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Football is a game that revolves around scoring goals. Due to this, players with the ability and vision to create chances are highly valued. Strikers who have the instinct to finish these chances are arguably valued higher than players in other positions.
However, to avoid play becoming one dimensional, teams and coaches have placed great importance on the quality of the 'final ball'—the pass made to the goalscorer. Players like Xavi Hernandez excelled at playing this kind of pass. One of his most important assists was for Fernando Torres in the UEFA Euro Final in 2008.
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In the modern game, assist counts have now become an integral part of analysis and debate while discussing football games. The number of assists made by a player is increasingly being used as a parameter to determine their overall impact on the pitch.
On that note, let's take a look at the top five players who have recorded the highest assist totals in the Premier League in a calendar year in the 21st century.
#5 Mesut Ozil (23 assists in 48 Premier League games for Arsenal in 2015)
Mesut Ozil joined Arsenal from Real Madrid on Deadline Day in the summer transfer window of 2013 for €47.00 million. He made his debut less than 10 days after signing and provided the assist for Olivier Giroud's opener against Sunderland.
Ozil was instrumental in Arsenal's form in both the Premier League and the FA Cup. He played an important role in Arsenal's two FA Cup wins (2014, 2015), scoring one goal and providing two assists as Arsenal lifted the prestigious cup in 2015.
In 2015-16 however, the German produced one of the best seasons in Premier League history. He finished with 19 assists and six goals in 35 games.
Ozil's assists incredibly contributed to 57.6% of Arsenal's goals scored that season.
Here is a video of some of Mesut Ozil's highlights from the 2015-16 season with Arsenal:
The playmaker enjoyed two good Premier League seasons with Arsenal before off-field issues derailed his career progress. Mesut Ozil currently plays for Fenerbahce in Turkey.
#4 Christian Eriksen (24 assists in 48 Premier League games for Tottenham Hotspur in 2017)
Christian Eriksen signed for Tottenham Hotspur from Ajax in 2013 for a fee of €14.15 million. The Dane played a total of 305 games for Spurs, scoring 69 goals and providing 90 assists.
In terms of statistics, Eriksen's best season in the Premier League with Spurs was the 2016-17 campaign. He had 12 goals and 24 assists in 48 games that season, out of which eight goals and 16 assists came in the Premier League.
It was arguably the peak of his consistency since signing for Spurs, having reached double figures for Premier League assists four seasons in a row.
The Dane also had a penchant for scoring goals from outside the box. In 2017, Eriksen produced this incredible drilled strike from range against Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
Christian Eriksen formed a formidable midfield partnership with Dele Alli during his time with Spurs. In an FA Cup game against Chelsea in 2017, the Dane provided a spectacular assist for Dele, who finished with aplomb.
Eriksen suffered cardiac arrest while playing for Denmark at Euro 2020 and has since been inactive as a player. Inter Milan recently terminated his contract due to Serie A rules which do not allow players with defribillators to play.
Christian Eriksen is currently without a club but has stressed the fact that he is eager to get back to playing.
#3 Cesc Fabregas (24 assists in 34 Premier League games for Arsenal in 2009)
Cesc Fabregas joined Arsenal's academy from Barcelona's La Masia academy in 2003, sensing he would get limited opportunities in Spain. Fabregas went on to play 304 games for Arsenal, scoring 57 goals and providing 96 assists.
His best season for the Gunners in terms of numbers was the 2009-10 season. Fabregas scored 19 goals and assisted 20 in just 37 games, contributing to more than one goal per game on average. Out of those, 15 goals and 15 assists came in the Premier League. The Spaniard was named in the Premier League Team of the Year for his incredible performances.
The midfielder added a goalscoring touch to his game that year and scored some incredible goals with the finishing touch of a striker. In a game against arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur in 2009, Fabregas scored an amazing solo effort having stolen the ball from Spurs following their kick-off.
The Spaniard went on to play for Barcelona and Chelsea later in his career, winning nearly every major honor. He tasted success with the Spanish national side as well, assisting Andres Iniesta for his winning goal in the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final against the Netherlands.
Cesc Fabregas currently plays for Ligue 1 side AS Monaco.
#2 Juan Mata (26 assists in 58 Premier League games for Chelsea in 2012)
Juan Mata joined Chelsea from Valencia in a deal worth €26.70 million in 2011. Mata was one of the most creative and influential midfielders at the club and won Chelsea's Player of the Year award twice in a row (2012, 2013).
Juan Mata played 135 games for Chelsea, scoring 32 goals and providing 59 assists in all competitions. The Spaniard had his best season with the Blues in 2012-13, notching up 19 goals and 36 assists in 64 games in all competitions.
Mata spent nearly four years with Chelsea, winning the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League in back-to-back seasons in 2012 and 2013 respectively.
Mata left Chelsea to join Manchester United in 2014 and has been with the Red Devils since.
#1 Thierry Henry (28 assists in 51 Premier League games for Arsenal in 2003)
Thierry Henry signed for Arsenal in 1999 from Juventus in a deal worth €16.10 million. The Frenchman went on to become the club's greatest ever goalscorer with 228 goals for the Gunners in all competitions.
Henry was a ruthless machine in front of goal. He hit double figures for goals and assists in five of his seven full Premier League seasons with Arsenal. His best season in terms of output was the 2002-03 season, where he scored 32 goals and assisted 28 in just 55 games.
He is the only player in Premier League history to score and assist at least 20 goals each in a single season.
Henry was recently inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame alongside Alan Shearer.
The Frenchman is currently working with the Belgian national team as their assistant coach as they prepare for next year's FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
