The Premier League Golden Boot is an annual football award bestowed to the leading goalscorer in the Premier League.

Since the inception of the Premier League in 1992, there have been 26 different players to win the Premier League Golden Boot in the last three decades.

Teddy Sheringham won the inaugural Premier League Golden Boot in 1993. Playing for Tottenham Hotspur, the former England forward netted 22 goals in 41 games to bag the prestigious award.

Later in 1994, Newcastle United’s Andy Cole won the Premier League Golden Boot after he scored 34 goals in 40 games that season.

Alan Shearer then became the first player to win the award in three consecutive seasons. He claimed the Premier League Golden Boot in 1994-95, 1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons.

In 1999, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Dwight Yorke were the first non-English and non-European winners, respectively, when they shared the award with Michael Owen.

Legendary Arsenal striker Thierry Henry has the most Premier League Golden Boot awards. He won the award on four occasions in 2001-02, 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06.

Thierry Henry also became the second player after Alan Shearer to win the award in three successive seasons.

Meanwhile, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland scripted history as he scored the most goals to win the Premier League Golden Boot.

In the 2022-23 season, Erling Haaland won the award after he scored 36 goals in just 35 matches. Haaland once again bagged the award in the 2023-24 season with 27 goals in 31 games.

Former Chelsea forward Nicolas Anelka netted the fewest goals to bag the Golden Boot outright with 19 goals in 2008-09.

However, the all-time record for lowest number of goals scored to be presented the award is 18 goals, which was achieved during the 1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons.

Chris Sutton, Dion Dublin and Michael Owen shared the award with 18 goals in 1998, while the same thing was repeated by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Dwight Yorke and Michael Owen in 1999.

Get Premier League Golden Boot winners list.

Premier League Golden Boot winners list

Season	Player	Club	Goals
1992-93	Teddy Sheringham	Tottenham Hotspur	22
1993-94	Andy Cole	Newcastle United	34
1994-95	Alan Shearer	Blackburn Rovers	34
1995-96	Alan Shearer	Blackburn Rovers	31
1996-97	Alan Shearer	Newcastle United	25
1997-98	Chris Sutton	Blackburn Rovers	18
	Dion Dublin	Coventry City	18
	Michael Owen	Liverpool	18
1998-99	Michael Owen	Liverpool	18
	Dwight Yorke	Manchester United	18
	Jimmy Floyd HasselbainkÂ	Leeds United	18
1999-2000	Kevin Phillips	Sunderland	30
2000-01	Jimmy Floyd HasselbainkÂ	Chelsea	23
2001-02	Thierry HenryÂ	Arsenal	24
2002-03	Ruud van Nistelrooy	Manchester United	25
2003-04	Thierry HenryÂ	Arsenal	30
2004-05	Thierry HenryÂ	Arsenal	25
2005-06	Thierry HenryÂ	Arsenal	27
2006-07	Didier Drogba	Chelsea	20
2007-08	Cristiano Ronaldo	Manchester United	31
2008-09	Nicolas Anelka	Chelsea	19
2009-10	Didier Drogba	Chelsea	29
2010-11	Carlos Tevez	Manchester City	20
	Dimitar Berbatov	Manchester United	20
2011-12	Robin van PersieÂ	Arsenal	30
2012-13	Robin van PersieÂ	Manchester United	26
2013-14	Luis Suárez	Liverpool	31
2014-15	Sergio Agüero	Manchester City	26
2015-16	Harry Kane	Tottenham Hotspur	25
2016-17	Harry Kane	Tottenham Hotspur	29
2017-18	Mohamed SalahÂ	Liverpool	32
2018-19	Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang	Arsenal	22
	Sadio Mané	Liverpool	22
	Mohamed Salah	Liverpool	22
2019-20	Jamie Vardy	Leicester City	23
2020-21	Harry KaneÂ	Tottenham Hotspur	23
2021-22	Mohamed Salah	Liverpool	23
	Son Heung-min	Tottenham Hotspur	23
2022-23	Erling Haaland	Manchester City	36
2023-24	Erling Haaland	Manchester City	27

Most Premier League Golden Boot won by a player

Awards	Player	Seasons
4	Thierry Henry	2001�2, 2003�4, 2004�5, 2005�6
3	Harry Kane	2015�6, 2016�7, 2020�1
3	Mohamed Salah	2017�8, 2018�9, 2021�2
3	Alan Shearer	1994�5, 1995�6, 1996�7
2	Erling Haaland	2022-23, 2023-24
2	Didier Drogba	2006�7, 2009�0
2	Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink	1998�9, 2000�1
2	Michael Owen	1997�8, 1998�9
2	Robin van Persie	2011�2, 2012�3

Photo credit: Alamy

After lesser funds, caused by empty stadiums, and a lack of pre-season have seen some of the big clubs enduring a topsy-turvy first-half to their Premier League campaigns, this winter transfer window couldn't get any more important.

And despite the popular belief that the winter window comes with the scope of doing very little business, history is evident that Premier League clubs have managed some of their best imports in the mid-season window.

