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With 10 video games to go within the Premier League season, issues actually couldn’t be a lot tighter on the prime.
Arsenal beat Brentford 2-1 courtesy of a late winner from Kai Havertz to go prime of the desk, with fellow contenders Liverpool and Manchester Metropolis taking part in out a 1-1 draw at Anfield.
That left the Gunners on pole by advantage of their superior aim distinction, whereas Aston Villa and Tottenham battled it out for fourth place, Spurs inflicting a 4-0 win to slender the hole to Unai Emery’s facet to simply two factors.
On the different finish of the desk, Luton left it very late certainly to attract 1-1 with Crystal Palace, whereas Sheffield United and Burnley additionally took some extent off Bournemouth and West Ham respectively.
However which gamers have stood out over the previous couple of weeks? Who retains their place within the POWER RANKINGS for a continued run of kind, and who drops out? Learn on to search out out.
Kai Havertz headed the winner as Arsenal went prime of the desk with a 2-1 victory over Brentford
Manchester Metropolis and Liverpool performed out a 1-1 draw that noticed the highest three now separated by only a single level
Cauley Woodrow scored a 96th-minute equaliser for Luton at Crystal Palace to earn a invaluable level
10. Virgil van Dijk (New Entry)
A brand new entry on the backside of the record is Liverpool’s titanic, monolithic captain Virgil van Dijk after a really spectacular show in opposition to Manchester Metropolis to maintain his facet within the hunt for a Premier League crown.
The Dutchman dealt admirably with the myriad threats posed by some of the potent attacking forces on the earth, spear-headed by an Erling Haaland-shaped weapon of mass destruction.
When not placing last-ditch efforts to thwart Phil Foden and Co, Van Dijk was a cool head on the ball – shock – recording a 97.5 per cent passing accuracy in what’s undoubtedly the most important recreation of the season for his facet.
In a Liverpool facet blighted by accidents and brimming with younger skills, somebody of his composure and calm within the facet main the best way is value three first-team begins match and prepared. It additionally helps that he is most likely the perfect defender on the earth proper now.
Virgil van Dijk put in a superb problem on Phil Foden to disclaim the England star an opportunity
Van Dijk’s consistency and management have served an injury-ravaged Liverpool facet effectively
9. Ollie Watkins (Down Six)
He might need extra aim contributions than anybody else within the Premier League this season, however Ollie Watkins endured a really quiet day trip on Sunday afternoon – one thing that’s changing into a little bit of a collector’s merchandise on the minute.
With 16 objectives and 10 assists to his identify, solely a No 9 of the calibre of Harry Kane has a proper to start out forward of him for England subsequent summer season, however he’ll know that he struggled to make an impression in opposition to Tottenham.
At Luton the week earlier than he had impressed along with his hold-up play and tempo in behind the defence, and in opposition to Ange Postecoglou’s prodigious high-line within the first half he had appeared to get some pleasure.
The choice to sq. the ball in entrance of aim early on reasonably than shoot will certainly hang-out him. Watkins will really feel that he might have contributed extra – perhaps he might have – however that doesn’t take away from a superb season he’s having. He deserved his third-place end final week, and he’ll probably be proper again up there very quickly.
Ollie Watkins struggled to duplicate his feats of final week in opposition to Tottenham in a quiet show
8. Ben White (New Entry)
Arsenal’s No 4 Ben White was signed as a centre again, however is definitely making a case for essentially the most constant proper again within the league. Because the begin of final season, he has solely missed one recreation within the top-flight.
They affectionately name him the Love Island Maldini, however for the time being he’s placing up attacking numbers extra akin to a sure Trent Alexander-Arnold – a aim and two assists coming in his final three video games because the Gunners energy to the highest of the desk.
He arrange each headers within the win over Brentford in a dominant artistic exhibiting from the versatile defender, in addition to having 84 touches of the ball and profitable again possession on six events in a superb efficiency at each ends.
