by Darren Douglas

Created on: October 23, 2009   Last Updated: October 24, 2009

It has been argued for the last ten years that the Premier League is the best domestic league in Europe and therefore the World. There are strong arguments for it, although it could be said that it's mostly an English mantra. At the same time many foreign players have also endorsed the view, namely those that have played in it.

Meanwhile La Liga is usually the other domestic league to be named as a potential rival to this crown. Judgements are based upon the wealth of each league as well as other factors such as attendances and of course the stature of the players the clubs own. We know that as far as attendances, the Premier League wins hands down.

This season so far, La Liga and the Premier League have both been producing attractive football, at least in terms of goals and results. The overall goal average across the Premier League has shifted upwards, this may very well lower as the season progresses, but it is significant.

Since the Premier League's inaugural season in 1992-93, the eventual champions have often been the team with the highest goal average per game at the seasons end. The first two Premier League seasons did buck this trend, Manchester United won both titles whilst Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United topped the averages respectively.

What has been consistent is the fact that only one team per season usually averages two or more goals per game. The statistics show that the first time the Premier League had a team that broke this barrier, it was the 1996-97 season and the eventual champions Manchester United.

Only on one occasion has there been two teams to finish the season with a goal average of 2+ a game, back in 2001-02. The champions Arsenal and Manchester United took those honours, but interestingly Liverpool were actually the runners-up that year and were fifth in the goal averages column.

Clearly it takes more than just goals to win the title, although it's a massive step. The statistics prove that a strong defence is where a title challenge begins, and then you have to back it up with goals. This was achieved with a menacing aplomb by Manchester United in the early years of the Premier League.

However you need only look at the 1998-99 season to see the cost of not scoring enough when having a mean defence. Arsenal's defence of their title won the previous year should have been cemented when they incredibly conceded only 17 goals in their 38 matches. Unfortunately they only scored 59 to Manchester United's 80 and the title travelled back

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