Here are five such examples:

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Arsenal (2018)

Before Nicolas Pepe’s �/span>79 million transfer, Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang held the record as Arsenal’s most expensive club signing. A �3.75 million transfer from Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund in January 2018, Aubameyang’s move to north London is fondly remembered as the last transfer activity of Arsene Wenger’s reign.

Aubameyang scored 10 goals in 13 appearances in his debut campaign, and since then, he has become one of the most prolific strikers in the Premier League.

In his second season at the Emirates, the 31-year-old scored 22 goals to share the Golden Boot of the 2018-19 season with Liverpool pair Mohammed Salah and Sadio Mane.

The 2019-20 season is perhaps Aubameyang’s best campaign in an Arsenal shirt, from scoring 22 goals to earning the club captaincy, and then leading the Gunners to a record 14th FA Cup title. In due process, Aubameyang became the first African player in the competition’s history to captain a side in triumph.

The Gabon international currently has netted three times in 15 games and the Arsenal faithful are hopeful their club talisman rediscovers his scoring instincts.

Luis Suarez to Liverpool (2011)

Luis Suarez’s �6.5 million from Ajax was perhaps a significant bargain, and the Uruguayan youngster wasted no time in announcing himself as a Liverpool player.

Close control and quick feet, Suarez gained Liverpool’s attention from his awe-inspiring 2010 World Cup campaign, and he finished his debut season with four goals in 13 games.

While his transfer deal was overshadowed by Fernando Torres��8.5 million move to Chelsea, Suarez made the most of his three-and-a-half-season spell at Anfield with 82 goals for the club in 133 appearances.

The Uruguayan won the Golden Boot Award in the 2013-14 season for scoring an incredible 31 goals in 33 games, whilst leading Liverpool to a second-place finish on the league table.

A two-time Liverpool's Player of the Season, Luis Suarez remains as one of the most gifted attackers to play for the club, and in the Premier League.

Nemanja Vidic to Manchester United (2006)

Sir Alex Ferguson had a keen eye for raw talents, and the �0.50 million signature of Nemanja Vidic from Spartak Moscow elevated the Scotsman’s business capabilities.

Vidic, then 24, partnered Rio Ferdinand, a one-time British record transfer holder, at the heart of the Manchester United defence from 2006 till 2014; and this pairing has gone down as the greatest defensive partnership in Premier League history.

In eight and a half years with the Red Devils, Vidic won 5 Premier League titles, 3 League Cups, the Champions League and the Club World Cup.

Bruno Fernandes to Manchester United (2020)

 

Another impactful January transfer for Manchester United is Bruno Fernandes. A recent recruit for the club, the Portuguese has changed the dynamics of the squad and has brought back the attacking brand of football that was missed at Old Trafford. United paid an overall deal of â‚?8 million to Sporting CP for the 25-year old.

In 30 Premier League games for the 20-time champions, Bruno has contributed 19 goals and 14 assists. The only player in Premier League history to be involved in more goals in their first 30 games is United legend Andrew Cole (37). 

What makes these numbers even special is that Bruno’s exploits have come in midfield. Fernandes has won the Player of the month award as many as six times in nine months, while being crowned the Premier League player of the month thrice.

Bruno Fernandes has been a catalyst for Manchester United’s forward push and is well-placed to turn Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Red Devils into title contenders once again.

Virgil Van Dijk to Liverpool (2018)

After a failed attempt in June 2017, Liverpool returned with a successful bid of â‚?4.65m to sign Virgil Van Dijk from Southampton in 2018. Initially brushed off as a 'waste of money', the deal is now considered as a perfect marriage made in football.

Van Dijk has become a central core of Liverpool’s defence, and his 20 clean sheets in the 2018-19 Premier League campaign was a sheer display of his rock-solid demeanour.

The Dutchman’s ability to read the game and aerial threats during set-pieces has made him one of the top-ranked central defenders in the sporting world, and after leading Liverpool to the 2018-19 Champions League crown, his popularity skyrocketed when he and Liverpool ended their long wait for a Premier League title.

Van Dijk has also won a FIFA Club World Cup and a UEFA Super Cup.

Feature Image Courtesy: AFP / Shaun Botterill

A 3-0 defeat at hands of Aston Villa on Sunday has left Arsenal reeling at 11th in the Premier League table with 12 points from eight games. The defeat, however, wasn't the only highlight from the game at the Emirates as their captain, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang set an unwanted league record of not attempting a single shot on goal for the first time in his Arsenal career.

For someone who has scored 22 goals in each of his last two Premier League season, it was another alarming performance as he has scored a mere two goals in eight league games this campaign. Against Villa though, he certainly wasn't the only one at fault as the team, combined, could only manage two shots on target.

0 - This was the first time Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has played 90 minutes in a Premier League home game without attempting a shot - indeed, Aubameyang was one of only three outfield players who didn't record an attempt for Arsenal in this game. Vanished. pic.twitter.com/QxTXTAYdQb

�OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 8, 2020

Villa took the lead through Bukayo Saka's own goal own in the 25th minute and it the second half was all about Arsenal's frailty, to say the least. New signing Ollie Watkins wreaked havoc by scoring a brace to pile further misery on Arsenal's campaign. Manager Mikel Arteta was certainly left fuming, but took full responsibility of his team's performance.

