There's no doubt about it now. Spain are the best football country in history. They have won 2 European Championships in 2008 and 2012. They lifted the coveted World Cup in 2010. And their two major clubs sit atop of world football : Barcelona and Real Madrid. They are so good that some of the Premier League's best players cannot even make the first team, or even the squad. Mikel Arteta has been in England since arriving on our shores at Merseyside in 2005-06. He has become one of the league's best players, creating numerous chances, becoming the symbol of Everton's attacking play, and picking up awards on the way including Midfielder Of The Year from Sky Sports. He has since moved to Arsenal and has been stationed deep in midfield as the pivot, in the mould of his idol Pep Guardiola. But that has not stopped him. He has become a fan favourite with his Xavi-like range of passing and Pirlo-esque vision. Too think that he has never been rewarded with a Spanish cap is unreal. However, Michu steps into the Premier League for half of a season, scores 13 goals and is suddenly on the team sheet. But enough of that. The EPL's top playmakers have been in scintillating form of late, and at the halfway point of the season, it is time to find out who has performed better in the opening 20 games. Two of them cannot make the 1st XI of the Spanish national team, and yet they lead their domestic league with their clinical and faultless style of play. Competition.
Goals
David Silva has hit 1 goal in 18 appearances for Manchester City
Santi Cazorla has scored 7 times in 20 appearances for Arsenal
Juan Mata has scored 7 times in 18 appearances for Chelsea
David Silva 0
Santi Cazorla Juan Mata 1-1
Assists
David Silva has 5 assists in the Premier League
Santi Cazorla has 5 assists in the Premier League
Juan Mata has 7 assists in the Premier League
David Silva 0
Santi Cazorla 1
Juan Mata 2
Chances Created
David Silva has created 53 chances, averaging 2.9 per game
Santi Cazorla has created 50 chances, averaging 2.5 per game
Juan Mata has created 46 chances, averaging 2.6 per game
David Silva Santi Cazorla 1-1
Juan Mata 2
Passing Accuracy
David Silva has an accuracy of 86%, completing 909 passes out of an attempted 1057
Santi Cazorla has an accuracy of 87.6%, completing 1178 passes out of an attempted 1344. Maestro.
Juan Mata has an accuracy of 86.2%, completing 812 passes out of an attempted 942.
David Silva 1
Santi Cazorla Juan Mata 2-2
Dribbles Completed
David Silva has completed 20 dribbles
Santi Cazorla has completed 50 dribbles
Juan Mata has completed 7 dribbles
David Silva 1
Juan Mata 2
Santi Cazorla 3
Dispossessed
David Silva has been robbed out possession 33 times
Santi Cazorla has been robbed of possession 42 times
Juan Mata has been robbed of possession 37 times
David Silva Juan Mata 2-2
Santi Cazorla 3
Turnovers
David Silva has given possession away on 17 occasions
Santi Cazorla has given possession away on 20 occasions
Juan Mata has given possession away on 28 occasions
Juan Mata 2
David Silva Santi Cazorla 3-3
Well, well, well. We have a draw on our hands between David Silva and Santi Cazorla. Given that it is his first season in English football, Cazorla has performed magnificently. But Silva has started to replicate the form that made him the best player in the Premier League in the first half of last season. For Juan Mata, he has drastically improved his game. With the arrival of Eden Hazard and Oscar in the summer transfer window, many feared that the Number 10 role, behind the striker, would be lost for Juan. But he has made the position his own this term and looks to be in the running the PFA Player of the Year award at the end of the season.
NEXT : SUAREZ VS VAN PERSIE VS AGUERO : WHO IS THE BEST CF IN THE LEAGUE?
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