Interesting piece in Saturday's Times by James Gheerbrant, pointing out that on stats Antonio is the best striker in the Premier League in 2021. He topped the list for expected goals and expected assists, while this season only Mo Salah has scored more non-penalty goals. He also makes the point that because Antonio didn't break into the Premier League until he was 25 and has been used as a utility player he is never taken as seriously as Kane, Salah, Mane or Ronaldo.
Gheerbrant writes: "When I think about Antonio, I know that he’s a great player, but on some instantaneous, subconscious level, my mind also computes: “West Ham utility man uncapped by England, Nottingham Forest workhorse, no major trophies, pace and power, Sheffield Wednesday.” The lucidity of data has a way of melting all of this away. By any objective measure, Antonio has been one of the best players in football over the past ten months. Is that really so impossible?"
Much of football is about perception but the data suggests that Michail, at the age of 31, is up there with the best.
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