The most overrated players in the top Premier League clubs. Let us look at the players whose performance do not justify the hype around them.
The Premier League is the most watched domestic football league in the world. Naturally, the players that play in it are more hyped than elsewhere regardless of their age or experience. Almost any star that bought in to the Premier League, especially the top 6 clubs, is seen as the next big thing that will take their team to the next level.
Also read: Jose Mourinho meets Arsenal Chief amidst speculations that he could replace Unai Emery
Sometimes, the player proves to be worth their weight in gold and sometimes, things don’t go according to plan. Today we will look at the most overrated players in the top Premier League clubs. For this list we will look at the teams that have generally done well consistently in the English top flight.
This list though is completely opiniated and will definitely differ from the thoughts of many regarding the same. However, that is what the sport is about; drawing different conclusions from the same exact sample of evidence.
This is exactly why people support different teams and players isn’t it? Besides, the game would be a lot more boring if everyone had the same opinion on every matter. With that out of the way, let us now look at the most overrated players in the top 6 Premier League clubs.
Arsenal- Mesut Ozil
Arsenal’s most overrated player is still Mesut Ozil. Yes, in recent times, people have begun to accept that the German is not the answer to their problems. However, Arsenal’s poor form these season and Unai Emery’s freezing out of Ozil has led to the fans asking for his return.
Unfortunately for both Ozil and the fans, the German will not solve Arsenal’s problems. Yes, he is still good enough to be in the playing XI but his inclusion will not turn their fortunes around. The German lit the league on fire when he first came. However, as time passed, his effectiveness began to deteriorate.
It was theorised that Ozil’s failure as a playmaker was due to Arsenal’s inability to capitalise on the chances he would create. While that may be true, his best days are clearly behind him. It is unfortunate that when Arsenal finally have good finishers, the German is already past his sell by date. But that is how it is. Ozil is not the answer to Arsenal’s woes but the hues and cries surrounding his return to the playing XI makes him Arsenal’s most overrated player at the moment.
Chelsea- Kepa Arrizabalaga
Chelsea bought Kepa from Athletic Bilbao for €80 million last year. This made him the most expensive goalkeeper in the world. However, this season, he has not justified his massive price tag. Kepa has played all of Chelsea’s 11 matches in the Premier league so far and has conceded 17 goals already.
The Spanish keeper has only kept 2 clean sheets in the Premier League and has conceded a goal every 58 minutes. This is hardly the number befitting of the most expensive keeper in football history. Elsewhere, Thibaut Courtois, the man he replaced at Stamford Bridge, is ridiculed almost every day. However, Kepa has escaped the same criticism.
Chelsea’s run of form this season may have something to do with it. However, it seems that his failings between the sticks are not given much notice especially considering that he has now replaced David de Gea in Spain’s national team.
Liverpool- Naby Keita
Naby Keita, what a disappointment he has been for the Reds. Liverpool were so confident that he would eventually become their midfield bedrock that they shelled out £52 million for him and handed him Steven Gerrard’s legendary number 8 shirt.
However, Keita has failed to replicate his form from RB Leipzig at the Anfield, that is when he does play. The Midfielder has spent more time healing from injuries than he has in the middle of the park and when he’s fit, he offers nothing to make Klopp select him above the likes of Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Gini Wijnaldum and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
In the Jurgen Klopp era, Liverpool have only spent more than £10 million ten times. The signings are Alisson Becker, Fabinho, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sadio Mane, Andy Robertson, Mohamed Salah, Xherdan Shaqiri, Virgil Van Dijk and Wijnaldum. All of them have established themselves as vital components of the squad while Naby Keita sticks out like a sore thumb.
However, Liverpool fans are convinced that Keita will come good. They cite his dribbling, movement and intelligent use of both space and possession at Leipzig as good enough reasons for his massive price tag. However, until the midfielder does the same for the Reds, he will be Liverpool’s most overrated player.
Tottenham- Dele Alli
Dele Alli burst onto the scene as a fiery 19-year old. In his first two seasons, he notched up 28 goals for Tottenham and provided 16 assists. He was twice named the PFA young player of the season. However, he has struggled with a series of injuries after featuring for England in the 2018 world cup.
This has had an effect on his impact on the field. In the next two seasons, Alli would find the back of the net only 14 times; half of what he had notched before. He also assisted fewer times and failed to play 30 games for the first time, last season.
Alli has only featured thrice for the Lilywhites this season and has played for a combined 210 minutes. He has notched a solitary goal for them and has looked far from his best. Is it possible that Alli is suffering a burnout after playing too much football? Or perhaps he is just going through a lean phase and will eventually overcome it. He is only 23 after all.
Manchester City- Kyle Walker
Manchester City arguably have the most complete squad in the world. It is very hard to find an overrated player when the entire squad is filled with world class players who would walk into the starting XI of almost any club in the world.
However, if a gun were put on someone’s head, the answer would likely be Kyle Walker. Nicolas Otamendi has by far been City’s worst player this season. However, it’s hard to be a overhyped player when there isn’t hype around you.
Kyle Walker on the other hand, is viewed highly by the City loyals and for good reason. However, despite being in the squad for his defence, Walker has shown vulnerability in that department. Walker does not even dive into his tackles and for a wingback, he has a poor cross.
Manchester United- Anthony Martial
While one would be hardpressed to find an overrated player in Manchester City’s squad, Manchester United could easily field a team comprising of only overrated players. The club have faltered since Ferguson’s departure and almost every player they have purchased have failed to deceive.
However, if one were to point fingers, it would likely point towards Anthony Martial’s direction. The French winger has played 6 matches for Manchester United this season and found the net 3 times and has provided one assist.
Martial’s name in this list though comes down to more than just numbers. The Frenchman was out injured for quite a while and Rashford failed to find the net consistently in his absence. Fans claimed that Martial could prove to be the difference. However, that is far from the truth.
Martial is not a striker. He will not give you 20-25 goals per season. He is a very good player and a welcome addition to the team. However, just like Mesut Ozil, he is simply not the answer Manchester United are looking for.
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