Cast your vote for the Premier League’s best attacking midfielder.
Here are our picks for the best ten attacking midfielders in the English top tier, on the final page you will find our poll, vote for your favourite as we look to put together a ‘Premier League Best XI’
Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle)
A bargain signing at just £4m back in 2011, Newcastle’s Yohan Cabaye has developed into a fine attacking midfield player. The skillful Frenchman’s performances saw him become a strong transfer target for Arsenal and PSG during the summer, and he has become a regular feature in the French national team since his move to St James’ Park. Known for his great technique, passing and long range shots, Cabaye continues to impress for Newcastle this season with 2 goals and 1 assist in seven games so far.
Christian Eriksen (Tottenham)
One of many exciting signings made by Tottenham this summer, Christian Eriksen looks a great purchase at just £11.5m, joining the White Hart Lane after establishing himself as one of the best young players in the world during his time in the Eredivisie with Ajax. An intelligent and creative playmaker, Eriksen looks to have settled in quickly in English football, and could help ease the loss of Gareth Bale, who left for Real Madrid in the summer. Still only 21, there is plenty of time for Eriksen to become a great in the game, though he already looks up there with the best attacking midfielders in the Premier League.
Oscar (Chelsea)
After a highly promising first season for Chelsea, Brazilian starlet Oscar looks even better this time round, with a fantastic start to life under new manager Jose Mourinho. The returning Blues boss has entrusted the 22-year-old to be his main number ten so far this season, and Oscar has responded brilliantly with 5 goals and 2 assists in 12 appearances. With quick feet and a blistering long range shot, Oscar is the perfect attacking midfielder and is an absolute joy to watch on his day. There has been some controversy about him keeping Juan Mata out of the side, but in fairness, he has probably been Chelsea’s best player so far this season, and definitely one of the best in the Premier League.
Coutinho (Liverpool)
Another highly impressive young player making great progress in the Premier League is Liverpool’s Coutinho, who has been an excellent signing from Inter Milan since he moved to Anfield in January. The 21-year-old, much like Chelsea’s Oscar, just looks a typically skillful and exciting Brazilian attacker, with all the hallmarks of a great attacking midfielder. It didn’t take long for Coutinho to settle into Premier League life, looking like a perfect component to Brendan Rodgers’ side’s attacking philosophy almost straight away. Injuries have disrupted his progress this season, but Liverpool will be eager to have him back in the side soon.
Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal)
One of the revelations of the season, Aaron Ramsey is a transformed player for Arsenal this year, with some exceptional individual displays to fire the Gunners to the top of the table after nine games. The Welsh midfielder has been played in a variety of roles in the past, but looks to have found his best form further forward this season, as he is currently Arsenal’s top scorer with nine goals in all competitions. The 22-year-old also leads the Premier League assists chart alongside his team-mate Olivier Giroud with 4 goals laid on for his team-mates. His recent Zidane-like goal against Norwich City is an example of just how far he’s come and how much more confident he is looking now after a difficult couple of years following his career-threatening injury.
David Silva (Manchester City)
There are signs this season that Manchester City’s David Silva is getting back to his best, after looking incredibly jaded for much of last year as City struggled to create enough chances for their forward players. Still, 5 goals and 13 assists from a player not quite at his best is still highly impressive, and there’s no doubt that Silva is one of the best in the business at passing the ball, whether it is in typical Spanish ‘tiki-taka’ fashion, or to thread through a team-mate. With 2 goals and 3 assists so far this term, City will be hoping Silva can continue to reach the kind of form that saw him become one of the best players in the Premier League back in the club’s title-winning campaign of 2011/12.
Santi Cazorla (Arsenal)
A great signing by Arsenal last summer, Santi Cazorla immediately looked like one of the best attacking players in the Premier League when he made the move from La Liga side Malaga. The Spaniard is one of many talented midfield players from that part of the world at the moment, and fits Arsenal’s technical and free-flowing playing style perfectly. With 12 goals and 12 assists, Cazorla certainly enjoyed a great first season in England, and although he has missed some of the start of this season through injury, he will surely be a highly influential player for the club again as they look to end their long wait for silverware.
Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
Rated as one of the best young players in the world during his time in France with Lille, Eden Hazard did not disappoint when he finally made the step up to Premier League giants Chelsea. The skillful Belgian settled in very quickly last season, playing a pivotal role in the Blues’ fine start to the campaign. The 22-year-old eventually finished with an impressive 13 goals and 20 assists as Chelsea won the Europa League, and he scored some memorable efforts along the way. Hazard has started in similarly fine form this season, with 5 goals and 2 assists already, and is without a doubt one of the best attacking midfielders in Europe, never mind the Premier League.
Juan Mata (Chelsea)
Although he seems somewhat unsettled at Chelsea this season due to his inexplicably being dropped from the side by Jose Mourinho at the start of the campaign, Juan Mata is slowly finding his feet again and looking back to his best. On his day, there are few better at playing that free role in midfield, and Mata would be a very strong contender indeed for the best attacking midfielder in the world, and certainly the Premier League. The 25-year-old scored 20 goals and provided 35 assists for Chelsea last season, an absolutely superb record, and if they decide they don’t want him, he won’t be short of suitors this January, with some of Europe’s biggest clubs said to be eyeing him up.
Mesut Ozil (Arsenal)
One of the signings of the summer, the arrival of Mesut Ozil at Arsenal from Real Madrid for £42.4m represents the addition of a truly world class player at the peak of his game to the Premier League. The German international was widely regarded as one of the most important players for the Spanish giants since joining the club in 2010, and many of his team-mates were shocked at his departure, as were the club’s fans. Ozil is certainly one of the most creative and intelligent attacking midfielders out there, and although he is not a renowned scorer, he has already found the back of the net three times in eight appearances for the Gunners, opening his account with a beauty in the Champions League against Napoli. Although a newcomer to this league, there is a strong case already that Ozil is the best attacking midfielder in the country.