Unveiling Chelsea's Talisman: Nicolas Jackson - A Frustration or Potential Gamechanger?

Chelsea's defeat to Nottingham Forest last weekend left Nicolas Jackson burying his face in his hands, fully aware that there is no escape from the spotlight. The striker finds himself in a state of intense scrutiny. According to Opta, this point-blank miss marks the sixth significant opportunity he has failed to convert in his four games since joining Chelsea for a hefty £32m fee from Villarreal. This statistic sets him apart from any other Premier League player this season, with a clear lead of two missed chances.

Chelsea fans will remember the unsuccessful attempt from a Reece James cross against Liverpool, as well as the missed header from Ben Chilwell's delivery against West Ham. Moreover, Jackson's lack of efficiency is evident in the underlying statistics. Despite having an expected goal count of 3.03, he has only managed to score once, resulting in the largest negative differential in the league.

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Little wonder, then, that his credentials are being questioned.

Chelsea has spent exorbitant amounts of money in the transfer market since Todd Boehly's acquisition last year. However, it is widely believed that the team still lacks a striker who can effectively deliver the decisive blows.

Undoubtedly, Jackson, a new addition to the Premier League, is being heavily relied upon to lead the forward line on his own, especially with the absence of injured players Christopher Nkunku and Armando Broja.

Mauricio Pochettino's unwavering faith in the young 22-year-old is evident. Following Jackson's inaugural goal for the club against Luton last month, the manager asserted, "It's just a question of time. As soon as he adapts to the Premier League, he will exhibit even greater prowess. I firmly believe that he has the potential to emerge as one of the most outstanding forwards in the Premier League."

After the Forest game, the message remained consistent.

"Occasionally, he displays haste in his decision-making, but this simply implies that he should take the time to compose himself, adopt a more serene and composed approach, and undoubtedly he will succeed in scoring goals. Moving forward, our conversations will differ as he becomes more adept at converting opportunities like this."

Despite Jackson's lack of conversion rate, Chelsea's head coach can derive solace from the fact that he consistently finds himself in advantageous positions. This season, only three players have taken more shots than him. Excluding penalties, Erling Haaland is the sole player who surpasses him in terms of expected goals.

While Jackson has yet to capitalize on a significant number of opportunities, his remarkable rate of 3.8 shots per 90 minutes indicates that he is poised to exceed 100 shots by the end of the season.

Only 11 players have exceeded that overall shot count in the Premier League over the past three seasons, with each of them scoring a minimum of 17 goals.

This emphasizes the importance of high shot volume for strikers. It is encouraging that Jackson continues to produce such a volume of shots, despite the challenges of adjusting to a new country, a reformed Chelsea team, and a different style of football.

Furthermore, it is important to mention that he possesses a capacity for ruthlessness. This was evident during his time at Villarreal in the previous season, where he managed to score an impressive 12 goals in just 1,603 minutes in La Liga. It is worth noting that he surpassed his expected goals by the second-highest positive margin in the league.

His dynamic displays on the field left Villarreal manager Quique Setien in awe, as he praised the player's "remarkable attributes" and highlighted his ability to make "astute choices" when approaching the goal.

Given the context, Pochettino's recent hasty decisions after the Forest game can be attributed to understandable nervousness in an unfamiliar environment.

It is likely that Jackson's actual capabilities as a finisher fall somewhere between his performances for Villarreal last season and his current ones for Chelsea. At the age of 22, with only 53 professional matches under his belt, it is clear that there is great room for improvement.

Additionally, Jackson has the ability to offer Chelsea more than just a goal threat, which is similarly true for Pochettino's high-intensity playing style that prioritizes speed and mobility in the forward positions. This was evident when Romelu Lukaku was unable to meet these requirements, resulting in the club's decision to allow him to leave. However, Jackson possesses the necessary attributes to fulfill these demands.

Premier League tracking data reveals his position at the pinnacle among all players in terms of sprints, emphasizing his exceptional work rate. A more comprehensive analysis of the statistics brings to light the remarkable magnitude of his mobility.

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The statistics highlight Nicolas Jackson's off-the-ball movement

This season, Jackson has made the highest number of off-the-ball runs among all Premier League players. Additionally, he leads in terms of attacking runs, which refer to instances where the attacker exhibits acceleration towards the goal, such as meeting a cross. However, the most remarkable aspect is Jackson's ability to challenge the opposition's backline with his runs, showcasing his talent for putting pressure on defenses. Even in a team that is still in the process of bonding, Jackson's runs are consistently being sought out by passes.

Jackson's runs serve dual purposes. Not only do they aim to position him for shooting opportunities, but they also effectively generate space for Chelsea's forwards. This is particularly beneficial for Raheem Sterling, who has greatly benefited from Jackson's contributions and is experiencing a remarkable start to the campaign as a result.

Despite being positioned as a winger, Sterling has found himself entrusted with more liberty on the right flank, benefiting from Jackson's persistent disruptions in the center. Consequently, he has frequently operated as Chelsea's foremost player, relishing the enhanced ball control and forward movement.

The statistics highlight his transformation: Sterling is not only shooting and scoring more frequently than last season, but he is also making twice as many touches in the opposition box. Jackson's unselfish movement enables Sterling to advance further up the field, and this is also a result of his improved ability to isolate defenders. In the previous season, he averaged just 4.3 one-on-ones per 90 minutes, whereas this season, that number has significantly increased to 7.3 per 90 minutes.

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Raheem Sterling's performance has improved significantly since the arrival of Nicolas Jackson. Jackson's presence has enabled Sterling to showcase his strengths once more. This is yet another justification for persisting with the 22-year-old, who, despite occasional misses, possesses remarkable raw talent.

The recruitment strategy of Chelsea, which resulted in having a relatively inexperienced player as their sole striking option at the beginning of the season, can be justifiably criticized by their critics. However, it is important to consider Jackson as a part of the solution rather than seeing him as a problem.

It is unlikely that Pochettino will lose faith in the near future.

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