With 10 rounds of Premier League matches now played, Thierry Henry has picked out his top 10 players of the season so far.
The Sky Sports pundit and
Abidalsport.com
has made his choices, which include a number of stars from the current
top five clubs - Manchester City, Arsenal, West Ham, Manchester United
and Leicester City.
There's plenty of attacking talent on show,
but read on to see which goalkeeper and defender made the list, which is
presented in no particular order...
Dimitri Payet - West Ham
 |
| Payet jubilation |
THIERRY SAYS: For
me it's his consistency. He is doing it at West Ham, which means he
doesn't play with the calibre of players that some of the other guys on
this list play with. Most importantly, West Ham are playing ever so well
as a team and Slaven Bilic has done an amazing job to get them
together, but I think he's the brain of the team. I knew about him
before and I think West Ham did an amazing job to bring him in. For me
right now, because he's playing every game, because he hasn't been
injured and because he's been consistent so far, he has to be up there.
It is obviously early, but if the season were to stop now, he would be
in the fight for best player of the season.
Alexis Sanchez - Arsenal
 |
| Alexis Sanchez is the 'X-factor' for Arsenal |
THIERRY SAYS: I've said it so many times, but he's
vital for Arsenal. If he stays injury-free and shows the desire and the
commitment that he has for Arsenal Football Club in the way he plays
then Arsenal have every chance of winning the title, but you need to
keep that guy fit. If he's fit I think Arsenal have a chance of winning
the Premier League. He is that "extra" type of guy that when you're in
trouble he'll make sure you win the game. I don't want to copy a show on
another channel, but he is the 'X-factor'!
Mesut Ozil - Arsenal
 |
| Henry believes Mesut Ozil has been far more productive on a regular basis this season |
THIERRY SAYS: For me, he has
finally started to deliver on a consistent basis. We all know his
quality; he is a World Cup winner; his touch is second to none; he has
vision; he shares… everything is there. The only thing you can say, in
all fairness, is that before he wasn't doing it on a consistent basis.
Now, he looks like he's doing it every game so you have to give him
credit.
Santi Cazorla - Arsenal
 |
| Santi Cazorla is the 'Little Einstein' of Arsenal |
THIERRY SAYS: I watch a show with my kid - Little
Einstein. This is him - Santi Cazorla is Little Einstein. Like I said
with Payet at West Ham, he's the brain of the team. He makes that team
tick. Because he makes that team tick and he always makes those passes
through, it means Ozil can stay higher up the pitch in between the line
of the midfield and the opposition defence, because he knows Cazorla is
going to find him. Because Cazorla is controlling the game so much and
making the game tick, Ozil doesn't have to drop deep. He does exactly
what David Silva does for Manchester City
Jamie Vardy - Leicester city
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| Jamie Vardy has 10 goals in his last 10 Premier League appearances for Leicester |
THIERRY SAYS: He is the perfect example of the idea
that anything can happen. If anyone leaves a club or goes to play
non-league and thinks he can't make it or it's over, look at Jamie Vardy
because it's not over. He is the perfect example that anything and
everything is possible if you work hard at it. So fair play to him.
Anthony Martial
 |
| Anthony Martial caused problems for Man City |
THIERRY SAYS: He's answered the call. Not only does he
score goals, but he has also shown what else he can do. Against Man
City, he didn't score, but he was trying to create. He was the only one
out there trying to create, he was trying to beat people, trying to
cross, trying to go by the byline, cut inside and shoot. He also looked
like he had an idea of what was happening around him and what he wanted
to do on top of scoring goals, which we all know he can do now.
Sergio Aguero
 |
| Sergio Aguero has been a difference maker for Manchester City |
THIERRY SAYS: He is currently injured and Manchester
City need
to get him back quickly if they want to compete for the very top
honours. He is the difference, like Sanchez can be for Arsenal.
He has already won two titles so we all know he can win the title for
his team - and with this team because you can't win the title on your
own, don't get me wrong. He is, at the moment, the best centre-forward
in the Premier League.
Kevin De Bruyne
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| Henry believes Kevin De Buryne is capable of getting 15 goals and 15 assists this season |
THIERRY SAYS: Just as with Martial, he answered the
call. He came here for big money, but we already know he can see a pass
and score a goal. He looks comfortable already with City and looks like
he can be a City player long-term, the fans have already embraced him.
He looks like he might finish with 15 goals AND 15 assists overall and
it's so rare in this game to see a guy that can assist and score at any
time. The other day Wilfried Bony went off late on the game against
Sevilla and De Bruyne went up front and after about five minutes he
scored. He can play on the right, he can play up front, he can play
behind the striker... he is clever.
Joe Hart
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| Joe Hart is widely considered one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League |
THIERRY SAYS: Every time I see Joe Hart, he makes
two or three amazing saves. In every single match it seems he makes at
least one vital save for his team. It is important because when you play
for Man City you have to make one or two in a match and only
occasionally more than that. For those goalkeepers it's a difficult job
because they don't make a lot of saves in games, so you have to make
sure that when that one moment comes along - you save it.
Chris Smalling
 |
| Chris Smalling is acting like a commander, according to Henry |
THIERRY SAYS: I didn't know what sort of player he was
going to become, but right now I see that he wants to command. I see
that he wants to be that leader, I see he wants to become that defender
that puts his head in, who makes tackles, and more importantly for me,
he wants to be the guy in command. He talks, he wants that ball, he
drives. He's not scared and he actually now embraces that role.
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