Premier League Team of the Decade: The 2000s

Defensive Midfielder - Paul Scholes

Arsenal v Manchester

Paul Scholes will be our deepest lying midfielder and quite simply put, he was the best passer of the ball in England's history.

Ex-Barcelona player Xavi, one of the greatest players of all time, said that Scholes was an inspiration to him during his formative years, a statement which closes the debate about his inclusion in this side. He was the reason behind Manchester United's legendary attack over the years.

The balls which he used to spray for the wingers and the center-forwards from a fair distance always used to find their target. He won 5 league titles with United during the 2000s and also won a Champions League in 07-08.

Paul Scholes is arguably the only player from the premier league who could have made it into Pep Guardiola's Barcelona team of the late 2000s, arguably the best passing team in history.

Other players who could have played in this position are Claude Makelele and Xabi Alonso. Makelele was more of a destroyer and although Alonso enjoyed a more illustrious international career than Scholes, his prime years were not in the Premier League.