Nicholas lives up to his managers expectations
By Foley87
May 14 2003
But in retrospect the statistics prove it was the right decision as the Frenchman’s fourteen goals played a big part in establishing City as a mid-table Premiership side in their first season back among the elite. And Keegan knew he was always going to be proved right

The Paris born striker was the only City player to start all thirty-eight of their league games.

In that time he attempted a hundred and sixteen shots, the second-highest total in the Premiership behind top scorer and fellow countryman Thierry Henry.

The twenty-four-old also showed that he could create chances as well as finish them by supplying five assists for his team-mates.

Anelka regularly went into wide positions when required to make himself open for a pass, and from the flank he put across a hundred and five centres.

He also picked the ball up and tried to take on opponents on two hundred and fifty seven occasions, a total only two Premiership players bettered.

A hard-worker, Anelka tackled back on forty-eight occasions, although one part of his game he will look to improve perhaps over the close season is the timing of his runs. In the 2002-03 campaign he was caught offside eighty three times, the most in the top flight.

Nicolas Anelka
Appearances 38
Minutes On Pitch 3,382
Goal Attempts
Goals 14
Shots On Target (inc goals) 58
Shots Off Target 58
Shooting Accuracy % 50%
Goals-to-Shots % 12%
Minutes-per-Goal 242
Passing
Goal Assists 5
Total Passes 974
Pass Completion % 70%
Crossing
Total Crosses 105
Cross Completion % 21%
Dribbling
Dribbles & Runs 257
Dribble Completion % 58%
Defending
Tackles Made 48
Tackles Won % 65%
Discipline
Fouls Conceded 29
Offsides 83
Yellow Cards 0
Red Cards 0

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