The case for why Chelsea are the best bet to win the Premier League

One of the more common features among the last 16 Premier League champions has been their defensive stability.

Only Manchester United in 2012/13 across this period have shipped an average greater than a goal-per-game through their 38 fixtures.

Tottenham lead the way in terms of the meanest defence through the opening 10 gameweeks of the current Premier League season, conceding only five times.

However, a change of tactics to a 3-4-3 system has had a major influence on Chelsea’s ability to shut out their opposition. It is now four clean sheets in succession for Antonio Conte’s Blues since the adjustment, having let in seven across the three league fixtures previous.

Meanwhile, across the same four gameweeks, Chelsea have also improved their attacking intent. Their total of 44 attempts inside the box of the opposition is superior to all teams except Manchester United, whose tally of 47 is heavily influenced by the 20 they generated in the latest goalless draw with Burnley.

Conte’s men have also hit the target with 27 of their efforts in this period and scored from 16.9% of their opportunities, which are both Premier League highs. Eden Hazard has even scored in three successive Premier League games for the first time since joining the club.

With a defence that has become much more stingy, an attack that is both creative and accurate in front of goal and a formation that the squad appears to have bought into and allows the best players the freedom to flourish, the only way appears to be up for Chelsea.

And the Blues don’t need to rise a great deal to become Premier League champions, as although they are only fourth after 10 games, the deficit to table-toppers Manchester City is a single point.

Throw in that Chelsea have no distracting European adventures to interrupt preparations and rest, and the 6/1 available for them to win the Premier League this season looks a cracking bet.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing