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Santi Cazorla: Stats reveal the Arsenal midfielder to be the best passer in the Premier League

Cazorla the first player to complete 1,000 passes this season

Monday 30 November 2015 16:22 GMT

Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla stands head and shoulders above his rivals as the best passer in the Premier League this season.

The Spaniard, 30, can claim to be the division's most influential puller of strings after becoming the first player in the top flight to complete 1,000 passes this season, according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.

It's not even close.

Cazorla, who also has three assists for the Gunners, is 222 passes ahead of the man in second place and is the only player in the top 10 to have a 90 per cent pass completion rate; he also completes more passes per 90 minutes than any of the other players to qualify.

Credit: EA SPORTS Player Performance Index (EA SPORTS)

He also does all of that while making 69.5 per cent of his passes in the opposition half. Cazorla completed a whopping 74 passes in the 1-1 draw with Norwich City on Sunday.

Chelsea rival Cesc Fabregas doesn't get close to his international team-mate at the moment, Fabregas has completed 810 passes, third most in the Premier League, with 68.7 per cent of these coming in the opponents' half.

Fabregas, who was poor in the 0-0 draw against Tottenham, has played 160 fewer minutes than Carozla, but for every 90 minutes played the Arsenal midfielder is averaging 5.7 passes more.

Norwich vs Arsenal player ratings

Show all 22

1/22Norwich vs Arsenal player ratings

Norwich vs Arsenal player ratings

Norwich: Ruddy: 3 out of 10

One careless kick is understandable in the driving rain. But having miscued early on there were no excuses whatsoever for Ruddy’s second shank, which led to Arsenal’s goal. Three miscued kicks and more than one instance of poor positioning made up a woeful performance.

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Norwich vs Arsenal player ratings

Wisdom: 7 out of 10

Bombed up and down the right flank despite the threat posed by Sanchez and Monreal, creating his own chances with accurate crossing. Should have received an assist on the stroke of half-time after Hoolahan blew a perfect opportunity to give Norwich the lead.

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Norwich vs Arsenal player ratings

Bennett: 7 out of 10

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Norwich vs Arsenal player ratings

Bassong: 6 out of 10

A mistake-free display from the senior defender, he may not have done anything to seize headlines but he also never gave Alex Neil cause for concern.

Norwich vs Arsenal player ratings

Olsson: 6 out of 10

Was all too often dragged out of position by Ramsey when he cut infield, giving space for Bellerin to accelerate in to. His covering of the full-back improved in the second half though, as Norwich’s resolve stiffened.

Norwich vs Arsenal player ratings

O’Neil 6

Did all that could be asked of him in his chasing of Alexis Sanchez, the Arsenal man was often too good for him though, as when he carelessly lost the ball for the opener. But O’Neil kept committing to tackles and trying to stem the Arsenal tide.

Norwich vs Arsenal player ratings

Dorrans: 6 out of 10

His main task seemed to be ensuring that Norwich held the ball on the occasions they were able to get it back from Arsenal, something he achieved without ever doing much more.

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Norwich vs Arsenal player ratings

Hoolahan 5 out of 10

A quiet day for the Irish playmaker, whose side did not have enough of the ball to get him involved. Blew Norwich’s best chance to take the lead late in the first half and should have at least tested Cech from six yards out.

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Norwich vs Arsenal player ratings

Howson 5 out of 10

Should have offered his team-mates more covers for the marauding Sanchez down the right, particularly as he offered next to nothing going forward. It was little surprise he was the first to make way for Norwich.

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Norwich vs Arsenal player ratings

Brady: 8 out of 10

By far the host’s most effective attacking force, typified by an assist Ozil would have been proud of to draw Norwich level. His delivery from set-pieces often left Arsenal on the ropes and his ability to find a team-mate in space was remarkable

Norwich vs Arsenal player ratings

Grabban: 6

Comfortably kept in check by Mertesacker for 45 minutes but when a chance fell to him he needed no second invitation, turning well and calmly tucking the ball past Cech. He was not able to get back in the contest again but he had already made a telling contribution.

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Norwich vs Arsenal player ratings

Arsenal: Cech 6 out of 10

Could do nothing to prevent Grabban bringing Norwich level, and rarely had much to do as the visitors dominated proceedings. After a quiet 70 minutes he produced a spectacular save from a deflected cross to keep Arsenal level.

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Norwich vs Arsenal player ratings

Bellerin 5 out of 10

Rarely let Norwich’s attack get in behind him but was not at his peak going forward. His afternoon was best summed up by his strange decision to shoot at goal from a tight angle when he could have delivered a cross.

Norwich vs Arsenal player ratings

Mertesacker: 6 out of 10

From minute one to minute 90 he didn’t put a foot wrong, but then he was rarely tested by a Norwich side intent on holding on to a point.

Norwich vs Arsenal player ratings

Koscielny 6 out of 10

His injury bug struck once more, as he went off in the opening ten minutes due to back-pain.

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Norwich vs Arsenal player ratings

Monreal 5 out of 10

Targeted Norwich’s lack of numbers on the left flank, getting forward as Wisdom was dragged out of position by Sanchez. But time and again his delivery left a great deal to be desired – whilst he found an Arsenal player it was not always the right player in the right position.

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Norwich vs Arsenal player ratings

Ramsey 6 out of 10

An encouraging return to the starting XI for Ramsey, who continued to show his excellent understanding with Ozil and Sanchez. His influence visibly waned later in the second half, but Wenger will be pleased to have him back in contention.

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Norwich vs Arsenal player ratings

Ozil 8 out of 10

The playmaker has clearly taken on board his manager’s wish for him to add greater goal threat to his game. Was immediately alive to the opportunity when Ruddy miscued his kick, finding space as a true poacher should.

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Norwich vs Arsenal player ratings

Sanchez 8 out of 10

Consistently found the space to draw Norwich defenders into mistakes. It was little surprise that he was well-placed to profit for the opener. An excellent performance was cut short on the hour with an utterly predictable hamstring injury.

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Norwich vs Arsenal player ratings

Giroud 4 out of 10

Whilst his team-mates displayed some sumptuous short passes and flicks around the area the Frenchman was unmoved and unmoving. He contributed next to nothing to the Arsenal attack, at best competing for a few headers.

Norwich vs Arsenal player ratings

Flamini 6 out of 10

Much improved from Wednesday’s poor showing, Flamini seems to have calmed down and ditched his desire to be in every position at every time. He showed reliability in shielding a backline thrown together ten minutes into the game.

Norwich vs Arsenal player ratings

Cazorla: 7

Made the most of the opportunities Norwich provided him to bring the ball forward from deep, dribbling past opponents at will before teeing up team-mates. Another to suffer a potentially worrying injury, he slowed down significantly in the second half.

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Surprisingly, Bournemouth's Andrew Surman has completed the second most passes, with Manchester City's Fernandinho and Cazorla's team-mate Mesut Ozil also in the top five.

Ozil is also way in front in the assist charts, with 11 already this season - four players are joint second with only six.

(EA SPORTS)

Manchester United and Liverpool have no players in the top 10 while Bournemouth (Surman and Simon Francis) and Swansea City (Ashley Williams and Jonjo Shelvey) both have two.

Everton's Gareth Barry and Glenn Whelan of Stoke City are the other players to make up the top 10.

Data courtesy of the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, the Official Player Rating Index of the Barclays Premier League

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