## 3 Handling Our Dataset
### Feature Summary and Correlations
The dataset reveals that players have participated in an average of 3214 games, indicative of their substantial careers and commitment to the sport. This longevity is a testament to the players' resilience and adaptability, essential qualities in the highly competitive environment of professional soccer. In terms of on-field activity, players typically contribute around 18.76 min of impactful play per match. This metric underscores the significance of efficiency, as athletes must maximize their performance within the constraints of limited playing time. Notably, the dataset records an average of 1317 goals scored, which encapsulates the myriad moments of skill and achievement that characterize these athletes' careers. Complementing this, the expected goals (xG) statistic, averaging 1.75, indicates players' proficiency in finding scoring opportunities, highlighting their ability to create potential goal-scoring situations. Teamwork is also crucial in soccer, as evidenced by the average of 1.80 assists per player. This statistic reflects the collaborative nature of the sport, showcasing players' capabilities to facilitate scoring opportunities for their teammates. Furthermore, an impressive average of 16.58 key passes per player illustrates the role of playmakers who significantly influence the game's outcome through strategic ball distribution and offensive orchestration. However, \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{l c c c} \hline \hline
**Feature** & **Mean** & **Standard Deviation** & **Range** \\ \hline Number of Games Played (_games_) & 3213.74 & 2470.25 & 1–9559 \\ Time Played (_time_) & 18.76 & 11.13 & 1–38 \\ Goals Scored (_goals_) & 1317.34 & 966.07 & 1–3420 \\ Expected Goals (_xG_) & 1.75 & 3.40 & 0–48 \\ Assists (_assists_) & 1.80 & 3.11 & 0–39.31 \\ Expected Assists (_xA_) & 1.23 & 2.02 & 0–20 \\ Shots (_shots_) & 1.26 & 1.79 & 0–20.62 \\ Key Passes (_key_passes_) & 16.58 & 21.47 & 0–227 \\ Yellow Cards (_yellow_cards_) & 12.24 & 15.30 & 0–146 \\ Shots per Game (_slrpg_) & 0.73 & 0.71 & 0–7 \\ Expected goals per game (_xGg_) & 0.08 & 0.11 & 0–1.12 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 4: Summary statistics of the dataset. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{l c c} \hline \hline
**Feature** & **Importance for _xGg_ (\%)** & **Importance for _aGg_ (\%)** \\ \hline _aGg_ & 33.82 & - \\ _gpm_ & 33.31 & 10.90 \\ _rpm_ & 6.72 & 2.43 \\ _slrpg_ & 6.43 & 0.23 \\ _apg_ & 4.91 & 7.35 \\ _slrpm_ & 4.36 & 10.46 \\ _kppm_ & 3.16 & 1.55 \\ _xG_ & 1.63 & 0.68 \\ _xGdiff_ & 1.49 & 1.60 \\ _rpg_ & 0.96 & 1.41 \\ _kprpg_ & 0.87 & 0.52 \\ _ypg_ & 0.73 & 0.22 \\ _ypm_ & 0.64 & 0.55 \\ _shots_ & 0.24 & 0.01 \\ _assists_ & 0.15 & 0.27 \\ _apxG_ & 0.13 & 0.05 \\ _goals_ & 0.13 & 0.91 \\ _xGChain_ & 0.10 & 0.005 \\ _xGBuildup_ & 0.08 & 0.02 \\ _npg_ & 0.04 & 0.14 \\ _key_passes_ & 0.04 & 0.02 \\ _position_weight_ & 0.03 & 0.01 \\ _xA_ & 0.01 & 0.01 \\ _league_weight_ & 0.01 & 0.02 \\ _games_ & 0.005 & 0.03 \\ _time_ & 0.005 & 0.005 \\ _xGg_ & - & 60.61 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 3: Combined feature importance for _xGg_ and _aGg_. the competitive nature of soccer presents its challenges. The data reveal an average of 12.24 yellow cards per player, suggesting the intense nature of matches where discipline can be as vital as scoring. The variability observed in metrics, including shots per game (0.73) and expected goals per game (0.08), encapsulates soccer's unpredictable essence, where individual talents often shine through the complexities of game scenarios  
Moreover, Table 5 shows a sample from the dataset. The table summarizes compiled data without additional calculations. It includes various performance metrics for soccer players, such as a unique identifier for each player, the number of games played, total minutes on the field, goals scored, and assists provided. The dataset also features advanced statistics like expected goals (\(xG\)), which measures the quality of scoring chances, and expected assists (\(xA\)), which estimates the likelihood of a pass leading to a goal.