Watford, Southampton, Hull City, Arsenal, Everton, Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur players have all performed above most supporters wildest expectations.
Etienne Capoue celebrates scoring for Watford
Every season in the Premier League, unexpected players emerge and put in performances more commonly associated with established stars. Sometimes these are young players who have just broken into the first team, but often they are simply players who start playing in a system which suits them and/or under a manager who brings out the best in them.
Last season, just about every Leicester City player played at a level way higher than that of anyone’s expectations, and for almost the entire season. The season before that, Harry Kane came out of nowhere at Spurs, following a series of forgettable loan moves, to hit 21 goals, the second highest tally in the Premier League that season.
This season, once again, a number of players are playing way above expectations. Some were previously highly-rated players who looked to have fallen away, some have played in the Premier League for a number of years without really making any headlines until now, and some are only just getting their first taste of Premier League football.
Theo Walcott has had a great start to the season at Arsenal
Etienne Capoue (Watford)
We start with an obvious one; Etienne Capoue’s fine early season form has been well-documented due to the goals he has scored. The former Tottenham midfielder bagged 4 goals in the opening 6 goals of the season, having previously managed just 1 goal in 57 Premier League appearances.
Capoue has brought more to the Watford midfield than goals though, injecting a power and dynamism which is a big reason why the Hornets find themselves in the top half after more than a quarter of the season gone.
Sam Clucas (Hull City)
Hull City midfielder Sam Clucas was playing for Nettleham in the Lincolnshire League six years ago, to our knowledge the lowest level of any player who has gone on to play Premier League football. He has gone up a division every season for the past five seasons, climbing from the National League to the Premier League.
Despite his meteoric rise, many felt the Championship was Clucas’ level, but he has proved that’s far from true, having been Hull City’s best midfielder and earning suggestions he should be considered for the England squad. Sadly for Clucas, Andy Robertson’s injury has forced him to play at full-back.
Charlie Austin (Southampton)
Southampton striker Charlie Austin heads at goal
Given that Charlie Austin scored 18 Premier League goals in a single season for a relegated QPR side, no-one should really be surprised to see him back among the goals. Yet they are. In fact, many people are surprised to see Austin on the pitch and starting games regularly for Southampton at all.
He started only 3 league games last season, but he’s already started more than that this term. He has 7 goals in 9 games in all competitions and 4 goals in 7 games in the Premier League.
Theo Walcott (Arsenal)
Since his emergence more than a decade ago, big things have always been expected of Theo Walcott, but now aged 27, it’s fair to say he hasn’t quite hit the heights expected of him. Injuries and a dispute regarding his best position have halted his progress, but he’s made an excellent start to this season.
Five league goals equals his best tally in the last three seasons, despite having played only 9 games. He has been one of the standout performers in the Premier League this season, and his Arsenal teammate Alex Iwobi can consider himself unlucky not to feature here too.
Joe Allen (Stoke City)
Joe Allen is a good player, and most people probably expected him to fit in nicely at Stoke, but the Welshman has done more than that. Following on from his form at the Euros, Allen has been the star man in a Stoke team which boasts the likes of Marko Arnautovic, Xherdan Shaqiri and Wilfried Bony.
Four goals from nine league games is obviously an impressive return, but Allen’s recycling of the ball and tenacity in midfield is the main reason why Mark Hughes brought him to the Bet365 stadium.
Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur)
Tottenham Hotspur ace Son Heung-min with manager Mauricio Pochettino
Given that Son Heung-min was consistently one of the best performing players in the Bundesliga, it shouldn’t be any major surprise to see him doing well at Tottenham, but after a mixed first season in the Premier League, many have been taken aback by his form this season.
He has scored 5 goals and made 2 assists in 9 games this season, and is the only Premier League player to rank among Europe’s top 10 best players statistically so far this season. Spurs will need Son to continue to get among the goals given their goal scoring struggles without Harry Kane.
Jordan Pickford (Sunderland)
With Vito Mannone ruled out for 3 months back in August, the goalkeeping position was one which some highlighted as a vulnerable spot for Sunderland. Pickford had only played 2 games for the Black Cats prior to the start of the season, having been loaned out six times.
David Moyes will be pleased that he was forced to play the young goalkeeper though, who has been arguably Sunderland’s best player. He is yet to keep a clean sheet but his performances have won plaudits and he even earned an England call-up earlier this month.
Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
Raheem Sterling is obviously a quality player, he proved as much with Liverpool, but after a difficult season and a poor Euros, the youngster was heavily criticised. Lesser players would have had the confidence sucked out of them, but whether it was Pep’s arrival or Sterling’s strength of character, he has bounced back in a big way.
The 21-year-old has scored 5 goals in 14 appearances this season, assisting a further 3. He won the Player of the Month award for August and looks very comfortable in the Manchester City team.
Idrissa Gueye (Everton)
Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye battles it out with Tottenham’s Victor Wanyama
Idrissa Gueye has been one of the signings of the summer for Everton. Steve Walsh identified a gem once more with the Senegalese midfielder, who is doing a similar job for the Toffees as N’Golo Kante did for Leicester last season.
Lost in the sea of dreadfulness that was the Aston Villa team last season, Gueye’s stats were actually quite impressive last term, but many people were obviously reluctant to touch any of their players. Everton took a chance on Gueye and it has proved an excellent piece of business.
Victor Moses (Chelsea)
Perhaps the most surprising player this season has been Chelsea’s Victor Moses. The Nigerian had played only once for the Blues in the last three seasons, having been loaned to Liverpool, Stoke and West Ham, but has been handed a lifeline by Antonio Conte, which he has welcomed with both arms.
Currently being deployed as a wing-back in Chelsea’s new 3-4-3 formation which has proved highly effective for Conte, Moses has made 10 appearances and 3 assists in the first quarter of the season. He completed his bright start to the season by putting in an excellent display against his former boss Jose Mourinho, who didn’t give him a chance at Stamford Bridge.
Full list: Etienne Capoue (Watford), Sam Clucas (Hull City), Charlie Austin (Southampton), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Son (Tottenham Hotspur), Joe Allen (Stoke City), Jordan Pickford (Sunderland), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Idrissa Gueye (Everton), Victor Moses (Chelsea).
Which players have surprised you in the Premier League this season?
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