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The Premier League has always been blessed with gifted foreigners, but there is a charm about the Spaniards that has enticed fans for years. The world has always been in love with Spanish skills and flavour, but the popularity of Spanish players has increased by leaps and bounds since the emergence of Spain as a dominant force in football. After winning 2 European Championships and the 2010 FIFA World Cup in a space of 4 years, Spain had officially declared herself to the football world.
Even though the dominance has waned in the recent years, there has been no dearth of talent arising from the European nation and the current stage of football is spawning with skilful Spaniards who are excelling in almost every area of the pitch. Today, we take a look at the top 5 Spanish Footballers in the Premier League, who have lit up European Football and are indispensable for their club.
#5 Héctor Bellerín (Arsenal)
The Spaniard joined Barcelona when he was eight years old and in 2011, made the move to Arsenal, where he was transformed from an attacking winger to a marauding right-back successfully. He made his debut for the Gunners in the 2013/14 season and broke into the first team in the following season. Since then, Bellerin has been an integral part of the Gunners defence and is also widely considered as one of the best right backs in the world.
Last season, Bellerin scored 3 goals and registered 5 assists, which are quite impressive stats for a right back. His speed, trickery on the ball and crossing ability makes him an attacking threat and he can be deadly during counter attacks. This season, the Spaniard has started in all of Arsenal's games in the Premier League and barring the 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace, has lasted the full 90 minutes in every game. Even though he is yet to find the back of the net, Bellerin already has 4 assists to his name so far. However, Emery has not used him in the Europa League, where he has been on the bench twice, or the EFL Cup, where he has been on the bench once, so far.
While he is still just 23 years old, Bellerin will only get better and that in itself is a delightful possibility. As of now, the talented right back in 5th among the top Spaniards in the Premier League.
#4 Juan Mata (Manchester United)
There isn't much to say about Mata that hasn't been said before. The Spaniard won the UEFA Champions League, the FA Cup and the UEFA Europa League with Chelsea before he was sold by Mourinho to Manchester United. At Old Trafford, he defied the odds by becoming an integral part of the United set up under the very person who had deemed him excessive to requirements at Stamford Bridge.
Mata's brilliance on the field is beyond description; there's a silky smoothness about the way he conducts himself and his abilities are nothing short of magical. Even though he is predominantly an attacking midfielder, Mata has excelled on the right side as well as at Central Midfield for United, where his genius has almost always made up for his lack of speed. Last season, he played 32 times on the right side, and only 5 times in his preferred No. 10 role, but still managed to score 3 goals and register 7 assists. This season, Mata has already scored 3 goals from 13 appearances, even though he has been in the first XI just 7 times. His free-kick against Juventus at Turin in the Champions League, as well as the free kick against Newcastle in the Premier League were both defining moments of United's season, and he is currently ranked 4th among the top 5 Spaniards in the Premier League.
#3 Marcos Alonso (Chelsea)
Perhaps one of the best left backs in the Premier League and maybe even in the world, Marcos Alonso's rise in the grand stage has been phenomenal. Since graduating from the Real Madrid academy, Alonso has been in quite a few clubs, but it was at Chelsea that his abilities caught the limelight.
He was signed by Antonio Conte ahead of the 2016/17 season and thrived in the wing-back role under the Italian. Alonso scored 6 goals from 31 games in the Premier League as Chelsea became runaway Champions. Last season, the Spaniard scored 8 goals from 46 games, as the Blues won the FA Cup. This season, there was a lot of speculation regarding his use in Sarri's back four system, however, Alonso has thrived under the Italian and has started every game for Chelsea in the Premier League, already finding the back of the net once and registering a further 5 assists.
Alonso's defending might still be questionable, but when he drives forward, the Spaniard can be unstoppable. And the cherry on the cake has to be his abilities on the dead ball - he is phenomenal from free kicks. Last season, Alonso scored 2 goals from direct free-kicks - the most in the League. As of now, he is 3rd among the top 5 Spaniards in the Premier League.
#2 David de Gea (Manchester United)
Even though he has struggled to register clean sheets this season, the Spaniard is still one of the best goalkeepers in the world right now. It is a testament to his abilities that he won the Premier League Golden Glove last season with perhaps the worst Manchester United defence in recent years. This season too, De Gea has been phenomenal, making 42 saves, the 4th most in the Premier League, however, continued pathetic defending from the men ahead of him has let the Spaniard down.
Last season, De Gea made 115 saves and kept 18 clean sheets as United finished second in the league and finished runners-up in the FA Cup. The Spaniard had come to the rescue time and again for United and was almost unconquerable at the time.
After a disappointing summer at Russia in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, De Gea was expected to bounce back in the new season. While he has retained his brilliant form from last season, the Spaniard has been unlucky, but he deserves to be at the second position among the top 5 Spaniards in the Premier League right now.
#1 David Silva (Manchester City)
David Silva's importance to Manchester City cannot be put do to words. Last season, the Spaniard had to take the back seat as De Bruyne took all the accolades, however, in truth, David Silva was phenomenal as City finished Champions with a record 100 points. It was Silva's character, his genius and his tenacity that allowed Pep to play two No. 10s in a 3 man midfield and still ensure that Fernandinho was not overrun by the opposition. De Bruyne finished with 16 assists in the Premier League, while David Silva registered 11 assists. The Belgian scored 8 goals, while the Spaniard scored 9.
This season, De Bruyne was ruled out for three months with a torn knee ligament at the start of the season and City's season looked bleak. However, Silva's genius has ensured that City are unbeaten at the top of the league after 12 games, winning 10 and drawing 2. The Spaniard has already scored 7 goals and registered 3 assists from 15 games in all competitions so far and his assured presence has been indispensable for City this season. There can be no doubts whatsoever that David Silva is, right now, the best Spaniard in the Premier League.
