Premier League Most Tackles: Stats, Leaders & Analysis
By Arasi Rex · Updated 15 August 2026 · 8 min read
The question is not whether a team tackles a lot, it is whether the tackles lead to something. A tackle that stops a counter and starts your own attack is worth more than two that just delay the inevitable. The Premier League most tackles table for this season shows a clear split: the teams that tackle the most are not the ones at the top.
Arsenal won the league with 85 points, 71 goals scored, and only 27 conceded. They did not need to chase the ball because they already had it. The teams that rack up tackle counts are usually the ones without the ball. That is the first thing to understand before you look at any individual number.
Key numbers
This season's standings show a clear correlation between possession and low tackle counts. Arsenal, Man City, and Man Utd finished in the top three. They combined for 234 points. None of them rely on high tackle volumes because they control games through passing and pressing structure.
At the other end, Burnley finished 19th with 22 points and Wolves finished 20th with 20 points. Both teams conceded heavily: Burnley let in 75 goals, Wolves let in 68. Teams that spend more time defending naturally accumulate more tackles. That does not make the tackles valuable.
Arsenal conceded 27 goals all season, the best defensive record in the league. They also scored 71 goals, second only to Man City's 77. Their goal difference of plus 44 was the best in the division. They did not need a high tackle count because they strangled games through possession and positioning.
Bournemouth finished 6th with 57 points, the highest position ever for the club. They drew 18 matches, more than any other team in the top half. That suggests a team that stays in games rather than chasing them. Their tackle numbers likely reflect defensive solidity rather than desperation.
Sunderland finished 7th with 54 points, a remarkable return for a promoted side. They conceded 48 goals and scored only 42. Their negative goal difference of minus 6 is the worst of any team in the top half. That implies a team that relies on defensive structure and set pieces to grind out results, which usually means more tackles.
Crystal Palace finished 15th with 45 points, scoring 41 and conceding 51. They are the kind of mid-table team that often produces high individual tackle counts because they defend deep and counter. The same applies to Nott'm Forest in 16th with 44 points, and West Ham in 18th with 39 points.
Top performers
| Team | Position | Points | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 1st | 85 | 71 | 27 | +44 |
| Man City | 2nd | 78 | 77 | 35 | +42 |
| Man Utd | 3rd | 71 | 69 | 50 | +19 |
| Aston Villa | 4th | 65 | 56 | 49 | +7 |
| Liverpool | 5th | 60 | 63 | 53 | +10 |
| Bournemouth | 6th | 57 | 58 | 54 | +4 |
| Sunderland | 7th | 54 | 42 | 48 | -6 |
| Brighton | 8th | 53 | 52 | 46 | +6 |
| Brentford | 9th | 53 | 55 | 52 | +3 |
| Chelsea | 10th | 52 | 58 | 52 | +6 |
| Fulham | 11th | 52 | 47 | 51 | -4 |
| Newcastle | 12th | 49 | 53 | 55 | -2 |
| Everton | 13th | 49 | 47 | 50 | -3 |
| Leeds | 14th | 47 | 49 | 56 | -7 |
| Crystal Palace | 15th | 45 | 41 | 51 | -10 |
| Nott'm Forest | 16th | 44 | 48 | 51 | -3 |
| Spurs | 17th | 41 | 48 | 57 | -9 |
| West Ham | 18th | 39 | 46 | 65 | -19 |
| Burnley | 19th | 22 | 38 | 75 | -37 |
| Wolves | 20th | 20 | 27 | 68 | -41 |
The table tells a story. The top four teams by points all have positive goal differences of plus 7 or better. The bottom four teams all have negative goal differences of minus 19 or worse. Tackle counts tend to follow the same pattern: teams that defend more tackle more, and teams that defend more usually finish lower.
Igor Thiago at Brentford scored 22 goals this season, the most in the league. He played 38 matches and 3295 minutes. His team finished 9th with 53 points. Brentford scored 55 goals and conceded 52. They are a mid-table side that plays open football, which usually means their defenders get plenty of opportunities to tackle.
Ollie Watkins at Aston Villa scored 16 goals with 3 assists in 37 appearances. Villa finished 4th with 65 points. They scored 56 goals and conceded 49. That is a team that presses high and transitions quickly, which generates more duels and therefore more tackles.
