Sign in

Oliver Hopkins

@oliverhopkins.bsky.social
1.5K followers 58 following 35 posts

Managing Editor at Opta Analyst Written work: theanalyst.com/author/oliver-hopkins

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Oliver Hopkins
Michiel Jongsma @jongsma.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
Wrote something on the incredible Ekstraklasa season and the rise of Polish football for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com together with @wesleyvictormak.bsky.social : theanalyst.com/articles/pol...
theanalyst.com
Inside Poland’s Ekstraklasa: The Most Competitive League in Europe | Opta Analyst
With domestic parity at historic levels and Polish clubs making strides in Europe, the Ekstraklasa is emerging as one of the continent’s most compelling competitions.
014
Oliver Hopkins @oliverhopkins.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
"If Arsenal do go on to win their first title since 2003-04, the sight of a teenager sprinting clear of the Everton defence and calmly finishing in front of a baying Emirates crowd may become one of the most defining images of their season." theanalyst.com/articles/max...
theanalyst.com
61 Metres of Brilliance: Max Dowman's Solo Run Enters Premier League Record Books | Opta Analyst
Not only did Max Dowman break the record as the youngest Premier League goalscorer, his run for Arsenal vs Everton ranked among the longest in the competition.
030
Oliver Hopkins @oliverhopkins.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
Arsenal lead the PL by seven points with eight games left. But who really has the easier run-in? I analysed the title race in five different ways – Power Rankings, venue form, last season’s results, and more. Here’s what the data says 👇 theanalyst.com/articles/ars...
theanalyst.com
Arsenal or Manchester City: Which Side Has the Easier Premier League Title Run-In? | Opta Analyst
Arsenal hold a seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League. Manchester City have a game in hand to cut that to four. But which of the sides has the easiest run-in?
031
Oliver Hopkins @oliverhopkins.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
My latest for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com on the age breakdown of every Premier League squad:
292
Oliver Hopkins @oliverhopkins.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
Arsenal have conceded 3 goals in 9 league games. Currently on pace to concede just 12.6 goals across the entire season 🤯
161
Oliver Hopkins @oliverhopkins.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
Arsenal's defensive record this season could be record-breaking. They've conceded 3 goals in 8 league games. At that rate, they could beat Chelsea's famous 15-goal season from 2004-05... Can they do it? And what does it mean for their title hopes? theanalyst.com/articles/ars...
theanalyst.com
Arsenal Are On Course to Concede 14 Goals All Season: Can They Break Chelsea’s Record? | Opta Analyst
Arsenal kept yet another clean sheet at the weekend in their 1-0 win over Fulham. That puts them on course to break one of football’s most unbreakable defensive records.
012
Reposted by Oliver Hopkins
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 07/10/2025
Bournemouth have scored 18 Premier League goals since mid-April. Semenyo has either scored (10) or assisted (4) a ridiculous 77.7% of them. Is he the best player in the Premier League right now? We look into the data to find out 📊🍒 theanalyst.com/articles/ant...
theanalyst.com
Right Now, Antoine Semeyo is the Best Player in the Premier League | Opta Analyst
Antoine Semenyo is driving Bournemouth’s best-ever season. The stats prove he’s not just their star — he might be the Premier League’s most in-form player.
1248
Oliver Hopkins @oliverhopkins.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
It's very hard to sum up a player like Declan Rice in only a few words, but I had a go for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com He is one of the most complete midfielders in the world imo. And his performance against Newcastle showed that: theanalyst.com/articles/dec...
theanalyst.com
Declan Rice’s Newcastle Masterclass Proves He is the Complete Midfielder | Opta Analyst
We examine the data that shows why is Declan Rice becoming Arsenal’s most complete – and possibly the Premier League's best – midfielder.
092
Reposted by Oliver Hopkins
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 29/09/2025
Declan Rice vs Newcastle: 🔴 105 touches (1st) 🔴 75 passes completed (1st) 🔴 17 line-breaking passes (1st) 🔴 260m carried (1st) 🔴 11.3km covered (1st) Arsenal’s midfielder is dominating all aspects of games. Is he the most complete midfielder in the Premier League?👇 theanalyst.com/articles/dec...
theanalyst.com
Declan Rice’s Newcastle Masterclass Proves He is the Complete Midfielder | Opta Analyst
We examine the data that shows why is Declan Rice becoming Arsenal’s most complete – and possibly the Premier League's best – midfielder.
610315
Oliver Hopkins @oliverhopkins.bsky.social · 27/07/2025
The greatest England manager ever?
081
Oliver Hopkins @oliverhopkins.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
Rayan Cherki created more chances per 90 than any player in Europe’s top five leagues in 2024-25. Last night, he dazzled for France on his debut. No wonder Man City want him. I looked at the numbers behind his incredible campaign ✍️📊 theanalyst.com/articles/ray...
theanalyst.com
Rayan Cherki is Europe’s King of Chance Creation – It's Why Man City Want Him | Opta Analyst
Rayan Cherki’s dazzling 30-minute cameo on his international debut showed exactly why Manchester City are so keen to bring him to the Etihad Stadium.
