Anthony Elanga has burst onto the scene this Premier League season. He became the first player to provide four assists directly from direct free-kicks. His impressive quickness and burst of pace have made him an integral part of Nottingham Forest’s ability to thrive in transition. Analysts and fans are drooling over his stellar play. Notably, Elanga recorded a sprint of 9.63 metres per second during one match, earning him recognition for the fastest speed in that game.
Though Elanga’s contributions are what most stand out, he is hardly the only newcomer garnering attention. Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven is the fastest player in the Premier League this season, with a top speed of 10.31 metres per second. Pau Torres has equally been an instrumental addition to Aston Villa’s fast start, flashing the speed and technical ability that has taken the league by storm this season.
Elanga’s Record-Breaking Assists
Elanga has now assisted four free-kick goals in a single season, a new Premier League record. This feat is a testament to his extraordinary technical genius. It highlights just how important he is to Nottingham Forest’s attacking game plans. His delivery from wide areas and ability to turn half-chances into open-goal-scoring chances has made him a revelation on the pitch for Manchester City.
Jamie Carragher, a former player and current analyst, described Elanga’s pace as “absolutely electrifying.” He focused on how it turns desperate defensive situations into exciting counter-attacks. He often acts as an important outlet for switches. With his ability to progress the ball quickly through transition, he gives Nottingham Forest one of their deadliest attacking weapons.
For her part, Elanga has six of the top 18 sprints so far this season. Real or not, that perception of his game-growing speed has become self-perpetuating. With his quickness and stop-start ability, he’s always a threat to blow past defenders, as we saw throughout his decisive day of action.
The Fastest Players in the Premier League
It’s that pace, oftentimes in a straight-line jaunt, that has turned Elanga into a hot commodity. Technically speaking, Spurs’ Micky van de Ven is still the season’s fastest player. Van de Ven registered a scintillating 10.31 meters per second. In this insane speed we see the importance of speed, which is perhaps even more essential in today’s game of football.
Daniel Munoz has been a revelation this campaign and quickly become one of the team’s most important players. He has run 3,457 meters at high speed than any other player, too. His statistical outlier status serves to underscore the growing importance of pace and stamina as key factors to succeed in the Premier League.
While Nottingham Forest’s success this season isn’t solely due to Elanga, the Swedish international has played a crucial part. So has the collective effort of their whole squad. The principles of the whole team rely on players who are able to perform pretty quick counter attacks. Elanga is an essential piece of this strategy.
Aston Villa’s Rising Stars
Fellow newly reinforced Aston Villa has had a fantastic season, and Pau Torres has been a key playmaker in their starting XI. Unai Emery praised Torres’s consistency, stating, “More or less, Pau Torres has been consistent, last year and this year. Of course, after we recovered Tyrone Mings we are stronger and we can manage both players, helping in the moments that we need.”
Torres’s ability to bypass defenders ranks him among the top 50 players in the Premier League for most defenders bypassed per 90 minutes. His impact has been central to Aston Villa staying competitive with their busy slate of fixtures this season. Incredibly, there have only been three Premier League outings this season that neither Torres nor Mings have started.
Agility and sharp decision-making goes a long way in the Premier League. Teams are motivated to make the most of every chance that visits their campus. Players such as Elanga and Torres are hallmarks of this trend. It’s their phenomenal pace and intelligence that powers their success on the pitch.
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