"First of all congratulations to Aston Villa for the way they played and the victory," he told Sky Sports.

"After that, we performed below our standards and I have to say it's the first time I've seen us play and we weren't a team.

"I take full responsibility. We didn't start well enough, we got away with VAR for an offside situation but we lost all the races, the duels and we were sloppy on the ball.

"When we created chances we didn't hit the target. It's a really bad combination.

"We left spaces and on the counter we looked really vulnerable.

"I take full responsibility. I am responsible to make the team perform on the pitch and today we were not a team and it is my job. It is why I am standing here."

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Andy Rain

Premier League Gameweek 8 brings along another round of exciting fixtures, with the biggest one being Manchester City’s showdown with Liverpool on Sunday. Other games include Manchester United’s trip to Goodison Park to square off against Everton while a free-flowing Leicester City welcome Wolves at King Power Stadium. 

With some high-profile clashes in store, the fantasy managers are bound to have that sweet conundrum while picking their teams for the week. So with that being said, we give you five players that are bound to have an impact for their respective teams:

Player: Hakim Ziyech

Team: Chelsea

Match: Chelsea vs Sheffield United

Sheffield United are one of the three teams that are yet to win a game this season. They travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on Saturday knowing that a point will do a world of good for them. The Blues, on the other hand, are on a goal-scoring streak, notching as many as 10 goals in their last three games, with a certain Hakim Ziyech playing his part in three of them. The Moroccan may have scored a solitary goal in the league this season, but he has well and truly found his footing, and one can expect him to play a big role against Sheffield on Saturday.

Player: Aaron Cresswell

Team: West Ham United

Match: West Ham United vs Fulham

Fulham have shipped in 14 goals this season - third-highest in the league so far - and are rightly prone to conceding more when they face West Ham United away from home. As for the Hammers, they are expected to ride on the back of Aaron Cresswell’s breathtaking form. The 30-year-old full-back has three assists in seven league games and provided 15 successful crosses - a league-high. His deliveries from the touchline or even from the set-pieces are tipped to give you bonus points. If you are hunting for a defender, Cresswell is your man.

Player: Jamie Vardy

Team: Leicester City

Match: Leicester City vs Wolves

Three of Leicester’s last five meetings with Wolves have ended in a 0-0 draw, but two games have seen a total of nine goals, with Diogo Jota’s sensational hat-trick inspiring Wolves to a 4-3 win in January 2019, while a goal from James Maddison guided Leicester to a 2-0 victory in September 2018. And while Jamie Vardy has provided a single assist in these two games, his current form tips him to be the difference on Sunday. The 33-year-old has bagged six goals and an assist in his last five appearances, meaning that he is certain to be a menace for the Wolves defence which has conceded just eight goals in the league (second-lowest) so far.

Player: Raheem Sterling

Team: Manchester City

Match: Manchester City vs Liverpool

In arguably the biggest showdown of the week, expect Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling to grab the headlines one way or another. Manchester City vs Liverpool has produced a whopping 18 goals in their last five meetings and it is safe to say that the games have duly lived up to their billing. As for Sterling, he was on target the last time these two met, which saw a thumping 4-0 win for Manchester City. While he has struggled to live up to the potential he has set for himself, being a former Red, Sterling will want to be on the scoresheet once again.

Player: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Team: Arsenal

Match: Arsenal vs Aston Villa

Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ended his goalless run against Manchester United last week. Sure, he has struggled to be amongst goals this season, but you just cannot write him off. Arsenal host Aston Villa on Sunday (Monday as per IST), and the Gabonese will certainly be the one his team will build their attack around, and thus, we put our punt on the 31-year-old. With Villa conceding seven goals in their last two outings, Arteta will want Aubameyang to step up and pile further misery on their fate.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Shaun Botterill

Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, on Tuesday, signed a three-year contract extension with the club, finally putting an end to the countless rumours of his potential departure from London.

Aubameyang, who joined Arsenal in January 2018 for a then club-record £56m, is expected to earn a whopping £250,000-a-week with further performance-related bonuses on top. The 31-year-old Gabon forward had less than a year left in his previous deal and was constantly linked with a move away from from the Emirates, with La Liga side Barcelona tipped to be a potential destination. 

A new contract, however, was established after the Gunners agreed to his demands of having a three-year contract on top of a £250,000-a-week wage pack. He will receive further bonuses if Arsenal qualify for the Champions League or if he wins the Premier League Golden Boot between now and the end of his new deal in 2023.

"I've seen incredible players. Passionate players. Invincible players. I dream of being one of them, amongst the best, and staying in the hearts of the fans forever," Aubameyang said.

"I want to become an Arsenal legend, just like Thierry, Wrighty, Adams and Bergkamp. Too many to mention.

