seconds of active gameplay.Manchester City and Burnley hold the second spot in the list of teams with the highest active playing time, with City defeating Burnley 3-0 in the season opener. On the other hand, Newcastle and Brentford recorded the least activity, playing for only 51 minutes and 48 seconds in a match that ended in a 1-0 victory for Eddie Howe's side two weeks ago. The North London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham, which ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw, had one of the lowest amounts of in-play action.
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The scatter chart displayed below showcases the active and total game time for each Premier League match throughout the previous two seasons. The current season is highlighted in blue. Interestingly, the analysis highlights that the Newcastle vs. Brentford game featured almost 10 minutes more active gameplay compared to last year's lowest fixture, Aston Villa's 4-0 victory over Brentford in October.
In the meantime, the match between Aston Villa and Crystal Palace resulted in a remarkable total game time of 111 minutes and 56 seconds. This duration narrowly surpasses Chelsea's 1-0 victory over Everton during the previous season's opening weekend.
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It is too early to determine the exact impact of additional added time on results and historical records. However, it is inevitable that longer periods of active gameplay will lead to more goals and are likely to benefit top teams like Manchester City the most. Additionally, fans should also anticipate experiencing more of everything, as the total game time is expected to exceed the 100-minute threshold.
