The most fouled player in the EPL and Europe's best dribbler... step forward Eden Hazard

[James 5,383]

Last season's PFA Young Player of the Year award winner is currently fighting it out with Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez as the best performer in the Premier League this season. Hazard also currently sits as the seventh best player in European football. This is not a view from behind rose-tinted glasses but the findings of online fantasy football game www.oulala.com .

With a sophisticated Opta sourced scoring matrix, the system takes into account every positive or negative action any player on the field may perform, from shots on or off target to blocks and tackles.

 

The Belgian international is currently one of the top performing players in the Premier League as well as in Europe based on Opta performance statistics. New teammates Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas appear to be stealing the headlines with their goals and assists, which have also put both players firmly on the radar as two of Europe's best with Costa ranked as the ninth best striker in Europe and Fabregas as the fourth best midfielder in the Premier League. However on an overall performance level, taking all actions into account, Hazard is in a league of his own.

Hazard's 104 successful head to head battles, 56 successful dribbles and drawing a total of 33 fouls emphasise just how well the winger is performing this season. He has completed the most dribbles of all the players in Europe's top five leagues and been fouled more times than any player in English football.

The Belgians best performance so far this season came in the Blues 4-2 home win over Swansea after Hazard won 14 of the 18 head to head duels he faced, completed 9 successful dribbles and assisted 4 shots.

In comparing Hazard's stats to fellow wingers Liverpool's Raheem Sterling and ex-Chelsea favourite Arjen Robben of Bayern Munich, widely considered one of the world's best, the results are quite remarkable.

 

Hazard has completed more successful dribbles, missed fewer crosses and drawn more fouls than both players. The Belgian has also put a shift in defensively making more defensive clearances and blocking more shots and crosses than both Sterling and Robben displaying his far superior all round game.

Chelsea sit top of the Premier League and four points clear of their nearest challengers Southampton. Hazard's contribution thus far should not be underestimated. If he can continue his fine form then it is very likely that a fifth league title will be heading to Stamford Bridge come May.

Stats courtesy of www.oulala.com

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[iseah100 5,612]

Amazing. Just amazing.

[drakey 36]

What a player. Cheers.