"My dad is my biggest inspiration and he was captain of his club and his country, so it means so much to me to be the captain of this special club. I want to leave a legacy, this is where I belong. This is my family."

The news comes as a huge sigh of relief for the club, which looks set on the path of progression under their young manager, Mikel Arteta. Meanwhile, the fans were ecstatic as soon as the news was announced and this is how they are reacting to it:

Waking up seeing my captain @Aubameyang7 everywhere, the best feeling ever. Da ting was signed pic.twitter.com/SE5jYyq6Wo

�NAIROBI Gunner (@keyahmark) September 16, 2020

Agent Wrightyyyy @IanWright0 @Aubameyang7 are legends pic.twitter.com/KwewWeiheO

�Ben W �(@TescoTierney_3) September 15, 2020

Our captain, showing his loyalty to our football club.

Thank you @Aubameyang7! pic.twitter.com/1e5x23l7NQ

�The Lord Of The Wings (@WhyUfikeLate) September 15, 2020

Love this quote. True Captain @Aubameyang7 pic.twitter.com/89zHXJoDLq

�Vangelis (@mungAFC) September 15, 2020

HE SIGNED DA TING! �

Our captain is here to stay!

Thank you @Aubameyang7 pic.twitter.com/klRHBwYPCv

�Salman Haadi (@SalmanHaadi2) September 15, 2020

Finally @Aubameyang7
Been a long wait @Arsenal

�Jagdish Pant (@jagdishpant14) September 15, 2020

We cannot ask for more.
I'm a proud @Arsenal fan.
Thank you @Aubameyang7 pic.twitter.com/57Lu2jhrF0

�Anthonyolaford (@anthonyolaford) September 15, 2020

Thank you @Aubameyang7 for not doing @cesc4official & @Persie_Official.

�Boomgooner (@tadgooner) September 15, 2020

With the start of the new Premier League campaign just a day away, you can rest assured that fantasy managers from around world will be spending a lot of time on their Fantasy Premier League (FPL) team in a bid to strike the right balance. Here, we have decided to assess some of the safest options who will guarantee returns more often than not over the course of the season.

Nick Pope �5.5m

Nick Pope finished last season as the top goal-keeper in FPL with 170 points after keeping 15 clean sheets for Burnley. Part of the PFA Team of the Year last season, Pope’s consistency between the post suggests that he can be expected to have another strong season, especially with a stubborn backline in front him, which is rarely left found wanting. Pope also topped the bonus points system (BPS) in FPL among shot-stoppers last season and at just 5.5m, he makes for a smart acquisition to have in your squad.

• Fantasy Premier League 2020-21: Bargain buys

Trent Alexander-Arnold �7.5m

Trent Alexander-Arnold doesn’t seem to be on an even playing field with other defenders thanks to his exquisite vision and passing range that makes him a constant creator of chances. He finished top among defenders with 210 FPL points last campaign �29 more points than the next best defender. Besides all the clean sheets that he notches up being a part of Liverpool’s defence, what sets him apart is his ability to pick out a pass as his 15 assists last season �a Premier League record for defenders �suggests. Add his penchant for goal-scoring to that, especially from dead-ball situations, and having Alexander-Arnold in your team becomes a no-brainer.

Kevin De Bruyne �11.5m

The 2019-20 Premier League Player of the Season, Manchester City and Belgian playmaker Kevin De Bruyne is arguably the best midfielder in the world right now. A supremely talented and technically gifted player, De Bruyne is simply a must-have in any team owing to his ability to be constantly involved in the attacking-third, where he makes things happen. He picked up 251 FPL points last season after making 13 goals and tying Thierry Henry’s assists record having set up a further 20 goals. With Manchester City and De Bruyne desperate to bring back the Premier League crown to the blue half of the city, expect the Belgian midfielder to have another strong season.

• Fantasy Focus: Top picks from the first week of the Premier League

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang �12m

A smart candidate to captain your FPL team in the first gameweek with Arsenal travelling to newly-promoted Fulham, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be relishing his opportunity to start the season by hitting the ground running against their London rivals. Aubameyang has managed 205 FPL points in each of the last two seasons and could exceed that total in the new campaign in a more fluid and cohesive Arsenal unit under manager Mikel Arteta. He’s scored 22 league goals in each of the last two seasons and the fact that he’s been moved into midfield options for the new campaign means that he will pick up extra points for goals and clean sheets.

Mohamed Salah �12m

After his below-par spell with Chelsea and since returning to the Premier League from AS Roma to Liverpool, Mohamed Salah has set the Premier League ablaze, which in turn makes him a fantasy favourite. He’s scored 303, 259 and 233 FPL points in his three seasons back in the Premier League and doesn’t look like slowing down anytime soon. Last season saw him score 19 goals and provide 10 assists in the league but Salah will be determined to finish the upcoming campaign with even better numbers since his overall goal involvement was marginally less than that of his first two seasons with Liverpool.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Glyn Kirk

2019-20 finish: 8th (14W-14D-10L, 56 points)

Head coach: Mikel Arteta

2019-20 Premier League top scorer: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (22 PL goals)

Other trophies: FA Cup, FA Community Shield

The 2019-20 Premier League season was the worst for Arsenal if their performances in the last 25 years of Premier League are considered. The Gunners finished eighth last season and that was their lowest finish since ending up as the 12th-placed team in the 1994-95 season. They were on a horrible run of form during the initial part of the season and that's why manager Unai Emery was sacked as well.