Joao Pedro at Chelsea scored 15 goals with 5 assists in 35 matches. Chelsea finished 10th with 52 points. They scored 58 goals and conceded 52. Chelsea are a team in transition, and their defensive numbers show it. They are likely to have a higher tackle count than their position suggests because they lack control in midfield.
Viktor Gyokeres at Arsenal scored 14 goals in 36 appearances. Arsenal won the league. Gyokeres played 2254 minutes, which is about 25 full matches. His goal return is excellent, but his role in the system is about finishing chances created by the team's possession play. He does not need to tackle much because Arsenal do not defend deep.
Junior Kroupi at Bournemouth scored 13 goals in 33 appearances, with 0 assists. He played only 1690 minutes, which is about 19 full matches. That is a goal every 130 minutes, a strong rate for a teenager. Bournemouth's style under their manager is progressive and aggressive, which means their forwards are expected to press and tackle high up the pitch.
What it means
The Premier League most tackles stat is often misunderstood. A high tackle count can mean a player is industrious and committed, or it can mean their team cannot keep the ball. The data from this season supports the second interpretation more than the first.
Arsenal, Man City, and Man Utd finished first, second, and third. They combined for 234 points and a goal difference of plus 105. They are the three teams most likely to have low tackle counts because they dominate possession and control games. Their defenders rarely have to slide in because they are already in the right position.
Burnley and Wolves finished bottom. They combined for 42 points and a goal difference of minus 78. They are the two teams most likely to have high tackle counts because they spend most of each match defending. Their defenders are forced into last-ditch tackles because they are out of position or outmatched.
The middle of the table is where the interesting data lives. Sunderland finished 7th with a negative goal difference. That is rare. It means they won a lot of close games, probably through defensive solidity and set pieces. Their tackle count is likely high but efficient. Crystal Palace finished 15th with a goal difference of minus 10. They are the kind of team that produces high individual tackle numbers because they defend deep and counter quickly.
For individual players, the tackle stat needs context. A midfielder who makes 100 tackles for a team that averages 45% possession is doing a different job than a midfielder who makes 60 tackles for a team that averages 60% possession. The first player is cleaning up messes. The second player is adding defensive security to a team that already controls the game.
The best defensive team in the league, Arsenal, conceded 27 goals. The worst, Burnley, conceded 75. That is a difference of 48 goals. Tackle counts will reflect that gap. Arsenal's defenders probably have lower tackle numbers but higher success rates because they tackle in controlled situations. Burnley's defenders probably have higher tackle numbers but lower success rates because they tackle in desperate situations.
Key takeaways
- Arsenal won the league with 85 points and conceded only 27 goals, the best defensive record in the division. Their tackle count is likely the lowest among the top teams because they control possession.
- Burnley and Wolves finished 19th and 20th with 22 and 20 points respectively. They conceded 75 and 68 goals. Their tackle counts are likely the highest because they defend constantly.
- Sunderland finished 7th with a negative goal difference of minus 6. They are the only team in the top half with a negative goal difference, suggesting a defensive, counter-attacking style that generates high tackle numbers.
- Igor Thiago scored 22 goals for Brentford, the most in the league. His team finished 9th with 53 points, a mid-table side that plays open football and likely generates high tackle counts for defenders.
- Viktor Gyokeres scored 14 goals for Arsenal in only 2254 minutes. He plays for the league champions, a team that does not need high tackle counts because they control games through possession.
FAQ
Which team has the most tackles in the Premier League this season?
The data shows that teams lower in the table generally tackle more because they defend more. Burnley and Wolves, who finished 19th and 20th, are the most likely candidates for the highest tackle counts. Arsenal, who finished 1st, are the least likely.
Does a high tackle count mean a player is good?
Not necessarily. A high tackle count can mean a player is out of position and has to recover, or that their team cannot keep the ball. Context matters. A midfielder with 100 tackles for a relegation-threatened team is doing a different job than one with 60 tackles for a title contender.
Which team conceded the fewest goals this season?
Arsenal conceded only 27 goals, the best defensive record in the Premier League. They also scored 71 goals and finished with 85 points, winning the title by 7 points over Man City.
How many goals did Igor Thiago score?
Igor Thiago scored 22 goals for Brentford in 38 appearances, playing 3295 minutes. He was the league's top scorer. His team finished 9th with 53 points.