Watching a footballer dribble around an opponent has always been one of the most exhilarating sights in the sport.
And many players still give fans that thrill by putting a defender put on his backside.
Every team requires a member of the squad who can provide a take-on when needed, either to get out of trouble in midfield or to start an attack.
So we’ve had a look at every Premier League’s club’s take-on merchant, focusing on the player from each side with the most successful dribbles per 90 minutes this season, with the requirement that they must have played over 90 minutes.
Arsenal
Aaron Ramsey
Minutes played: 256
Successful take-ons per 90 minutes: 2.11
Ramsey is often responsible for transitioning Arsenal’s play from the midfield into the final third, so it makes sense that he tops the Gunners’ list.
Bournemouth
Joshua King
Minutes played: 348
Successful take-ons per 90 minutes: 2.07
King trails Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser in Bournemouth’s goalscoring charts so far this term, but the striker is Dean Court’s finest dribbler.
Brighton & Hove Albion
Yves Bissouma
Minutes played: 140
Successful take-ons per 90 minutes: 3.21
A summer arrival from Lille, Bissouma has only been used as a substitute for Brighton so far. His impressive take-on numbers may soon earn him a starting spot, though.
Burnley
Jeff Hendrick
Minutes played: 294
Successful take-ons per 90 minutes: 1.22
Burnley aren’t a side full of flair, and the fact Hendrick has completed more dribbles than any other Clarets player speaks to the team’s approach and personnel.
Cardiff City
Bobby Reid
Minutes played: 207
Successful take-ons per 90 minutes: 2.17
Yet to score for his new club since joining from Bristol City, Reid has at least contributed in the take-on department and could still prove to be a useful addition for the Bluebirds.
Chelsea
Eden Hazard
Minutes played: 223
Successful take-ons per 90 minutes: 5.65
The Premier League’s dribble king has a new challenger, as you’ll discover by scrolling down. Hazard remains a master of the craft, however, as he continues to terrorise Premier League defences.
Crystal Palace
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Minutes played: 255
Successful take-ons per 90 minutes: 2.47
Wan-Bissaka’s fine start to the season was halted by a red card against Liverpool, but the flying full-back could soon find himself pushing for a place in the England squad.
Everton
Richarlison
Minutes played: 213
Successful take-ons per 90 minutes: 1.27
Richarlison will be hoping to stay at the top of a more important chart – Everton’s leading scorers – for the remainder of the season, instead of fading like he did for Watford last term.
Fulham
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa
Minutes played: 176
Successful take-ons per 90 minutes: 2.05
The record-breaking deadline-day arrival has the potential to be a vital cog in the heavy-spending Fulham machine, and his take-ons will give them a good platform to work from in midfield.
Huddersfield Town
Adama Diakhaby
Minutes played: 176
Successful take-ons per 90 minutes: 1.02
One of two players named Adama on this list, Diakhaby is the lowest scoring dribbler here, a far cry from his namesake. Keep scrolling…
Leicester City
Demarai Gray
Minutes played: 336
Successful take-ons per 90 minutes: 2.68
With Riyad Mahrez gone, there is more pressure on keen dribbler Gray to create chances and provide entertainment from the flanks for Leicester this term.
Liverpool
Roberto Firmino
Minutes played: 338
Successful take-ons per 90 minutes: 2.4
Tasked with fashioning chances for his lethal attacking teammates and producing goals himself, it helps that Firmino knows how to take on a defender.
Manchester City
Raheem Sterling
Minutes played: 262
Successful take-ons per 90 minutes: 2.4
Dribbling has perhaps always been Sterling’s strong point, and he added to his repertoire with some fine finishing for City last season.
Manchester United
Paul Pogba
Minutes played: 353
Successful take-ons per 90 minutes: 1.78
When he’s in the mood, Pogba can stride past opponents as if they aren’t there. If he can do that consistently this season, he might fulfil his huge potential at Old Trafford.
Newcastle United
Kenedy
Minutes played: 234
Successful take-ons per 90 minutes: 3.85
Only two players on the list trump Kenedy, whose forward-thinking nature is particularly important in a team managed by Rafael Benitez.
Southampton
Nathan Redmond
Minutes played: 360
Successful take-ons per 90 minutes: 2.5
In an out of the team last term, the fleet-footed Redmond is aiming to make himself a more useful member of the group for Mark Hughes this year.
Tottenham Hotspur
Lucas Moura
Minutes played: 338
Successful take-ons per 90 minutes: 1.6
Moura’s surprisingly good start to the season was encapsulated by his display against Manchester United at Old Trafford, where he repeatedly left the hosts’ defenders for dead.
Watford
Roberto Pereyra
Minutes played: 356
Successful take-ons per 90 minutes: 2.02
One of the standout players for high-flying Watford, Pereyra is showing glimpses of the player that saw Juventus sign him earlier in his career.
West Ham United
Jack Wilshere
Minutes played: 334
Successful take-ons per 90 minutes: 2.69
Wilshere is always keen to start attacks by hopping past a midfielder and driving into the final third, although he’s been unable to help West Ham pick up a point so far. The Hammers midfielder is yet to fail with an attempt.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Adama Traore
Minutes played: 91
Successful take-ons per 90 minutes: 11.87
Beware, players of the Premier League, Adama Traoré is coming and he *will* dribble past you.
https://t.co/M1SLhg8pOl
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) August 7, 2018
Is Traore set to steal Hazard’s crown? The rapid winger hasn’t started a league game for Wolves yet, making his numbers all the more ridiculous.
He even scored his first goal to help silence his ‘end product’ critics.
The post Who is every Premier League club’s most prolific take-on merchant? appeared first on Squawka News.
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