After Spurs’ last gasp 2-1 win against Brighton, manager Ange Postecoglou claimed that, prior to his departure for the Asian Cup, Heung Min-Son was the best attacker in the Premier League.
Son came off the bench after arriving back from international duty and went on to set up the winning goal for Brennan Johnson.
So, is Son the best attacker in the league? We look at the South Korean’s stats and who else is in the argument for the best attacking player in the Premier League this season…
Heung Min Son
Son has played in 21 occasions so far this season and has 12 goals and six assists to his name. He has surpassed his goal tally from last season and has already matched his amount of assists too.
His best goalscoring season was in 2021/22 when he netted 23 goals. In total, Son has 115 goals and 58 assists in 289 appearances in the Premier League. Son has scored on average a goal in every 2.5 games with an impressive goals per game ratio of 0.40.
The 31-year-old has also assisted on six occasions in the Premier League this season and is tied fourth for the number of big chances created at 12. Son has so much to his game and is a constant threat with his pace in behind, stepping up for his side in the absence of Harry Kane.
If not the best, he is certainly one of them.
Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah has been prolific for Liverpool throughout his time in England. He recently hit 150 Premier League goals for Liverpool and already has three Golden Boots and a player of the season award. 153 goals and counting for the Egyptian in 251 appearances is an outrageous return, with his best goalscoring season coming in his first year at Anfield when he netted a remarkable 32 goals.
His goals per match sits at 0.61 and has created 103 big chances. Not only does he score goals, but he provides too, accumulating 67 assists overall and eight this season. With 17 big chances created, he tops the list for the statistic this season in the Premier League and and will go down as one of Liverpool’s all time greats.
Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland has only been in the Premier League for a season and a half but has racked up some incredible numbers. He arrived in Manchester with lots of pedigree and hit the ground running, helping to win the treble in his first season under Pep Guardiola.
He bagged 36 goals in 35 Premier League appearances last season and so far this season, which has been disrupted by injury, in 18 games he has netted 16 times. Overall, Haaland has played 53 Premier League and has a staggering 52 goals, almost averaging a goal per game (0.98).
On goalscoring stats alone, Haaland is no doubt the best in the league.
Bukayo Saka
Bukayo Saka had risen through the Arsenal academy and has become a superstar in Arsenal’s attack. He is seen as one of the best attackers in the Premier League and after his brace against West Ham, Saka is now on double figures for goals scored this season, something he has achieved for the third season in a row.
In total, Saka has 41 goals and 33 assists in 158 appearances. He averages 0.26 goals a game and at just 22 years old, he still has the potential to be one of the best in the world. He is already demonstrating the numbers of a prolific attacker and has the luxury of being part of an exciting forward line under Mikel Arteta.
Phil Foden
Phil Foden’s hat-trick against Brentford took his season tally to eight goals while creating seven goals too. Foden’s career has already seen him win five Premier League trophies and two young player of the year awards. Coming through the Manchester City academy, Foden has become one of the most talented attackers in the league, scoring 43 goals in 152 Premier League appearances.
He is constantly knocking on the door for more minutes with England, and could play a vital role in Euro 2024. Foden also has 25 assists for City and has a goal per match score of 0.28. The 23-year-old has some incredible players playing alongside him but always stands out as one of the most talented.
Ollie Watkins
Ollie Watkins has worked his way up from Exeter City to Brentford to Aston Villa and has flourished in claret and blue. Watkins has been consistently hitting great numbers in a Villa shirt, surpassing ten goals in all four seasons he has been at Villa Park. This season he has reached double figures for both goals and assists with 11 and ten respectively.
Overall he has 51 goals in 133 Premier League appearances and also has 23 assists. The 28 year-old has a stat of 0.28 goals per game and is peaking at the right time as he hopes to earn a spot in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2024.
Who is the best right now?
Postecoglou is within his own right to hype up his player, but based on pure numbers and all round game, Mo Salah is the stand-out attacker in the Premier League this season. Son has been an incredible addition in England and his partnership with Harry Kane was almost telepathic. Saka, Haaland and Foden have the potential to be the best in the near future, but for now Salah is the league’s best at this moment in time.
