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The 2021-22 Premier League season is now in full swing with every top club having played nine games each. Chelsea lead the pack with 25 points, followed by Liverpool with 22 and Manchester City with 20. West Ham United, who have played a game less, with 17 points complete the top four.
271 goals have been scored so far this season, with Liverpool emerging as the best attacking side with 29 goals. The Reds' talisman Mohamed Salah is the top-scorer among players with 10 goals.
Not everyone has been as prolific as Salah in the Premier League
But while Salah continues to bang in goals for fun, there are players who have come agonizingly close to getting their names on the scoresheet. However, they have been so unlucky to be denied by the woodwork. Four players have hit the frame twice in the ongoing season so far, while one player has done so thrice. On top, however, is a player who has hit the woodwork six times in just 10 matches!
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Here's a look at the six Premier League players who have been so unlucky and hit the woodwork the most in the ongoing season so far:
#6 Lucas Moura (Tottenham Hotspur) - 2
Tottenham Hotspur's Brazilian winger Lucas Moura has been unlucky to hit the woodwork twice in nine Premier League appearances this season. The 29-year-old has started eight matches for Spurs this season, but is yet to open his goal and assists account in the league.
While Lucas can blame the framework for his returns, the truth is that his performances have been disappointing so far this season. The winger has only once touched the two-figure goal mark in the Premier League during the 2018-19 season. With how things have been so far, he looks set for another sub-par season.
He scored in Tottenham's 1-0 EFL Cup win over Burnley on Wednesday, October 28.
#5 Tyler Roberts (Leeds United) - 2
Leeds United's 22-year-old Tyler Roberts is one of four players to have hit the woodwork twice so far in the Premier League. Roberts has started just one match for Leeds this season, while he has been substituted in on eight occasions.
Limited game time hasn't helped the youngster, who is yet to score in the league this season. Now into his third season with the club, Roberts has made 94 appearances for Leeds, scoring eight and assisting nine goals in total.
#4 Nicolas Pepe (Arsenal) - 2
Arsenal's Nicolas Pepe is another player who is yet to score a goal in the league but has been denied by the woodwork twice. He, however, has an assist next to his name in seven league appearances.
Since his €80 million move from Lille in 2019, Pepe has blown hot and cold for Arsenal. While he has shown flashes of brilliance in some matches, he has been anonymous in others, leaving a section of the Gunners' fans frustrated.
The 26-year-old has also missed two big chances in the league. Pepe would love to get his shooting boots on as Arsenal push to get their season back on track.
#3 Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea) - 2
Romelu Lukaku is the fourth Premier League player to have hit the woodwork twice in the ongoing season. Unlike the other three, however, the 28-year-old has opened his account in the league this season. He has scored three goals in seven league appearances.
Lukaku returned to Chelsea in the summer transfer window in a €115 million deal from Inter Milan and hit the ground running from day one. He scored in his first Premier League match upon returning, in a 2-0 win over Arsenal.
Lukaku couldn't get on the scoresheet in the 1-1 draw against Liverpool, where Chelsea put up a defensive masterclass but scored a brace in their next encounter against Aston Villa. But since then, the Belgian has not scored for Chelsea in six consecutive matches and is now out of action due to injury.
#2 Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace) - 3
Crystal Palace's Christian Benteke has been denied by the woodwork thrice in the ongoing Premier League season, making him the second-unluckiest player in the league currently. Benteke has started six matches for the Eagles this season and has been substituted in four times, scoring two goals in the process.
Since joining Crystal Palace in 2016, only twice has Benteke made it to the two-figure mark in goals scored. He scored 15 goals in the 2016-17 season and 10 last term.
Though he has been unlucky with the woodwork so far, the Belgian seems to have found form, scoring in two of his last three Premier League matches. Patrick Vieira will hope Benteke extends his goal-scoring run to help Crystal Palace climb up the league table.
#1 Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) - 6
Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo has by far been the unluckiest player with respect to the woodwork in the Premier League so far. The 22-year-old, having started in all but one of his club's matches, has been denied by the framework a massive six times this season.
Mbeumo has managed to get on the scoresheet twice as well, and could have had more. Unfortunately for him, not even one of the six shots had gone into the net instead of hitting the woodwork.
The forward played a crucial role in the newly-promoted side's upbeat start to the Premier League season. They have endured a recent slump in form, however, which has seen them lose their last three league matches after going down in just one of their first seven.
Mbeumo has hit the woodwork more than 18 clubs in the league so far. Crystal Palace have as many woodwork hits as the Frenchman, six. Brentford have hit the post eight times in total so far.
