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The enthralling Premier League season came to an end with Manchester City reigning supreme by the finest of margins. Who would have thought that a Liverpool side which has racked up 97 points would still not win the Premier League title? A fascinating fact is that legendary Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson's highest tally is 91 points.
Anyway, it was one of the most brilliant title-races in the modern era and congratulations to Manchester City for winning it. Liverpool, you played your part. Since the league is all done and dusted, we shall look back at some of the best strikers last season. Looking back is really a fun thing to do.
Strikers can come in all proportions and sizes, small and big, slow and pacy, etc. A traditional striker has the role of playing on the shoulder of the defense, be the focal point of attack, find space behind lines. A modern striker is encouraged to drop a bit deep and play his part in the build-up play as well as finish. Let us look at 5 best strikers in the PL last season.
#5 Son Heung-Min
In Harry Kane's absence, Son played most of his games as a center forward, and that is to the betterment of his game. In 18 appearances as a center forward, Son has racked up 11 goals, which gives an indication that he would do better as a striker.
The South Korean featured in as many as 6 different positions this season, including striker, left attacking-midfielder, right-attacking midfielder, left-midfielder, left-winger, and a CAM. But while we look at Son's stats as a whole, it doesn't sound particularly good, with only 12 goals and 6 assists in 31 appearances.
As a striker, he has been involved in the attack, and he feels in the comfort zone, hunting for goals. Harry Kane's recovery will put Son back into the winger spot but hopefully, Pochettino will find a way to fit both players as strikers.
#4 Raul Jimenez
Wolves were one of the dark-horses in this season's Premier League. When you look at the fact that they have defeated each and every European finalist this season, it makes you appreciate the team effort. Banging in goals for this team in the front line was 28-year-old Mexican Raul Jimenez.
Jimenez is a Benfica player, currently on loan at Wolves, and he would join the team on a permanent basis this July. Not many would remember his stint at Atletico Madrid in the 2014-15 season but they would remember this one. Jimenez got himself 13 goals and 7 assists in 36 appearances this season.
Wolves had a terrific season and they would hope that Raul Jimenez, combined with youth of Diogo Jota and Morgan Gibbs-White, has helped them secure a Europa League spot next season. They will be in the Europa League qualifiers next season, if Manchester City beat Watford in this weekend's FA Cup final.
Wolves are on the prowl.
#3 Alexandre Lacazette
Alex Lacazette was one of the last signings made by Arsene Wenger during his managerial tenure at Arsenal. This season under Emery, we saw that the choice of the veteran manager was not at all a wrong one. The Frenchman solidified his center forward spot at Arsenal with his exceptional performances.
Lacazette got 13 goals and 8 assists in the Premier League season while making 25 starting 11 appearances, which ends up almost 1 goal or assist, every time he starts. His performances helped him win the Arsenal Player of the Year award this season. Lacazette and his striker partner, who we will come to in a moment, wreaked havoc in the final third. However, Arsenal was let down by their defense and they ended by finishing 6th.
Lacazette's spectacular performances have attracted eyes from the Spanish Champions, Barcelona, who reportedly want to sign him for €70 million. However, we want to see the bromance between him and his strike partner continue. Hopefully, Lacazette stays at Arsenal, and of course, help them win something.
#2 Sergio Aguero
This man makes Premier League TOTY's for fun and more often than not, ends up being the best striker of the Premier League. In general, he has been spectacular this season, which is not a surprise.
The Argentine striker helped himself to 21 goals, helped his teammates with 8 assists, and helped his team to a second consecutive league title. His passing accuracy is a brilliant one for forwards, with 85% of passes finding their target. Aguero has been named in PFA's Team of the Year this season.
His current run of form is encouraging for the Argentine National Team with the Copa America just around the corner. Aguero's role in Manchester City was not only to score goals but also to drop deep, build play up, pass to the wingers, etc. His brilliance was the sole reason that a very talented Gabriel Jesus had to be left on the bench.
Hopefully, for the Argentines, he won't lose his form anytime soon.
#1 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
If Lacazette was one of the last transfers secured by Arsene Wenger, then this man was signed even closer to Wenger's departure, in the winter window. Arsenal should be thankful to their former coach for giving them a brilliant striker partnership this season. Aubameyang did not make the players TOTY, maybe because his team didn't do that well.
However, he was been absolutely berserk in his Golden Boot run, with 22 goals to his name and 5 assists. It was close and mighty close, between Aguero and Aubameyang, but stats tilt towards the African, just a wee bit.
Aubameyang got one less start than Aguero, had less bad controls and dispossessions per game, had better offside awareness on an average and of course, had about the same goals+assist tally. Also considering that City played a well-rounded system, with all the players complementing each other, Arsenal didn't get a suitable system implemented. Mainly because, every time Emery came up with a plan, someone got injured, like Rob Holding and Hector Bellerin.
Due to playing in a more distort system, Aubameyang gets the edge and thus he is our Premier League Striker of the Year.
