Analysis: 11 surprising Brentford stats after 11 Premier League games | OneFootball

The current international break affords us time to take stock of Brentford's start to the 2024/25 campaign and, going by the number of positive statistics the Bees have piled up, there is plenty of cheer for Thomas Frank and his side as they head into the festive season.

In typical Bees fashion, we will kick off with Brentford's headline stat from the season so far: early goals.

Even if blanket media coverage has possibly dulled its lustre a tad, three goals in the opening minute of three consecutive Premier League games (against Manchester City, Tottenham and West Ham) was a simply jaw-dropping achievement from Frank's side - and it is amazing to consider that Nathan Collins' opener in the following 5-3 win over Wolves was a mere 17 seconds shy of extending the run to four straight games!

Prior to Brentford's trio of quicksilver strikes, Manchester City were the only team to have scored in the first minute in consecutive Premier League games - Sergio Agüero nabbing a goal after 24 seconds against Newcastle on 29 January 2019, before netting versus Arsenal five days later after only 46 seconds.

Every Brentford fan knows that statistic - so the Bees sitting 11th in the Premier League after 11 games, here are 10 more stats of the season so far that supporters may not be aware of!

Brentford have a shot conversion rate of 17.9 per cent in the Premier League this season - the best by a team in a top-flight campaign since Opta records began in 2003/04

This pearler of a stat, much like a Russian Matryoshka doll, stacks a number of other fantastic insights inside it - all of which relate to the Bees' clinical shooting this term.

Chief among those insights is that Brentford have hit the target with a higher percentage of their shots than any other Premier League team this season. In total, the Bees have fired off 123 shots (34 from outside the box) and 59 have been on target, which means a whopping 48 per cent of their efforts have made keepers work or have hit the back of the net.

To give that context, the second-best SoT% in the Premier League belongs to Liverpool at 41 per cent. It may be a bit unsustainable over the course of the season, but the accuracy of Brentford's shooting has been exceptional, particularly that of... Ethan Pinnock!

Pinnock (75 per cent) currently has the third-best shot-on-target percentage in the top flight, although the likes of Yoane Wissa (60), Mikkel Damsgaard, Keane Lewis-Potter and Bryan Mbeumo (all 50) are not far behind the imposing centre-half.

Brentford (22) rank joint-second in the Premier League this season for goals scored

Last season the Bees were the 11th most prolific side in the top flight, their 56 league goals arriving at an average of 1.47 goals per game.

This season, however, Frank’s side have been in explosive form in front of goal - particularly at home - and currently only Tottenham (23) have out-scored Brentford (22) in the top tier.

Frank’s side impressively averages a goal every 45 minutes this season, and their sky-high shot accuracy and goal conversion could well have something to do with the positions the Bees shoot from and the quality of the opportunities they create.

Last season, Brentford took their shots from an average of 15.6 yards from goal - the shortest distance in the division - and they have inched even closer to the frame this term.

In 2024/25, on average, only Arsenal (14.9 yards) have taken their shots from closer to goal than Brentford (15.3 yards). Six of the Bees’ goals have come from inside the six-yard box, and their ability to consistently hit dangerous areas in the box is an undoubted strength.

Brentford have the second-best expected goals differential in the Premier League this season (+1.95 xG)

Brentford’s performance, in relation to their xG, improved steadily over last season, but the west Londoners still finished the previous campaign with an xG differential of -11.17 (which means they scored 54 goals when the increasingly influential metric suggested they should have scored 65.17).

This season has been a different story, however, as the Bees currently have an xG of 20.05. With 22 goals to their name, that means Brentford are +1.95 xG ahead of the curve.

Long may it continue!

Mark Flekken (55) has made more saves than any other goalkeeper in Europe's top five leagues this season

After delving into Brentford’s shooting stats, it’s time to flip the script and focus on Mark Flekken’s strong start to the campaign at the other end of the pitch.