Arsenal have now received all eight of their video games in 2024, and whereas there have been quite a few excessive profile star performers, White’s kind has been an enormous a part of Mikel Arteta’s facet’s return to the highest.
Ben White supplied each assists for the Gunners to take his tally of contributions to a few in his final three
7. Cole Palmer (New Entry)
There is a sure Arsenal midfielder which may have a declare to the perfect signing of the season, however Cole Palmer is definitely second and rising in that record after one more gorgeous show for Chelsea on Monday night time.
His efficiency in opposition to Newcastle noticed him turn into the outright chief this time period for registering a aim and an help in the identical recreation, now doing so on 5 events in 2023-24.
Palmer is among the few shiny sparks to return from an ocean of Chelsea signings within the final 18 months, and has now received 18 contributions in his first time period on the Blues, with solely 5 Chelsea gamers ever doing extra of their debut marketing campaign.
Palmer is quick changing into exhausting to disregard for Gareth Southgate’s first England XI within the Euros this summer season – it looks as if a very long time in the past that we have been even providing his identify up as a shock contender for a seat on the aircraft – and no matter the place Chelsea find yourself this season, he has certainly been some of the thrilling gamers to look at in all the league.
Cole Palmer has continued his already sturdy case to start out on the Euros with a aim and help in opposition to Newcastle
6. Alexis Mac Allister (Up Three)
Since first arriving within the Premier League with Brighton, Alexis Mac Allister has solely missed one penalty from 10, and he got here up with the products in arguably his greatest but on Sunday to equalise in opposition to Manchester Metropolis.
Mac Allister is one other who has a declare to being probably the greatest signings of the season, already exhibiting he’s value no less than double the £35million that Liverpool paid Brighton for his providers over the summer season.
He was arguably the perfect participant on the pitch at Anfield, with two photographs on the right track, eight passes into the ultimate third, 86 touches, 11 recoveries and eight duels received in opposition to the perfect group within the universe.
He has performed as a defensive midfielder, a No 8 and a No 10 at instances this season for Liverpool, however within the final seven video games he has turn into one of many go-to guys within the facet at a time when there is no such thing as a room for error. Seven aim contributions in seven video games let you know all it’s good to know, and Mac Allister is definitely one of many first names on Klopp’s teamsheets on the enterprise finish of this title race of all title races.
Alexis Mac Allister has solely missed one in every of his 10 penalties since arrive to the Premier League
The Argentina worldwide midfielder scored the all-important equaliser from the spot in opposition to Metropolis
5. Bukayo Saka (Down Three)
It is a unusual case certainly while you fall three locations regardless of having what most gamers would think about a superbly good recreation in a 2-1 win, however these are the ridiculous heights that Bukayo Saka has set himself over the previous couple of years.
England’s finest right-sided ahead – most likely – has been the talisman for Arsenal’s title push as soon as once more, Saka did not report a aim or help for simply the third time in his final 11 appearances in all competitions.
That is to not say he was out of the motion on Saturday – he had 13 touches within the opposition field, a 100 per cent dribble success fee, was profitable in 75 per cent of his duels and recovered possession 3 times.
Granted, it wasn’t the Gunners favorite’s most glittering show in assault, however his kind has been so sturdy in the previous couple of video games that he rightfully retains his place within the prime 5 after what most would think about a powerful exhibiting at dwelling to Brentford.
Bukayo Saka could not have scored or assisted for the Gunners however was nonetheless in spectacular kind
4. Phil Foden (Down Three)
In a group that has Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne in it, to say that Phil Foden has been the brightest attacking spark at Man Metropolis in the previous couple of weeks sounds unimaginable, however it is not really removed from the reality.
The England star was No 1 in our record final week, and regardless of a comparatively quiet exhibiting in opposition to Liverpool at Anfield, he’s nonetheless one of many kind gamers within the Premier League proper now.
His final seven outings within the Premier League have seen him plunder seven objectives and an help, as he performs his approach comparatively uncontested for the time being into the left-wing berth within the England group.
