Arsenal, Wigan Athletic, Reading, West Ham, QPR, Tottenham, Manchester United and Aston Villa players feature along with a great clip of ‘the fastest goalkeeper in the world’ Joe Hart of Manchester City.
As a casual follower of Rugby League I was pleasantly surprised to see this week that 21 year-old Omari Caro had signed for Hull KR from London Broncos on a two-year-deal. His name had stuck with me since I heard he had been dubbed ‘the fastest man in Rugby League’ earlier this summer.
The Jamaican international (yes Jamaica have a rugby league team) competed in the event, held as a sideshow to the 9s Grand Finals at Headingley; the race is run over 90 metres and Caro defeated perennial winner Jamal Chisholm of the Leeds Rhino’s in a time of 10.2 seconds.
It got me thinking, who is the fastest man in the Premier League? If eight were to line-up for a 100 metre dash, could it be this octet?
Lane 1: Antonio Valencia
Forget about the fact that he may have taken a slightly self-assisted tumble to win the resultant penalty, just look at the incredible speed he picks up here against Liverpool. Sometimes pictures speak louder than words.
Lane 2: Gabriel Agbonlahor
No doubt that once this man gets into his stride he is virtually unstoppable. Lighting fast and just starting to rediscover his form, he would surely get through the heats.
Lane 3: Ryo Miyaichi
Ryo comes from a sporting family, and when Arsene Wenger signed him he said it was in a large part to his ‘raw ability’. It has even been reported in some circles that he is even faster than Theo Walcott.
Lane 4: Theo Walcott
Well if we could get this race together we might just find out. I don’t need to tell you about Theo Walcott’s pace, it is well documented, and the goal away to Shakhtar Donetsk is probably the best highlight of his apparent 10.30 pace.
Lane 5: Nedum Onuoha
The QPR defender is not blessed with the opportunities to showcase his electric pace like the wingers and strikers who dominate this list have but it is most definitely there. As a boy he was the second fastest in his age group over 100 metres with a time of 11.09 at the age of 14, that was a faster time then future Olympian Craig Pickering.
Lane 6: Gareth Bale
If you want a testimony to his electric pace then look to Manchester as Maicon could surely announce his belief in the Welshman’s speed, and judging on the weekend you could also direct the question to @rioferdy5 on Twitter.
Lane 7: Matt Jarvis
Better known for his crossing ability, and rightly so as it is truly magnificent, but the lad also carries a hell of a kick in them heels. Coupled with Ricardo Vaz Te on the other side and West Ham have one of the fastest attacks in the league, if Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan can keep up that is.
Lane 8: Jimmy Kebe
This guy is seriously fast, his physique helps with an incredible stride length and he is vital to Reading staying up as many a left-back will struggle to keep up with the Mali international.
Whatever the case not many of them would be able to keep up with Jonathan Biabiany, the French winger at Parma is currently considered the fastest man in football. His 100 metre split of 10.1 secs is credence to those claims, but maybe we are looking in the wrong positions, perhaps a goalkeeper could lay claim to the throne.
What do you think? Who is the fastest in the Premier League?
image: © Jan S0L0
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