A key feature of the Premier League’s rise to prominence through the ranks of the world’s most popular football leagues has been the competition’s ability to attract the best players from across Europe and around the world. From Thierry Henry to Sergio Agüero, some of the greatest players of the modern era have graced the top flight of English football, bringing success to their teams and capturing the imagination of neutrals.
This season, the Premier League is full of world-class stars as six big-spending teams battle for the title. Fans who follow the latest news will often look for updates on their favourite big-name players, and the performances of the league’s top stars will play a crucial role in the thinking of fans looking to play in the Premier League betting markets.
Which players are on the Premier League hotlist this season, and what can Arsenal fans expect from these in-form stars as the campaign reaches its climax?
Top of the list has to be Tottenham’s scoring machine, Harry Kane. Arsenal fans won’t need any reminding of Kane’s talents as he has scored seven times in nine outings against the Gunners, most recently in the derby at Wembley in early February. Kane’s astonishing consistency, which has seen him break into the top-30 all-time Premier League goalscorers chart, scoring his goals at a faster rate than anyone else on the list, is the primary reason why Tottenham’s often cautious approach can deliver results.
One of Kane’s closest rivals for the Player of the Season Award has to be Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian has been in sensational form for Manchester City, orchestrating the stylish football that has enabled them to open up a huge gap at the top of the Premier League. De Bruyne scored the opening goal of the game back in November when City beat the Gunners 3-1 at the Emirates, and ran the show in midfield. That he has earned man-of-the-match awards for his performances against Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool demonstrates his consistency and ability to rise to the big occasion.
José Mourinho likes his attacking players to be quick, aggressive and hard-working, and Jesse Lingard has thrived under Mourinho’s direction at Old Trafford. The midfielder has matured into a versatile forward, capable of playing out wide or in the traditional number 10 role, and he was a key factor in United’s 3-1 victory at the Emirates earlier this season. The Gunners are likely to come up against Lingard again in April’s crucial game at Old Trafford. That match could have a major impact on Arsenal’s top-four chances, and Arsène Wenger will need to find a way to negate the threat posed by the busy young United star.
Liverpool have also been blessed with some star performers this season, and while the saga around Philippe Coutinho grabbed most of the headlines, his fellow forwards have continued to fire in the goals in his absence. Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mané are deserving of a special mention, but Mohamed Salah has been the pick of the three. His speed, dribbling skills and eye for goal have provided plenty of entertainment for Liverpool fans and for neutrals, and he has twice been on the scoresheet against Arsenal this season, scoring his side’s third in the 4-0 defeat at Anfield and giving Liverpool a 2-0 lead in December’s 3-3 draw at the Emirates.
In what has been an underwhelming season so far, Arsenal’s leading player continues to be German magician Mesut Özil. Under a cloud for much of the campaign as speculation about his new contract lingered, Özil has continued to perform at the highest level as the leading creative influence in the Arsenal team. While he can drift out of the game on occasion, his performances this season, despite the off-field distractions, have been impressive, and with the arrival of Henrikh Mkhitaryan to share the creative burden, Özil can flourish in the final weeks of the season and help the Gunners to climb the table.
After years of being at the top of the English game, Arsenal fans are used to seeing their stars appear in player-of-the-season lists, and while the Gunners have underperformed so far, there is every chance for players in the famous red and white to push to the top of the list. With Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang adding firepower and creativity to the team, we can look forward to some improved performances in the closing months of the campaign, and hopefully to a number of Arsenal stars showing us what they can do.
