Manchester City fell short in their quest for three points against West Ham on Saturday, with Slaven Bilic’s side left feeling disappointed not to have earned what would have been a surprise home win against the 2013-14 champions.
Indeed, it was only the two goal heroics of Sergio Aguero which denied the Hammers on this occasion, with the Argentine once again proving City’s salvation—having produced a similar act of conjuring up a point for his below par side at Watford only recently
It’s no secret that Sergio Aguero is the deadliest striker in the Premier League, yet Manchester City still have enough weapons in their armoury to fire themselves to the title without the diminutive Argentine. On his day, Aguero is unplayable. The problem is he simply isn’t around to have enough of those days, and City have regularly had to win without their talisman.
That’s not to diminish the monumental impact he has had on City in his five seasons in England. A record of 90 Premier League goals in 136 matches speaks for itself and no-one has scored more over the last three seasons than the former Atletico Madrid man.
There is an argument to be had that City are overly dependent on him, but then can’t that be said of any team and their star man? Compared to the rest of the league’s top five scoring clubs, City aren’t anywhere near as reliant on Aguero as many would have you believe. Aguero’s 12 goals this term account for 27 per cent of City’s 45 – the highest of any Premier League club. Compared to the other four and their highest scorers, Aguero’s percentage is way below any of his counterparts.
The great Sergio Aguero in numbers. [via Daily Mail] pic.twitter.com/7iKaZc1iEU
— City Watch (@City_Watch) January 24, 2016
Olivier Giroud (12) and Harry Kane (13) have scored 32 per cent of Arsenal and Spurs’ goals respectively; Romelu Lukaku (15) 37 per cent of Everton’s and leading marksman Jamie Vardy has 38 per cent of Leicester’s goals.
Despite his obvious importance to them, City have other big names and big game players to share the burden. They have the joint most contributors to their tally, 12 different players finding the net this season, including Yaya Toure, Kevin de Bruyne and Raheem Sterling, all of whom have five.
Spurs also have 12 different scorers, Leicester 11, Arsenal just nine and Everton only eight. Aguero has played 16 of City’s 23 games and, without their mercurial striker, it might surprise you to learn they are actually better off, winning 57 per cent of the seven he’s missed, compared to 56 per cent with him on the field.
Manchester City’s Sergio Aguerodependency can no longer be denied. The Argentina striker was at it again this weekend. He first won then converted a penalty to make it 1-1 at West Ham United, going on to calmly convert an 81st-minute equaliser to salvage a 2-2 draw.
This rescue act was the latest in a long line since his £38million (Dh199.1m) move from Atletico Madrid in July 2011.
The Blues have incredible resources and a squad which is the envy of most clubs in the world. But all this investment from Abu Dhabi United Group has still not been used to create a safety net for when the 28-year-old is felled by injury. This is the glaring weakness which will stop the club winning a third Premier League title in five seasons.
Aguero has had 13 separate spells out since his switch to Etihad Stadium and has averaged 30 appearances per season in each of his four completed campaigns. When he is either unavailable for selection or finding his feet after another period on the treatment table, no one has been capable of carrying the slack.
The statistics of City’s other forwards for 2015-16 makes grim reading for boss Manuel Pellegrini. Aguero has an excellent 12 goals in 16 top-flight appearances. He is streets ahead of Ivory Coast striker Wilfried Bony’s four in 17 and Nigeria youngster Kelechi Iheanacho’s two in 14.
The importance of insuring against Aguero’s absences is shown in studying Edin Dzeko’s statistics. The now Roma No9 scored 14 and 16 times as the Blues lifted the 2011/12 and 2013/14 titles, his paltry return of just four last season helping Chelsea’s push to regain the crown.
In the last three games in all competitions which Aguero has started but not scored, City have drawn two 0-0 and lost 2-1 to Everton in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final.
For all the supreme talent of midfielders Kevin de Bruyne, Yaya Toure, David Silva and Raheem Sterling, none of them can fill in up front. It will be City’s undoing.