However, there was some improvement seen once Mikel Arteta took over as the Arsenal manager and they recorded impressive wins over Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool late in the season as well. Their FA Cup and FA Community Shield victories only served as an affirmation of that improvement and thus it can be said that there are only better things in store for them as far as the forthcoming season is considered.

Issues Arsenal faced last season

Arsenal had two major problems last season. One was the vulnerability of their defence and the other was their overdependence on Aubameyang for scoring.

The Gunners had conceded 48 goals in the 2019-20 season which was the third-worst among the sides who finished inside the top 10. Only Chelsea (54) and Sheffield United (50) had conceded more goals than Arsenal. The defenders were slow at times or made pretty silly mistakes which saw them conceding at crucial moments in the games.

Their overdependence on Aubameyang cost them a lot as well. Alexandre Lacazette was completely out of form, Mesut Ozil was well past his prime and Nicholas Pepe was misfiring big time as well. Apart from Aubameyang, they had no reliable options who could score consistently. Moreover, they had no driving force in the midfield as well, which increased their woes even more.

Have the Gunners addressed their gremlins?

Arteta has been seen making efforts to strengthen their defence this summer. He acquired the services of Brazilian defender Gabriel Magalhaes for a reported fee of $33 million from Lille. 19-year-old defender William Saliba, who was acquired last season for a reported fee of $34 million from Saint-Etienne and then sent back on loan again, is back after completing his loan spell too. Moreover, the loan deals of Cedric Soares and Pablo Mari have been made permanent as well.

To improve their attacking play, Arteta has brought Brazilian winger Willian from Chelsea on free transfers. Willian specialises in set-pieces and can play as a creative force in the midfield too. During his stint of seven years with Chelsea, Willian won five major trophies. Moreover, he is coming to the Emirates Stadium on the back of an excellent outing in the 2019-20 Premier League season as well.

The 32-year-old scored nine goals and assisted seven times in the last Premier League season. His experience will be quite valuable for Arsenal as young players like Bukayo Saka, Eddie Nketiah, who impressed with their performances towards the end of the last season, can learn a lot from him.

Prediction for 2020/21 season

With major issues fixed and more experience added to the squad, Arsenal look primed for a top six finish. And if they can keep up their consistency for longer lengths throughout the season, they can even finish as one of the top four teams. One major challenge for Arteta, though, will be to keep Aubameyang with the club. He is a hot prospect in the transfer market and it remains to be seen how the management handles his situation.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Justin Tallis

The 2020/21 season of the Premier League marks its return this Saturday, with as many as six games being lined up for the weekend. With Manchester City and Manchester United having played their part in the European competitions last season, their respective games against Aston Villa and Burnley have been postponed.

So as things stand, the league kicks off with Fulham taking on FA Cup champions Arsenal at home, followed by Crystal Palace and West Ham hosting Southampton and Newcastle United respectively. Leeds United travel to Liverpool to face the defending champions, while Leicester and Everton play away to West Brom and Tottenham respectively.

That said, the fantasy managers are certain to be in a dilemma as far as picking the right players, and thus, here we give you five names that are most likely to give you maximum points.

Player: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Team: Arsenal

Match: Fulham vs Arsenal

Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is the man in form. The 31-year-old, in fact, is coming off the back of scoring five goals and an assist in his last three appearances, which includes an FA Cup final against Chelsea and the Community Shield game against Liverpool.

Having scored 22 goals in 36 league matches last season, Aubameyang is one to keep a keen eye on this campaign. The Gabon international is certain to make an impact against Fulham, be it through a goal or even an assist, and thus, a must-have player in your team.

Player: Allan Saint-Maximin

Team: Newcastle United

Match: West Ham United vs Newcastle United

Versatile forward Allan Saint-Maximin has given his team Newcastle United a whole new edge altogether. Blessed with extremely impressive dribbling capabilities, and delivering defence-splitting passes, the 23-year-old is sure to be an absolute threat to West Ham United on Saturday.

The young Frenchman was recently on target during his side’s training game against Middlesbrough at Rockliffe Park, and you can expect nothing less from him when the league resumes. 

Player: Pablo Hernandez

Team: Leeds United

Match: Liverpool vs Leeds

Nine goals and as many assists in 36 Championship games last season made midfielder Pablo Hernandez one of the main reasons why Leeds achieved promotion to the Premier League. Playing in the heart of his team’s midfield, or sometimes even out wide, Hernandez will be the one his team will count on if they are to take anything positive from their away trip to Liverpool.

Known for delivering cutting through-balls and having a go at goal from distance, expect the 35-year-old to play a massive role in Leeds�attempt at causing an upset in their tournament opener.