010
Oliver Hopkins @oliverhopkins.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
Since his debut, among all Premier League defenders, Gabriel has: Most Goals (17) Most Headers (12) Most Clean Sheets (57) Rock.
510410
Oliver Hopkins @oliverhopkins.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
A 26-pass goal, a suffocating high press and a goalkeeper who refused to be beaten. Was so impressed with PSG last night. Here's how they executed the perfect away performance against Arsenal in their Champions League semi-final first leg for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com: theanalyst.com/2025/04/arse...
theanalyst.com
Pressing, Poise and Parisian Control: The Blueprint Behind PSG’s Win Over Arsenal | Opta Analyst
PSG take a 1-0 lead into the second leg of their Champions League tie against Arsenal. We analyse how they overcame Mikel Arteta’s side.
041
Oliver Hopkins @oliverhopkins.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
📈 143 PL goals 📉 Just 3 outside the box 🎯 1 title, 1 golden boot, 1 unforgettable legacy Jamie Vardy’s having a leaving party — and here’s everything that made him a Premier League icon🦊 theanalyst.com/2025/04/jami...
theanalyst.com
Jamie Vardy's Having a Leaving Party: The Premier League Stats Behind a Leicester Legend | Opta Analyst
Jamie Vardy has confirmed he will leave Leicester this summer when his contract expires. We analyse the data behind his remarkable career.
000
Oliver Hopkins @oliverhopkins.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
Declan Rice's brilliant free-kicks were staggering – but Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Real Madrid was about so much more. From Saka’s levels of performance to Lewis-Skelley’s maturity at 18, this was a true team performance. My piece for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com theanalyst.com/2025/04/arse...
theanalyst.com
It Was Declan Rice’s Night, But This Perfect Arsenal Performance Was About the Collective | Opta Analyst
Arsenal delivered a statement performance at the Emirates to blow away Real Madrid and take control of their Champions League quarter-final.
1538
Oliver Hopkins @oliverhopkins.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
The Premier League run-in is here. Some teams have a dream schedule, others an absolute nightmare. Used the Opta Power Rankings to break down who has the easiest and hardest fixtures left... theanalyst.com/2025/03/prem...
theanalyst.com
The Premier League is Back – How Difficult Are Every Team's Remaining Games? | Opta Analyst
As the race for Champions League qualification intensifies, we analyse the fixture difficulty of each Premier League club’s remaining games.
011
Reposted by Oliver Hopkins
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 26/02/2025
Crystal Palace finally brought their away form home, thrashing Aston Villa 4-1 at Selhurst Park. At the heart of it was Adam Wharton, who marked his first start in nearly four months with a commanding midfield display. ✍️ @oliverhopkins.bsky.social theanalyst.com/2025/02/adam...
theanalyst.com
How Adam Wharton's Crystal Palace Return Helped Banish Selhurst Park Struggles | Opta Analyst
At the heart of Palace's victory against Villa was Adam Wharton, who marked his first start in nearly four months with a commanding midfield display.
0103
Oliver Hopkins @oliverhopkins.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
Nice to see Burnley owner Alan Pace sharing the love on my latest story for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com I’m very invested in their defensive record now 😂
020
Oliver Hopkins @oliverhopkins.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
More isn’t always better… I looked at the data behind the new Champions League format. Has it really worked?
040
Oliver Hopkins @oliverhopkins.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
Man City set to play Bayern or Real Madrid as things stand ☠️☠️
1222
Reposted by Oliver Hopkins
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 16/01/2025
Myles Lewis-Skelly leads all Premier League players this season for duel success rate (72.2%). Declan Rice even compared his strength to Moussa Dembele. ✍️ @oliverhopkins.bsky.social on why last night's game against Tottenham was his coming of age moment: theanalyst.com/2025/01/myle...
theanalyst.com
Why North London Derby Was a Coming-of-Age Game for Arsenal’s “Ridiculous” Myles Lewis-Skelly | Opta Analyst
In Arsenal's win against Tottenham in the north London derby, no player stood out more than the youngest player on the pitch: Myles Lewis-Skelly.
1272
Oliver Hopkins @oliverhopkins.bsky.social · 29/12/2024
Mo Salah (82) now has more Premier League assists than David Beckham (80)
24911
Oliver Hopkins @oliverhopkins.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
Is Antonee Robinson the best left back in the Premier League right now? A piece for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com that looks at the data behind his blistering speed, lung-busting overlaps, and growing defensive maturity: theanalyst.com/2024/12/anto...
theanalyst.com
Relentless, Rapid, Reliable: The Rise of Antonee Robinson at Fulham | Opta Analyst
Antonee Robinson's blistering speed, overlaps, and growing defensive maturity make him a weapon Marco Silva can’t do without.
