Alex Keble uses Stats Zone to discover the Premier League's standout stars of 2015/16...
Best tackler – N’Golo Kante (4.7 per game)
Lucas Leiva topped the average tackling charts midway through the season but an exceptional second half of the campaign – in which Leicester amassed 12 clean sheets from 17 games – has ensured the Frenchman is this season’s best tackler. The Foxes' narrow and deep-lying 4-4-2 provides Kante with a relatively small defensive area and plenty of back-up around him. It is for this reason that he so often appears to be in the right place at the right time, while the likes of Nemanja Matic and Francis Coquelin scramble across the breadth of the pitch in more expansive sides.
Most interceptions – N’Golo Kante (4.2 pg)
Kante also tops the charts for interceptions made, although Aston Villa’s midfield engine Idrissa Gueye isn't far behind (4.0 per match). He has been outstanding throughout this miserable campaign for the West Midlands club, somehow looking like an exceptional player even when those around him flounder helplessly at the bottom of the table. Gueye seemed likely to top the table until Kante, with 23 interceptions in his final four games, pipped him at the last. If the Frenchman leaves Leicester in the summer, Gueye could be a good replacement for the champions.
Most chances created – Mesut Ozil (4.2 pg)
Despite recording just three assists in his last 17 league games, Ozil’s 'chances created' have remained consistent throughout the campaign; perhaps it is his team-mates, and not the Germany international, whose form has dropped off in 2016. Ozil finished the season on 19 assists, scoring six goals and creating a grand total of 146 goalscoring opportunities for his team-mates.
Best dribbler – Wilfried Zaha (3.7 pg)
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Zaha may have only scored or assisted three goals this season but his pace on the right wing has had a huge indirect impact on Crystal Palace. Alan Pardew’s main tactical strategy is to sit deep and await the opportunity to spring forward on the counter; in Zaha – who is also the most-fouled player in the division (2.6 per match) – he has a player who can move them up the pitch quickly and earn set-pieces, which account for 50% of Palace’s goals this season.
Most cards – Jack Colback (11 yellows)
Newcastle’s Jack Colback has picked up the most yellow cards this season but has only been booked twice in his last 12 games, possibly because Rafa Benitez has instilled a discipline and organisation in the Newcastle defence that lessens the frequency with which he is required to make professional fouls. It will surprise nobody that this passionate, aggressive central midfielder should top the charts – their hard-working and under-rated midfielder will be crucial at Championship level.
Dribbled past the most – Aaron Ramsey (2.1 times pg)
Ramsey’s poor tackling (46% missed) is symptomatic of Arsenal’s ongoing weakness in central midfield, and explains why Arsene Wenger is increasingly distrustful of the Wales international. Mohamed Elneny has offered a welcome stability in the middle but Arsenal fans will be hopeful that Coquelin and Santi Cazorla can remain fully fit next season; they have conceded three or more goals on seven separate occasions this season.
Most crosses – Dimitri Payet (9.6 attempted pg, 3.1 completed)
West Ham’s flamboyant winger has been outstanding in his first full season in England, flourishing in a free role under Slaven Bilic with nine goals and 12 assists from 30 games. Along with his weaving runs and neat through-balls (Payet creates 4.0 chances per match, the second most behind Ozil), the Frenchman attempts (9.6 per match) and completes (3.1 per match) the most crosses in the division. Unsurprisingly, West Ham have scored 17 set-piece goals this season and the joint-most headed goals (15 in total).
Who's the best passer? Who's made the most defensive errors? Who's the most dominant in the air? This way!
Best passer – Cesc Fabregas (76.4 pg)
Like the majority of Chelsea’s players, Fabregas’s 2015/16 season has been defined by under-performance; his 0.6 interceptions per match say more about his overall form than his passing statistics. However, to his credit the Spaniard has improved significantly since Guus Hiddink’s appointment and has begun to contribute defensively more energetically. Averaging a 83.9% pass accuracy and 1.8 chances created per game, Fabregas may be better suited to an advanced midfield role under Antonio Conte next season.
Best in the air – Rudy Gestede (6.5 won pg)
The man signed to replace Christian Benteke symbolises the narrow-mindedness of Tim Sherwood’s recruitment strategy; Gestede is superb in the air, but limited in most other areas. He wins 11.3 headers per 90 minutes, a testament to the frequency with which Villa lump it towards their big striker in the desperate hope that something will stick. He scored 20 goal for Blackburn in the Championship last season, and thus should prove useful next year.
Most defensive errors – Simon Mignolet (6, 4 leading to goals)
Liverpool fans are all too aware of Simon Mignolet’s faults since arriving from Sunderland in 2013, and although the Belgian is a good shot stopper, his Anfield career has been defined by mistakes. His most high-profile error in the 2015/16 season was letting the ball squirm under his body against Manchester City in the League Cup final, although his failed punch against West Brom in December will also live long in the memory. The Belgian has failed more attempted 'claims' – eight – than any other Premier League goalkeeper this campaign.
Most clearances – Ashley Williams (8.7 pg)
Swansea have endured a difficult campaign but ever-present club captain Williams has remained consistently excellent throughout; his leadership skills and composure was the single largest contributing factor in their survival. His average of 2.8 interceptions per match also puts him among the top 10 centre-backs in the division.
Best shot accuracy – Harry Kane (61% from 4.2 shots pg)
A run of one goal in nine league games at the beginning of the season left some pundits doubting Kane, but after scoring 24 times in his final 28 games the idea seems preposterous now. The young striker possesses a remarkably rare talent for consistently placing the ball mere millimetres inside the post, and at 22 has plenty of time to become a Premier League legend – and England’s all-time top goalscorer.
Most saves – Jack Butland (3.3 pg)
Mark Hughes’s attempt to transform Stoke into a more attacking side has not gone to plan this season, and in fact the deployment of three attackers that contribute little defensively – see Bojan, Xherdan Shaqiri and Marko Arnautovic – has left Jack Butland vulnerable. It is testament to the England goalkeeper’s quality that Stoke conceded 17 goals in the six games Butland was absent, earning just two points in that time.
Most unsuccessful touches – Jordan Ayew (3.3 pg)
The Aston Villa forward has had a commendable first year in England, looking lively and intelligent up front. The most likely explanation for his high tally of unsuccessful touches is that his team-mates rarely support him on the ball; Ayew was often forced to weave across the final third on his own, awaiting support that never arrives. He will be one of the players escaping Villa Park this summer.
