MANCHESTER United’s recent climb up the Premier League table appears all the more remarkable when considering it has been achieved despite their top scorer from last term drastically losing form in front of goal.
Anthony Martial returned a career-high 23 goals in all competitions in 2019-20 and tied Marcus Rashford as United’s top Premier League marksman with 17. So far this season, the France international has found the next just six times in all competitions, with only two of those strikes coming in league action.
In the Premier League this season, Martial has been outscored by team-mates Bruno Fernandes (11), Rashford (seven) and Edinson Cavani (three).
With a top-of-the-table showdown with Liverpool at Anfield on the horizon, though, Martial is showing signs of having rediscovered his best form, with three goals and four assists in last six games. And regardless of whether the 25-year-old forward can again match and sustain his peak scoring efficiency, he has shown a growth in his game this season which could see him occupy a similar role in United’s attack to the one Roberto Firmino has been so successful in with Liverpool.
The Brazilian is an instrumental cog in the Reds’ attacking machine, despite leaving most of the scoring to Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane. With his intelligent movement, creativity and unselfishness, Firmino is a facilitator from the point of attack; rather than being the end point towards whom Liverpool’s attacking moves are filtered – as is customary of someone in his position as a centre-forward – his is the the fulcrum around whom they pivot.
Anthony Martial's goal to make it 1-0 #MUFC
pic.twitter.com/Fv3xz1r6C2— The United Devils (@TheUnitedDevils) January 1, 2021
Martial is proving a similarly adept creator. His average of 0.33 assists per 90 minutes in the Premier League is the highest of his career, up from 0.21 last season and 0.11 year before. He is also producing 1.2 shot-creating passes per 90, a significant increase on 0.8 for the 2019-20 campaign.
And the former Monaco prodigy is more involved in United’s play in general, with his average number of passes attempted per 90 minutes up to 26.9, compared to 24.3 last year; the only seasons in which his passing average was higher were those in which he predominantly played as a winger.
His confidence and creativity in the attacking third is further evidenced by the fact he is averaging 2.5 successful dribbles per 90 in the Premier League this term, too, a figure bettered only by his first season in England (2.9) and an increase on last season’s 1.7.
Judging by manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s recent comments in the press, Martial’s adjusted role is not by design, with the former United striker insisting the Frenchman’s scoring is still relied upon and expressing a confidence it will soon return to previous levels.
“We've had some chats, of course,’ the United boss said. “We have spoken about last season and how important he was for us then and he is going to be important for us this season.
“Player's form is temporary but when you have got class that is permanent. I think he has proven he is class. Now he is getting fitter and fitter and that means he is going to get better and better.
"Anthony is going to improve. He's going to be better and better. He's had a few chances this season. He's still creating chances, he's just not had that little bit of luck, margins in front of goal. They'll come.”
"He's had chances all season, he's getting better and better"
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer praises Anthony Martial for getting back on the scoresheet pic.twitter.com/vFBG0UBMKV
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) January 1, 2021
Solskjaer is right to point out that Martial is still getting chances. Despite the alarming dip in his productivity in front of goal, the striker’s average for expected goals (xG) per 90 minutes, according to FBref.com, is a relatively healthy 0.34, only a minor reduction on the 0.37 of last season. And Martial’s combined averages for xG and expected assists (xA) per 90 is the highest he has produced in three seasons, up to 0.52 from 0.51 last year and 0.49 year before.
It may simply be the case that Martial is adapting to a facilitator’s remit in response to the dominant scoring output and unshakable confidence of midfield talisman Fernandes – whose xG per 90, including penalties, is a staggering 0.57.
But whether by happenstance or careful design, Martial is playing his part in United’s unexpected charge up the table.
