Callum Hudson-Odoi has much more to offer Chelsea than Kai Havertz

Goals, assists and chance creation

There was a statistics going around not long ago that Hudson-Odoi had scored just four league goals in four years. The statistic is true, but there are are many other statistics that paint his performances in a positive light, as opposed to isolating a single number to make him look bad. Hudson-Odoi has recorded more assists (5) than Havertz (4) in the time under scrutiny, though Havertz has three more goals (6) than Hudson-Odoi (3) in that time. In fact, Hudson-Odoi has slightly more goals or assists per 90 minutes (0.36) than the former Bayer Leverkusen star (0.35).

Unfortunately, goals and assists are the only metrics in which Havertz comes close to Hudson-Odoi. The latter contributes far more in chance creation that it almost seems unfair to compare it. Hudson-Odoi has consistently created 2.6 chances per 90 minutes, compared to Havertz 0.9 in the same time frame. Hudson-Odoi has also created 0.31 big chances per 90, compared to Havertz’s 0.11. These chance creation metrics are more direct forms.

Shot-Creating Actions (SCAs) and Goal-Creating Actions (GCAs) also reflect how involved players are in shots and goals, even though they may not be directly creating them. Hudson-Odoi has made 4.82 SCAs per 90, compared to Havertz’s 2.52. Hudson-Odoi has also made 0.63 GCA per 90, compared to Havertz’s 0.35. This comparison is a fair one to make, as well. This is because both players played without Lukaku alongside them last season, but are also playing with him now. Lukaku is the only player featuring regularly in the line-up that didn’t feature last season.