Top 5 contenders for Premier League Player of the Month for December

The Premier League is one of the most competitive and intense football leagues in the world. Hence, winning the 'Player of the Month' award is considered a significant achievement in a player's Premier League career. Trent Alexander-Arnold won in November for his brilliant individual performance as he scored one goal and made four assists.

The Premier League was full of exciting matches and brilliant individual performances in December as well. The three-team title race became a one-team walk in the park for Manchester City as both Chelsea and Liverpool dropped points. Meanwhile, City won all six games to go clear on top with a mammoth lead of 10 points.

Here are the Premier League's top-five performers for the month of December.

Special Mentions: Jorginho (Chelsea), Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal), Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City), Joao Cancelo (Manchester City)

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#5 Gabriel Martinelli

Martinelli celebrating a goal

A month earlier, Gabriel Martinelli was left out of the Arsenal squad. Fast forward to December and you can't leave him out of the Gunners squad anymore.

Martinelli has been performing exceptionally well in recent weeks for Arsenal. The Brazilian has taken his chances well and has started four consecutive matches. He scored three goals and provided two assists in December.

Martinelli starred the most in the game against West Ham United in a 2-0 win. He scored the opening goal and was all over the pitch. The Brazilian made his inclusion in the first team count.

He also scored a brace in a 4-1 win against Leeds United. That's four goals in six Premier League games. The Brazilian caught the attention with his sparkling performances as Arsenal moved into the top four.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was full of praise for Martinelli in one of his interviews. He said:

"He trains incredibly hard, he is always willing to do more and he is not scared or afraid to take risks-and that is what i like about him."

#4 Martin Odegaard

Odegaard playing against Manchester City

Arsenal started December with back-to-back defeats in the Premier League against Manchester United and Everton. However, they then went on to win four consecutive matches. This upturn in their fortunes was largely due to the excellent form of Martin Odegaard. The Norwegian has been incredible for the Gunners and has even kept Emile Smith Rowe out of the first team.

Arsenal are looking the best under Arteta as they have looked in recent years led by their young stars and Odegaard is one of them. He goes under the radar as much praise is given to Bukayo Saka and Smith Rowe.

He has scored three goals and provided three assists in six games in December. He provides the creativity Arsenal have been looking for since Mesut Ozil's departure from the Emirates in 2020. The Norwegian scored against Manchester United, Everton and Southampton in the Premier League.

He was the standout performer in the losses against Manchester United and Everton. He ran the show in the win for the Gunners and he is definitely a contender for the award.

#3 Son Heung-Min

Heung Min-Son had a stellar December month

Tottenham Hotspur's Premier League month ended on a high note in December as they won three games and drew one out of four. Their manager, Antonio Conte, is known for making his players run a lot and the same is the case here. Spurs have run the most in the league since he took over in December. Spurs have gone unbeaten under their new manager.

Their main man Son Heung-Min is leading from the front and had a great month. In five games, he has scored four goals and added two assists (it should have been six games but two games were postponed due to Covid). He had a goal involvement in almost every game.

He scored one goal in a 2-0 win over Brentford and had one goal and an assist in a 3-0 win over Norwich City. He then scored a game-deciding goal in a 2-2 draw with Liverpool. Son also scored a goal in a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace. He played well against Southampton but couldn't score in the 1-1 draw.

Son has scored eight goals and assisted three times this season in 18 matches in the Premier League. He has risen to the occasion with striker Harry Kane not at his best and unable to score goals.

#2 Mason Mount

Mason Mount in action against Aston Villa

Mason Mount continues to show why he is one of the best young players in the Premier League. Chelsea played seven matches in December, winning three, losing one and drawing three, leaving them 10 points behind leaders Manchester City.

Mount has played every minute for Chelsea in seven league games in December. He was Chelsea's best player, with seven goal contributions with four goals and three assists.

In four consecutive games, he scored a goal. He scored goals against Watford, West Ham United, Leeds United and Everton, as well as providing assists against Watford, West Ham United and Brighton.

Mount was promoted as captain under both former manager Frank Lampard and current manager Thomas Tuchel. He has been involved in 12 Premier League goals this season. Despite being Chelsea's best player he could miss out on the award with the team not being at their best.

#1 Raheem Sterling

Raheem sterling has been in excellent form

Manchester City's Raheem Sterling has been the subject of transfer rumours with Barcelona reportedly interested in signing him. But the player didn't get distracted and is the main candidate for the Player of the Month in December.

For the second month in a row, Man City won every league game. Sterling scored five goals and provided an assist in the five league games he has started out of seven. City scored a total of 24 goals in December

Manchester City are full of great attacking talent and Sterling is showing his manager why he should be trusted and should start every game. He just scored his 100th goal in the Premier League against Wolves.

Sterling has a total of seven goals in the Premier League this season. He had his best month in December and is the main contender for the Player of the Month award.