The Premier League season is well under way now. After 11 weeks it is difficult to give a cemented opinion on a player’s performance and is of course subject to change. However, as gameweek 12 approaches why not have a look at who has impressed most from the array of talent in the league so far?
10. Saido Berahino –With seven goals thus far, Berahino has impressed and surpassed expectations at The Hawthorns. His performances have even done enough to catch the ever-watching eyes of Roy Hodgson, with Berainho now making the transition from under-21 football to being in the international set up proper.
9. Nathaniel Clyne –It’s refreshing to see English talent flourish in the Premier League and Clyne is no exception to the current trend of success domestically. Similarly to the aforementioned Berainho, his talents have earned him a thoroughly deserved international call up. Statistically he is the best tackler in the Premier League (37), and has helped Southampton to a remarkable seven clean sheets already this year.
8. Graziano Pellè –Pellè’s performances have been vital in getting Southampton to an unprecedented second place in the table. Not only has the Southampton forward contributed six goals, he has also created 18 chances for teammates and looks to be benefiting the team with more than just goals. Southampton’s business in the transfer market, replacing players who left in the “mass exodus” has been sublime, with multiple signings who have excelled already this season. That brings us onto number 7 in the list…
7. Dusan Tadic –Fellow Saint Tadic has proved to be one of the signings of the summer, and also one of the men at the forefront of the Saints march to second place in the table. With six assists to his name and a dominant performance in an 8-0 thrashing of Sunderland, Tadic has shown a flawless transition into the Premier League.
6. Eden Hazard – The first Chelsea player to enter the list and arguably the first player you would have expected to make the cut, prior to the start of the season. Hazard’s record isn’t all that impressive (two goals and three assists), but sometimes stats don’t tell us the whole story. His outstanding individual performances against Manchester City and Arsenal are exactly what is needed from key players to help Chelsea to win the league this year. In a team with Diego Costa, goals are catered for and Hazard seems to appreciate this, performing well without necessarily scoring each week.
5. Gylfi Sigurdsson –The top four players so far this year are relatively easy to guess, however the fifth place position is one of the hardest to choose. Sigurdsson has made an impressive start to the season, he has managed seven assists while chipping in with two goals, including a vital and extremely well taken free kick to equalise against Arsenal in his last game. Swansea’s reign under Garry Monk has seen Sigurdsson pick up where he left off under Michael Laudrup, much to fans of Swansea’s relief.
4. Cesc Fabregas –It seems harsh not give Cesc a place in the top three because most years he would easily be in that elite group. Regardless, his record speak for itself; he top of the assists chart in the league (9), and has formed a formidable partnership with fellow Spaniard and new signing Diego Costa. The pair have proved unstoppable and at the rate Cesc is going he is could be achieving the most assists in Premier League history. This is currently a position owned by former teammate Thierry Henry who amounted 20 assists in the 2002/2003 season, it would not at all be surprising to see Cesc top this – a credit to the player he is.
3. Diego Costa –Many will have thought the second half of the newly signed Spanish partnership would have deserved a place at number one. Indeed, most years a player who scores 10 goals in 11 games is unrivalled in quality, unmatched in goals and uncontested to be top of a list like this. Costa has been exceptional and it’s no discredit that he is has some worthy competition preventing him from that number one spot this far in. He has stayed true to his foundations referencing the street football that got him to where he is today in recent interviews. His physicality and knack for finishing demonstrate a raw talent which was lacking at Chelsea last year – the Blues have finally found their goal scorer.
2. Alexis Sanchez –Arsenal would be 19th without this man this season, a stat you will have indubitably heard. His eight goals in the league merely bespeak a part of his quality. The work rate he shows on the pitch and his tireless attitude is simply incredible. The Chilean has matched his price tag of around £35m and then some. Arsenal have perhaps relied too heavily upon Sanchez, but as an individual player this just goes to show his quality and necessity in the team. Sanchez has undoubtedly been one of, if not the best, signing of the summer and his future at Arsenal should excite fans of the club.
1. Sergio Agüero –After Diego Costa, Alexis Sanchez – Who else could it be? Agüero has achieved something very few players can, scoring more goals than games played. A four goal game helped add to this tally against Tottenham, but this was just one of many exceptional individual matches for him. Similarly to Sanchez, the side he has played for has underachieved to an extent this year. Manchester City sit eight points adrift of leaders Chelsea. Although difficult to recover, it’s fair to say – without Agüero – it would be near enough impossible to recover at such an early stage in the season. He is simply brilliant and will be a favourite to be the top goal scorer in a ferociously contested season. So far, the Argentine has set the pace in quality of all players in the league this year.
Honourable mentions:
Nemanja Matic
Nacer Chadli
Leighton Baines
Angel Di Maria
David Silva
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