Towards Liverpool he solely had a 50 per cent dribble success fee, was dispossessed 4 instances and missed an early huge probability due to some good work from Van Dijk, however that doesn’t take away from the prodigious kind that Foden is in proper now. Anticipate an enormous response subsequent trip in opposition to the Gunners within the league.
Phil Foden was prime of the Energy Rankings final week however a uncommon quiet exhibiting in opposition to Liverpool sees him drop three locations
3. Son Heung-min (New Entry)
Because the begin of 2022, a Tottenham participant has solely ever been concerned in three or extra objectives on six events. All six of these belong to Son Heung-min.
Towards Aston Villa, Son got here up with two assists in addition to an added time third aim as Spurs put the hosts to the sword to chop the hole to 2 factors within the battle for fourth place.
As a captain Son has stepped into each pairs of sneakers vacated by Harry Kane and Hugo Lloris with Spurs performing brilliantly this time period. The truth is you would be forgiven for not realising the management vacuum that has been created within the final two home windows, with long-term presence Eric Dier additionally leaving in January.
Son is among the best attackers on the earth when on kind; devastating tempo, unerring accuracy, and deadly dribbling that allow him rating for enjoyable. Sunday’s staggering exhibiting at Villa ought to function a warning to the remainder of the league with the South Korean star set to finish the season on a frighteningly excessive word.
Son Heung-min has contributed to a few or extra objectives in a single recreation six instances because the begin of 2022 for Tottenham
2. Kai Havertz (Up Two)
There have been some fabulous German gamers within the Premier League through the years – Michael Ballack, Mesut Ozil, Lukas Podolski, Jurgen Klinsmann… Kai Havertz has now finished one thing none of these icons ever managed by scoring in 4 consecutive top-flight video games.
The sounds of Shakira’s Waka Waka are nonetheless echoing by means of the streets of north London as Arsenal followers sing ‘£65m down the drain, Kai Havertz scores once more!’ as soon as once more after his incredible header in opposition to Brentford to finish the 2-1 win that despatched them to the highest of the desk.
He had a tough begin to his Arsenal profession, there isn’t any denying it, however the best way he has bounced again to turn into an important a part of Arteta’s arrange and make that superior midfield position his personal has been spectacular certainly.
The one motive he isn’t prime of the record – aside from one other Gunners star scoring as soon as once more – is that regrettable dive late within the London derby with the Bees. No one desires to see that, game-winning efficiency or not.
Havertz has turn into the primary German participant ever to attain in 4 successive Premier League video games
1. Declan Rice (Up 4)
And so, simply beating his midfield companion to the submit, is Declan Rice who climbs to the highest of the Energy Rankings for the primary time this season, which can shock a couple of given how sensible he has been for Arsenal.
Rice’s highly effective header to open the scoring was simply the primary time ever in his 232 Premier League appearances that he has netted in back-to-back video games as the previous West Ham skipper thrives underneath Arteta’s tutelage on the Emirates.
Declan Rice has scored in back-to-back video games within the Premier League for the primary time ever
The Arsenal star in midfield nonetheless managed to fulfil all his defensive duties whereas having an impression within the closing third
Rice is proving he’s greater than only a midfield enforcer. The addition of Jorginho to the Premier League beginning XI in latest weeks has given him better license to stand up the pitch and impression the sport within the closing third.
Towards Brentford he had 4 touches within the opponent field, in addition to two passes into the ultimate third, and nonetheless managed to exceed all his defensive duties with eight profitable duels, together with six received within the air, and had 4 recoveries and gave away no fouls all through.
In his final 5 Premier League outings, Rice has a formidable three objectives and three assists from midfield and his kind is giving England followers lots to dream about forward of the summer season. A midfield three of Rice, Foden and Jude Bellingham… simply image it for a second and savour the prospect.
With one other aim and one more commanding efficiency over the weekend, Rice is in with a shout for being the perfect participant within the league proper now, and after his ridiculous kind has continued for an additional recreation, he rightly takes prime spot in our Energy Rankings.
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