'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Premier League is the most-watched league in the world and the reason behind that is well known. With no individual domination, this competition provides the least odds of forecasting the right results.
The 2021-22 Premier League season could be termed one of the most competitive seasons in a long while. Although there are certain clear favorites for the league title, the other teams in the division are more than capable of punching above their weight from time to time.
With more than 300 goals scored so far this season, players have been pushing hard to deliver a favorable outcome for their sides. However, in such attempts, many have fallen prey to the offside trap. VAR has made it even more difficult as hair-line differences are enough to make a variation in the outcome.
Unfortunately, these are the rules in this game and this is one that might frustrate the strikers. Here are the top players who have been caught offside the most this season after the end of Gameweek 12 in the Premier League:
#5 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - 9
Although Arsenal have consistently failed to establish themselves in the top-four recently, the Gunners are still part of the traditional top-six in the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta's men have several key players in their ranks, including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Despite not being at his destructive best this season, the Arsenal captain is still a vital cog in the system.
Aubameyang also secured the 2018-19 Premier League Golden Boot award alongside Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane of Liverpool. Arsenal finished fifth in the Premier League during that season.
Arsenal have endured a shaky start to their ongoing campaign. However, they have managed to turn things around and are sitting fifth in the table, nine points behind leaders Chelsea at the top.
Aubameyang has also started delivering after the club's change in fortunes and has scored four goals so far. The striker has been flagged offside nine times in an attempt to contribute more goals though.
#4 Raul Jimenez - 10
Raul Jimenez has been an influential addition to Wolverhampton Wanderers since they earned their promotion to the Premier League. His initial loan spell earned him the club's Players' Player of the Season Award, which also followed in the first year after his move was made permanent. However, a serious head injury in 2020 hampered his goalscoring form.
After being ruled out for the remainder of the season following his head injury, Wolves struggled in the absence of their star striker. Jimenez marked his return during the pre-season tour this summer and is slowly getting back to his goalscoring ways.
Having played all the matches for Wolves this season in the Premier League, Jimenez has been trying his best to lead his team from the front. However, he has been caught offside 10 times.
#3 Cristiano Ronaldo - 11
Cristiano Ronaldo marked his return to the Premier League when Manchester United signed him this summer. He started right where he left off in 2009 by scoring a brace on his second debut during the 4-1 win over Newcastle United.
Upon his arrival, United had one of the strongest teams on paper, and it looked promising for some matches. However, over time they have started struggling and are slowly slipping down the table.
Cristiano Ronaldo remains the club's top scorer in all competitions with nine goals. However, he has recorded 11 offsides, which were desperate attempts by him to get his team back in the game, mostly during heavy defeats against Manchester City, Liverpool and Watford.
#2 Jamie Vardy and Ivan Toney - 12
Jamie Vardy is always thankful to Leicester City for giving him an opportunity and he is duly paying them back in goals. He contributed significantly in the 2015-16 season when Leicester defied all odds to win the Premier League title.
Despite being 34 years old, the English striker is still going strong and is only four goals behind Mohamed Salah in the Golden Boot race.
Vardy is also the oldest player to win the Premier League Golden Boot. He is a player hungry for goals and will take every possible opportunity that might have the chance of ending at the back of the net. As a result, he often gets flagged offside.
Another player tied with Vardy for second spot with 12 offsides is Brentford's Ivan Toney. The forward's career was majorly comprised of loan spells and he only settled at Brentford last season. He netted 31 goals last season, winning the Golden Boot in the Championship and helping Brentford earn promotion to the Premier League.
The London club had made a promising start to the season, however, they have started slacking and are ranked 14th in the Premier League table. Toney has also not been able to produce much recently and most of his attempts have been ruled offside.
#1 Chris Wood - 13
If there had been an award for most offsides in a season, Chris Wood would have won it twice since he regularly started appearing in the Premier League. The New Zealand international has appeared for many English clubs but his most successful stint has been with current club Burnley.
The forward has an undesierable record of offsides which is not a great sign. Putting things into perspective, Wood has been flagged offside 152 times in five years with Burnley averaging 1.09 offsides per game.
Although he reached the 50-goal mark in the Premier League when he scored his third goal this season, checking his run is something he should work deeply on.