The Dutch stopper is averaging five saves a game so far this season, with Brentford actually allowing more shots on their own goal (18.5) than any team in Europe’s top five divisions thus far.

The high number of shots conceded may partially be by design, as Brentford are excellent at limiting opponents to low-quality shooting opportunities, often from distance, and Flekken’s high save statistics are likely related to this fact.

Nathan Collins ranks first in the Premier League this season for shots blocked

The Bees’ Irish centre-back has been in imperious form and he has elevated the act of blocking shots to something of an art form this season.

Collins’ anticipation and mobility have enabled him to thwart a total of 24 shots this term, which puts him six blocks clear of any of his Premier League peers.

If you factor in that Collins also ranks third for aerials won in the division, seventh for clearances made and 19th for accurate passes, it is clear that the former Burnley and Wolves defender has made a barnstorming start.

Brentford have picked up fewer bookings than any team in the Premier League this term

Often lauded for their innovation and adaptability, Brentford’s discipline is perhaps sometimes overlooked.

The Bees have only picked up 17 bookings across the opening 11 games this term, and are yet to receive a red card.

What is perhaps even more impressive is how few free-kicks Brentford concede. Last season, only Man City (289) and Fulham (384) gave away fewer fouls than the Bees (385) - and, in 2024/25, no team has conceded fewer free-kicks than the west Londoners (76).

The Bees are top in the Premier League this season for aerials won (198)

There are plenty of top-flight teams who lose more aerial duels than they win (Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea are among them this term) - but Brentford are firmly at the other end of the spectrum.

The Bees have won 198 (57 per cent) of the 349 headed duels they have contested in 2024/25, and they currently top the pile when it comes to aerial supremacy.

Given this collective prowess, it is perhaps unsurprising that three Brentford defenders - Collins, Pinnock and Sepp van den Berg - rank in the top 10 Premier League players for aerials won so far this season.

Brentford are the only team in the Premier League to take over 1000 touches in their own penalty box so far this season

One of the impressive facets of the Bees’ play this season, and an example of Frank "adding layers" to his side in recent years, has been Brentford’s ability to switch between a low block in their own half and a high press in their opponents'.

The statistics illustrate the Bees’ capacity to do both things well and, currently, Frank’s side have taken more touches (1067) in their own box than any other team in the Premier League.

Flekken has taken over 100 more touches in his area than any other player in the division.

On the other hand, Brentford’s tackling stats underline their effectiveness in regaining the ball high up the pitch - only Tottenham (41), Arsenal and United (both 40) have won more tackles in the attacking third of the pitch than the Bees this season.

With 15 Premier League goals between them, Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa are the top flight’s most prolific duo this season

Brentford’s two African internationals have been in sensational form so far this season - and their showings in front of goal have certainly helped soften the blow dealt to the Bees by Igor Thiago’s pre-season knee injury.

Mbeumo has notched eight goals thus far in 2024/25 and Wissa, with seven, is hot on his strike partner’s heels despite missing a number of games through injury himself.

Currently, Mbeumo and Wissa are the hottest strike duo in the top flight, with the likes of Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson (13 combined) and Liverpool’s Mo Salah and Luis Díaz (also 13) in their slipstream.

Across Europe's top five leagues, only Real Madrid (18) have won more points at home this season than Brentford (16)

Currently one of only four teams unbeaten on their own patch in the Premier League (alongside Arsenal, Brighton and City), Brentford have been in superb form at Gtech Community Stadium this season - winning five and drawing once thus far.

Also the most prolific team in the Premier League at home this season, the Bees have plundered 18 goals in front of their own fans; only Serie A side Atalanta (20) have scored more across the continent's top leagues at the moment.

Earlier this year, Frank stated that his aim was to turn Gtech Community Stadium into a “fortress” - and he is on course to realise that objective.

City, Liverpool and Newcastle are the only teams to beat the Bees on their own turf across all competitions in 2024, and their strong home record has laid the foundations for what is shaping up to be a very good season.