Playmakers elite in BPL: A statistical view

They are the players that make a team click on the offensive end. They make the average strikers look good and the the good ones awesome. They know when to engage with the wingmen, when to calm it down or when to build from the back again when there seems not much to their liking up front. They have the ability to make a coach look a real genius or make him lose his job because of running a blunt offense. They are the men that translate a coach’s offensive plans on the blackboard of the dressing room to the green pasture beyond the touchline where the manager plays no part.

So, let’s have a look at these geniuses at work in the Premier League with a statistical comparison from last season and what we have already seen from this season. We look at 6 playmakers from 6 different teams that can leave behind a lasting impression this season.

SANTI CAZORLA

Carzola has looked class this season

Santi Cazorla’s arrival at the heart of the Arsenal midfield has given the Gunners faithful a reason to be optimistic about a trophy again this season. They will be hoping that he succeeds in filling the gap left by Fabregas’ departure at the beginning of last season. Till Jack Wilshere returns, the responsibility of making the midfield tick at the Emirates will be firmly on his shoulders.

He is pretty consistent throughout the board,with a slight dip in the assists section. The only reason he is not playing first-team football for his national team is because that means dislodging Xavi Hernandez which quite frankly is a steep ask. He, however, had a better season than Xavi last time around and replacing Xavi in the national team will be a seamless process if the Arsenal man is the candidate.

DAVID SILVA

David Silva is City’s vital cog

The Spanish genius came into his own last season and was the most essential ingredient for City’s success last season. Silva, for most part, is pretty well rounded than most others on the table, coming up in the runners up spot in the assist and key passes p/g. He is a great passer and that reflects in the passing success rate where he comes up trumps. He went on to have a wonderful tournament in the Euros where he re-established his place in the Spanish team.

Surprisingly he hasn’t had a good start to the Premier League campaign so far, looking a shadow of himself a year ago. It may just take one match to get Silva into his stride again.

EDEN HAZARD

Already has become a hazard for defenses to deal with

Everything good about Chelsea so far this campaign emanates from this kid. He has truly arrived now. Winner of the player of the season for the last 2 years in the Ligue 1, at 21 only he can set the ceiling to what he can achieve.

As we can see from the stat sheet, he had amassed an incredible 20 goals and 16 assists lasts season. The only other person in Europe to have double figures in both columns last season was the Spurs front-man Emmannuel Adebayor. He already has amassed an incredible 6 assists and a goal in only 3 matches for the Blues in the Premier League. I would be surprised if his goals and assist tally doesn’t end up in double figures this time around as well.

NURI SAHIN

Looking to make a mark in the red of Liverpool

Most of Nuri Sahin for Real Madrid came in the capacity of a substitute or in matches where Mourinho didn’t find it suitable to start the other stars. Considering the above facts, a 6 goal-8 assist season is quite something to applaud. If we look at Sahin’s stats, two things standout – he comes out on top as far as Key passes per game are concerned, while he lies at the bottom when we consider the success rate of his passes. This means only one thing. Sahin likes to take risks, looking for that final ball that wil unlock defenses more often than not as compared to others. His success rate says that he pretty good at it, too.

The Red section of Merseyside would be expecting that he provides more of these passes, more so because he is nearly guaranteed starts at Liverpool.

HATEM BEN ARFA

Hatem is on fire for the Magpies right now

Ben Arfa ends up at the bottom of some of the statistical parameters, especially when it concerns key and average passes per game. That comes about from the fact that Ben Arfa looks to go solo and he was deployed as winger or sometimes a striker and didn’t see much of the ball as compared to others. He is a fantastic dribbler and is near the top as far as successful dribbles per game is concerned.

The first part of last season was spent in the medical room and on the bench till Pardew got him to play team football. He gifted us two of the best goals from last season. This one against Bolton and even better against Blackburn. He just reminded us why Sir Alex wanted him so bad during his time at Lyon.

Having already scored two goals in three games this season, Ben Arfa would like this season to be his coming out party.

SHINJI KAGAWA

Bundesliga player of the year last season

After the Ligue1 player of the year, Bundesliga‘s player of the year last season also arrived to play in the Premier League. Kagawa was an important cog in the machine for Borussia Dortmund last season as they went on to the the league and cup double. His stats are quite impressive throughout, with only Hazard scoring more than him while also gathering 8 assists. United fans will hope he brings creativity to the middle of the park which they missed desperately last season.

He has had an up and down start to his United career. He showed flashes of brilliance and assured touches in his debut against Everton while others looked lacklustre. Scored a goal against Fulham while he went on a “leave without notice” against the Saints. We are yet to see the Kagawa we all have come to know at Dortmund but I am sure he will come around with time.