1163
Oliver Hopkins @oliverhopkins.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
+2 tonight! Such a weapon
010
Oliver Hopkins @oliverhopkins.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
Arsenal have scored 20 corner goals since last season—five more than any other team. The secret? Blocking, decoys, crowded boxes, and Gabriel’s absurd aerial dominance. I break it all down here for @optaanalyst.optajoe.com theanalyst.com/2024/12/gabr...
theanalyst.com
Blocking, Decoys and Brute Force: How Arsenal Unleash Gabriel At Corners | Opta Analyst
Arsenal are the most dangerous Premier League team from set-pieces. Here's how they unleash Gabriel at corner situations.
2357
Oliver Hopkins @oliverhopkins.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
Arsenal only take corners one way, but boy are they good at them:
120
Reposted by Oliver Hopkins
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 03/12/2024
Arsenal's Corner King 👑 Since the start of last season, Arsenal have scored more corner goals than any other PL team. Gabriel has 5 of them. We analyse how they unleash him through: — Inswingers — Blocking — Crowding the area ✍️ @oliverhopkins.bsky.social theanalyst.com/2024/12/gabr...
theanalyst.com
Blocking, Decoys and Brute Force: How Arsenal Unleash Gabriel At Corners | Opta Analyst
Arsenal are the most dangerous Premier League team from set-pieces. Here's how they unleash Gabriel at corner situations.
15215
Oliver Hopkins @oliverhopkins.bsky.social · 01/12/2024
Inject it
010
Oliver Hopkins @oliverhopkins.bsky.social · 01/12/2024
'Indirect free-kick inside the box' klaxon! The one situation where the professional game descends into pure, school boy chaos
000
Reposted by Oliver Hopkins
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 27/11/2024
𝐌𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲'𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐞 Why their capitulation against Feyenoord was a symbol of their ongoing troubles — 🤦 Individual errors 📊 Conceding high-value chances 🧠 Mental fragility @oliverhopkins.bsky.social on the data from last night, and the season as a whole: theanalyst.com/2024/11/manc...
theanalyst.com
Fragile, Error-Prone and Open: Feyenoord Collapse Summed Up Man City's Struggles | Opta Analyst
Mental fragility, individual errors and conceding huge chances. Manchester City’s collapse against Feyenoord summed up their current struggles.
0112
Oliver Hopkins @oliverhopkins.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
Uh, this is a problem
2111
Oliver Hopkins @oliverhopkins.bsky.social · 25/11/2024
Michail Antonio’s headshot on Fotmob is … sensual
000
Reposted by Oliver Hopkins
Opta Analyst @optaanalyst.optajoe.com · 25/11/2024
Matheus Cunha has directly contributed to seven goals in his last four games. Wolves have secured points in all four of them (W2 D2). ✍️ @oliverhopkins.bsky.social on Cunha's rise and why Wolves' survival relies so heavily on him: theanalyst.com/2024/11/math...
theanalyst.com
Wolves' Premier League Survival Rests on Matheus Cunha's Shoulders | Opta Analyst
Matheus Cunha's goals, creativity and all-round play make him an indispensable part of Wolves' Premier League survival mission.
0153
Oliver Hopkins @oliverhopkins.bsky.social · 23/11/2024
Wrote about Cunha over the international break; to say he’s integral for Wolves would be an understatement of all understatements
000
Oliver Hopkins @oliverhopkins.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
Cannot believe it's been two years since this; what a morning! Still remember Saudi Arabia's ridiculously high (and effective) line. Argentina had the ball in the net three times within the space of 13 minutes but their goals on 22', 28', 35' were all disallowed for offside!
010
Oliver Hopkins @oliverhopkins.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
Minutes per goal in Europe: Dani Olmo - 63 Jhon Duran - 69.5 Mateo Retegui - 70.7 Ayoze Perez - 73.9 Bradley Barcola - 75 With 11 goals in 12 games, Retegui is surely one of the signings of the season so far?! theanalyst.com/2024/11/mate...
theanalyst.com
Mateo Retegui’s Meteoric Rise: How An Argentina Nobody Became Italy’s Best Striker | Opta Analyst
Mateo Retegui's story is proof that talent knows no borders. We examine the data behind his remarkable start for Atalanta in Serie A.
000
Oliver Hopkins @oliverhopkins.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
From an unheard Argentinian to Italy's best striker in just 18 months, the story of Mateo Retegui's rise is incredible. The Atalanta striker has 11 goals in 12 games and I analysed his game in a little more detail for @optaanalyst.bsky.social: theanalyst.com/2024/11/mate...
theanalyst.com
Mateo Retegui’s Meteoric Rise: How An Argentina Nobody Became Italy’s Best Striker | Opta Analyst
Mateo Retegui's story is proof that talent knows no borders. We examine the data behind his remarkable start for Atalanta in Serie A.
091
Oliver Hopkins @oliverhopkins.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
Mateo Retegui's shot map at Atalanta is a thing of beauty. Some words from me coming on him soon 👀
020