Player: Jamie Vardy

Team: Leicester City

Match: West Brom vs Leicester

For someone who has committed a long-term future to the club, a goalscoring start would be an ideal way to kick off the new season. The top scorer of the 2019/20 season, striker Jamie Vardy is rightly tipped to be on target as his team face newly-promoted side West Brom away from home.

A man who has carried Leicester in the league since their promotion in 2014, Vardy ended the previous campaign as one of the top points-getters in the fantasy league, and you can expect more of the same on Sunday.

Player: Son Heung-Min

Team: Tottenham Hotspur

Match: Tottenham vs Everton

Tottenham’s Son Heung-Min has enjoyed relatively decent outings against Everton of late. He was, in fact, on target twice when Tottenham registered their last victory over the Toffees (December 2018) prior to the 2019/20 season. 

Tottenham taking Everton has been a feisty encounter, to say the least, as both teams have managed to cancel each other out some way or the other. As for the South Korean, he has bagged three goals in as many friendlies for his side recently, and he would want to build on the momentum by delivering what is expected of him against Everton.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Owen Humphreys

Brazil great Romario once said, �/span>Strikers are egotists, selfish. We have to be.�This particular utterance may sound bumptious to many, yet the fact remains that these men are solely judged on the statistics they deliver.

European football, this season, was profoundly impacted by the momentous consequences of the global pandemic but it managed to deliver what was promised. For once, the world witnessed someone other than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo topping the goal-scoring chart, with Lazio’s Ciro Immobile pipping the duo by bagging 36 league goals.

In that context, a certain Robert Lewandowski was at his lethal best for the record Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich. We have had as many as 11 players who crossed the 20-goal mark across the English Premier League, the Italian Serie A, the Spanish La Liga and the German Bundesliga. So, to put things in perspective, and figure out who has been at the deadliest from the lot, we compare all these men across several facets like conversion rate and average shots per game to name a few to obtain a crystallised picture in front of us.

Note: Only the players to score 20 or more league goals are taken into account.

Only league appearances are considered, not the European figures.

Players from the French Ligue 1 have been excluded, given that the league ended prematurely.

Conversion rate

This particular attribute distinguishes how deadly a striker can be with his attempts. It is often said that the best strikers are those who can capitalise on the situations when expectations are least. 

Speaking in that context, a certain Jamie Vardy of Leicester City tops the chart with a conversion rate of 30.26. Having notched 23 goals and five assists in the 2019/20 Premier League season, the England forward attempted a total of 70 shots, with 43 of them being on target.

Up next comes a surprising entrant; Sassuolo’s Francesco Caputo who scored 21 and assisted a further seven. The 33-year-old had a mere 58 attempts, least amongst those who have scored at least 12 goals in the Serie A season but was on target on 35 occasions, completing his tenure with a conversion rate of 30.

Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski made heads spin with a return of 34 goals and four assists. In a total of 2762 minutes played in the league, the Polish striker attempted a total of 114 shots (64 on target), maintaining a healthy rate of 25.76. 

Lazio’s Ciro Immobile stole the limelight with an exhilarating tally of 36 goals and nine assists. Having had 71 shots on target from an attempted 119, the Italian marksman finished with a rate of 25.71.

Inter’s Romelu Lukaku had a fantastic season under Antonio Conte, who also tried signing the big Belgian during his time at Chelsea. And now that the pair are working together, the former Manchester United striker finished with a figure of 23 goals and two assists, converting his 75 attempts at a rate of 24.47.

You might be wondering where the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are in the list. Well, rightly so, but brace yourself for an utter disappointment as the duo finishes on the bottom of the table. 

Messi, who had a contribution in 46 league goals (25 goals and 21 assists), found the target on 71 occasions from 115 attempts, while Ronaldo, who bagged 31 goals and five assists, attempted a whopping 142 shots, with 80 being on target. The duo, however, returns a conversion rate of 14.67 (Messi) and 15.58 (Ronaldo).

Player	Goals/assists	Total Shots/On Target	Conversion rate
Jamie Vardy	23/5	71/43	30.26
Francesco Caputo	21/7	58/35	30
Robert Lewandowski	34/4	114/69	25.76
Ciro Immobile	36/9	119/71	25.71
Romelu Lukaku	23/2	75/47	24.47
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang	22/3	70/42	24.44
Danny Ings	22/2	66/38	24.14
Timo Werner	28/8	100/64	23.53
Karim Benzema	21/8	107/60	18.33
Cristiano Ronaldo	31/5	142/80	15.58
Lionel Messi	25/21	115/71	14.67

Meanwhile, those between 20 and 25 are the likes of Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (24.44), Southampton’s Danny Ings (24.14), former RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner (23.53). Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema, for his part, carried a conversion rate of 18.33.

Minutes per goal

Robert Lewandowski and Ciro Immobile once again enter the top half of the tally, having had minutes-per-goal ratios of 81 and 88 respectively in their leagues. The duo put together, has scored a whopping 70 goals and 13 assists between them, which is, with all due respect, more than what Watford and Norwich combined to score (62) in the 2019/20 Premier League season. Deleterious with the ball at their feet, the pair averaged 4.5 and 3.8 shots respectively per game. 

While both Messi and Ronaldo have been at the bottom in terms of conversion, their average of shots per game shows why they are considered as two of the best footballers of the current generation. The Portuguese, who found the back of the net every 94 minutes, took 6.3 shots per game in Serie A, most by any player in the list. The Barcelona frontman, on the other hand, comes second with 4.8 with a figure of 115 minutes per goal.

Player	Minutes per goal	Shots per game
Robert Lewandowski	81	4.5
Ciro Immobile	88	3.8
Cristiano Ronaldo	94	6.3
Timo Werner	100	3.6
Lionel Messi	115	4.8
Danny Ings	128	2.4
Romelu Lukaku	130	2.8
Jamie Vardy	132	2.5
Francesco Caputo	140	2
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang	143	2.6
Karim Benzema	150	3.4

As shown in the list, Karim Benzema, who carried Real Madrid on several occasions en route to winning the La Liga title, took 150 minutes to score a goal. A figure that lowly, however, is compensated by 3.4 shots per game.

And perhaps to no one's surprise, Chelsea’s newest acquisition Timo Werner sits fourth with a figure of 100 minutes per goal. His average of 3.6 shots per game, though, is one of the best in the tally. 

Jamie Vardy and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang acquire the bottom spots, which well and truly resonates how fiery the English Premier League can be.

Shots from different areas

Strikers are judged on how efficient they are when not on the ball. Their clever movement of getting into the scoring position is exactly what makes them noxious, and this particular area we are about to scout explore shows how effective these 11 players have been from different parts of the field, like scoring from outside the box, around the penalty area and from the six-yard box.

Starting off with the European golden boot winner, Ciro Immobile, the Lazio striker has bagged a solitary goal from outside the box from 27 attempts. From around the penalty area though, he has attempted a whopping 112 shots (second-best in the list), converting 34 of them, followed by one from the six-yard box.

There are only two players - Karim Benzema and Francesco Caputo - who failed to score a goal from outside of the box. Benzema’s goal against Real Valladolid in August 2019 though came right from the edge of the box, and thus it is quite debatable.

Player	Shots from outside of box/goals	Conversion rate from outside of box	Shots from penalty area/goals	Shots from six-yard box/goals	Conversion rate from inside box	Penalty Goals
Ciro Immobile	27/1	16.67	112/34	3/1	55.56	14
Cristiano Ronaldo	81/2	11.76	115/25	12/4	49.15	11
Romelu Lukaku	15/1	25	73/18	11/4	51.16	6
Francesco Caputo	3/0	0	65/16	5/5	58.33	2
Robert Lewandowski	20/1	20	104/29	14/4	55.93	5
Timo Werner	18/3	20	99/22	6/3	46.55	3
Lionel Messi	84/9	26.92	66/14	9/2	37.5	5
Karim Benzema	25/0	0	86/19	13/2	37.93	5
Jamie Vardy	9/1	50	70/17	10/5	55	4
Danny Ings	15/4	60	61/11	17/7	54.55	1
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang	24/2	25	60/18	9/2	55.26	2

However, the highest amount of goals from outside, as a majority of us can expect, has come from Lionel Messi, who notched nine from a whopping 84 attempts.

Robert Lewandowski, being a poacher, has found the net on 29 occasions from the penalty area in 104 attempts. Meanwhile, the best conversion rate from the six-yard box comes from Caputo, who has put the ball into the net in all of his five attempts.

Versatility

All of these 11 players have shown extreme athleticism, and that is duly illustrated by the fact that how potent they have been even with their weaker foot or even their strong presence in the air. In this distinction, we will look at how many shots each player has taken from their right foot, left foot and with their head, before they found the net.

Considering the ability to score with the weaker foot, Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy has scored nine, while Southampton’s Danny Ings and Sassuolo’s Francesco Caputo have scored eight. The likes of Lionel Messi and Romelu Lukaku are the only left-footed attackers in the list, and the duo has scored two and four goals respectively from their weaker right foot.

As far as headers are concerned, Robert Lewandowski has notched eight goals by rising high, while Timo Werner and Messi are the only forwards who failed to score a headed goal in the 2019/20 league season.

Player	Right foot shots/goals	Left foot shots/goals	Headed attempts/goals
Lewandowski	73/23	24/3	39/8
Werner	92/23	21/5	10/0
Francesco Caputo	35/11	29/8	9/2
Cristiano Ronaldo	126/24	51/5	31/2
Ciro Immobile	95/28	28/6	19/2
Romelu Lukaku	20/4	58/15	20/4
Jamie Vardy	34/11	37/9	18/3
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang	67/16	17/3	9/3
Danny Ings	55/13	21/8	17/1
Karim Benzema	69/14	30/4	24/2
Lionel Messi	12/2	142/23	5/0

And for the second time running, both Ronaldo and Messi have oozed class by having 126 and 142 attempts respectively with their stronger foot. 

Note: Stats taken from whoscored, BBC, transfermarkt, one-versus-one and understat

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Ander Gillenea, Sven Hoppe, Marco Bertorello

Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 thanks to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's brace in the FA Cup final on Saturday, and we look at three things we learned from the Wembley clash:

Irreplacable Aubameyang

In what could be his last game for Arsenal, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang showed why the Gunners must do everything in their power to keep the Gabon forward.

The 31-year-old is out of contract at the end of next season and has been linked with a move amid reports he wants to play for a club in the Champions League.

Coach Mikel Arteta insists Aubameyang wants to stay, but he also conceded winning the FA Cup would be a useful way to show him the club are heading in the right direction.

1 - Mikel Arteta is the first Arsenal manager to win a major trophy in their first season in charge of the club since George Graham in 1986-87. Natural. #FACupFinal #ARSCHE pic.twitter.com/UX3B0t36K3

�OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 1, 2020

Arsenal did their part and it was Aubameyang who provided the crucial cutting edge.

The first African player to start an FA Cup final as captain, Aubameyang became the second-oldest player to score for Arsenal in the showpiece.

With Arsenal trailing to Christian Pulisic's early goal, Aubameyang's blistering break left Cesar Azpilicueta trailing in his wake.

Azpilicueta responded by tugging at Aubameyang's shoulder and the forward made the most of the contact as he tumbled in the area to win a penalty that he dispatched with a ruthless efficiency.

31y 44d - @Aubameyang7 is the oldest player to score for Arsenal in an FA Cup final since 1932, when Bob John netted for the Gunners against Newcastle (33y 80d). Expertise. #FACupFinal #ARSCHE pic.twitter.com/2MNYzydJ2M

�OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 1, 2020

Aubameyang won the German Cup with Borussia Dortmund in 2017, scoring the winning goal from the penalty spot.

Once again, he would be the star, but this time it was his skill and improvisation that proved decisive as he jinked past Kurt Zouma and clipped a fine finish over Willy Caballero in the 67th minute.

Chelsea hamstrung by Pulisic injury

Christian Pulisic had emerged as a key figure for Chelsea since the hiatus, but a day that started on a high for the United States winger ended in agony.

It has been that kind of turbulent season for Pulisic, whose first year with Chelsea started slowly amid injuries and poor form before bursting into life.

He was on the scoresheet after just five minutes, with his 11th goal of the season.

1 - @cpulisic_10 is the first American player to score in an FA Cup final, while it was Chelsea's quickest goal in the final of the competition since Roberto Di Matteo in 1997 (first minute v Middlesbrough). Blocks. #FACupFinal #ARSCHE pic.twitter.com/QKOM5AiOqn

�OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 1, 2020

Drifting into central midfield to take possession, Pulisic slipped a precise pass to Mason Mount and carried on his run into the Arsenal penalty area, where he took Olivier Giroud's flick and slotted past Emiliano Martinez.

Pulisic was the first American to score in the FA Cup final but disaster struck in the 49th minute when he raced away for a shot that was interrupted when he felt his hamstring twang.

Immediately grabbing the injured area, Pulisic was helped off the pitch.

38 �At 38 years and 308 days, @willy_caballero is the oldest ever player to play in an FA Cup final for Chelsea. Vintage. #FACupFinal #ARSCHE pic.twitter.com/ulCgcfKJps

�OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 1, 2020

Without the pace of Pulisic to keep Arsenal's defence on the back foot, Frank Lampard's side were bereft of a cutting edge in the final third as the trophy slipped from their grasp.

Arteta bolsters growing reputation

Mikel Arteta enhanced his reputation as one of the Premier League's brightest young managers with another tactical masterclass.

Having out-witted his mentor Pep Guardiola in Arsenal's FA Cup semi-final success against Manchester City, Arteta showed his acumen again to leave Chelsea boss Frank Lampard out of answers.

Arteta's use of long passes into the channels behind Chelsea's two attacking full-backs exposed the flaw in Lampard's defensive system and led directly to Aubameyang's equaliser.

5 - Excluding home games, @Aubameyang7 is only the fifth player to score 2+ goals in a match at Wembley Stadium in club football more than once, after @IanWright0, Bryan Robson, Ian Rush and Eric Cantona. Quintet. #FACupFinal #ARSCHE pic.twitter.com/ObCGu9mXwe

�OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 1, 2020

Leading Arsenal to their 14th FA Cup success -- which brings them a place in next season's Europa League -- showed the 38-year-old Spaniard is the man to restore the club's tattered reputation.

Arsenal may have endured their lowest league finish for a quarter of a century this season as Arteta battled to steady the ship following Unai Emery's sacking in December.

But he has won over his players with a direct approach to discipline -- banishing malcontents Mesut Ozil and Matteo Guendouzi -- and his astute game-plans.

Winning the FA Cup will buy Arteta time to continue his rebuild and it was fitting his first trophy as Arsenal manager came in the tournament that brought the last major silverware of Gunners legend Arsene Wenger's reign.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Adam Davy