The 11 players to reach 50 assists in under 200 Premier League apps
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United players are among the fastest players to reach 50 assists in the history of the Premier League.
Mesut Ozil made it to 50 assists on his 141st appearance for Arsenal as he set up Shkodran Mustafi in their victory over Watford, becoming the fastest player to reach the milestone.
In fact, only 11 players have created 50 goals in their first 200 appearances in the competition.
We’ve taken a look at those incredibly generous individuals, including some names you might not expect to see.
Thank you for Mesut Ozil ! #afc pic.twitter.com/yK9pHO125q
— Urban Arsenal (@ArsenalUrban) March 8, 2018
11. Didier Drogba
Drogba became known for his bullish style of play and goalscoring ability, so it is easy not to realise that he left Chelsea with an average of one assist in every five games.
He reached 50 assists in 2011, on his 198th appearance for the club, though he managed just four more after that.
People will tell you Drogba was overrated and bring up his goals tally of 104 in 254 games. People won't tell you that Drogba was getting 0.86 goals and assists per 90.
— Rosś (@Bielsaciple) March 11, 2018
10. Steve McManaman
Former Liverpool midfielder McManaman made it to 50 Premier League assists in one less appearance than Drogba, putting him inside the top 10.
He recently revealed to us that he has many regrets from his spell at Anfield, mainly failing to win either the Premier League or the Champions League.
“The biggest regret of my career was not winning more with Liverpool,” he said. “We had a good team, but we never quite managed to get over the line.
“We played some great football during Roy Evans’ reign as manager, but we didn’t quite have the winning factor.”
READ: Steve McManaman: Not winning more with Liverpool is my biggest regret
9. Ashley Young
Young may have reinvented himself as a left-back at Manchester United, but it was in just his 15th appearance for the club in 2012 that the ex-Aston Villa winger registered his 50th Premier League assist.
After his excellent performance against Liverpool, Young has been tipped as a potential England full-back, aiming to earn a first international cap since 2013.
Just seen Mo Salah in the changing room, I said Oh you made it out? He said Made it out of what? I said Ashley Young’s pocket.
— Boring James Milner (@BoringMilner) March 10, 2018
8. Nolberto Solano
Newcastle’s cult hero hit the 50 assist mark in 178 appearances, ending his Premier League career with a record better than one assist in every five games.
We remember him more for his trumpeting tales, as a keen player he used to call former manager Sir Bobby Robson and play down the phone, with the boss completely unaware of the culprit.
“I’m not sure he was too amused.” Solano told FourFourTwo.
Nobby Solano, eh? #NUFC
This video is peak 'Roger Thames isn't there.' pic.twitter.com/SkWHanl0ag
— NUFCThreatLevel (@NUFCThreatLevel) July 22, 2017
7. Thierry Henry
Tenth in the all-time Premier League assists chart with 74, Henry made it to 50 in 174 appearances.
Overall in his Arsenal Premier League career, the Frenchman totalled 249 goals and assists in 258 games. Legend.
2️⃣4️⃣ #PL goals
2️⃣0️⃣ #PL assistsOnly ONE person has scored and assisted 20+ goals in a #PL season – @Arsenal's @ThierryHenry… pic.twitter.com/6LCT2CI4ud
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 1, 2017
6. David Beckham
Becks hit 80 Premier League assists in his career, at a rate of almost one every three games, making it to 50 in just 170 appearances.
A joy to watch whether he was lining up a free-kick, long ball or a cross – we can’t stop watching this one.
5. David Silva
“One of the best players of the last decade,” according to Pep Guardiola, Silva made it to 50 Premier League assists in 166 games.
He keeps going, and is about to break into the all-time top 10, sitting one assist behind Thierry Henry.
READ: David Silva: A man who deserves a Zidane-style portrait more than anyone else
4. Cesc Fabregas
Fabregas currently lies second in the all-time assists charts, but has a long way to go to catch Ryan Giggs, who is 51 ahead of the Chelsea midfielder.
He is, however, one of just four players to make it to three figures, and brought up his half century in 165 matches.
Pedro puts #CFC up 2-0 but what a ball from Cesc Fabregas #CHEHUL pic.twitter.com/5f7OKTXltq
— Jonah Takalua (@Destaquito2) February 16, 2018
3. Dennis Bergkamp
Former Arsenal forward Bergkamp in fact left the Premier League with seven more assists than he scored goals.
Recording 94 assists in total, he made it to 50 in just 146 appearances, prompting Gary Lineker to gush: “One runs out of superlatives in describing him as a player.
“He has great vision, awareness, touch, finish, not to mention selflessness, which for a striker almost sounds like a contradiction in terms.”
2. Eric Cantona
Cantona had held the record as the fastest player to reach 50 Premier League assists for over 20 years, hitting the landmark in 143 appearances back in 1997.
That assist by Cantona! pic.twitter.com/draJHCQBIJ
— 90s Football (@90sfootball) March 7, 2018
1. Mesut Ozil
Ozil’s 50th Premier League assist came in his 141st appearance, breaking Cantona’s record by two matches.
He loves an assist so much, he’s even been making them around the club’s training ground.
You wanna know what I'm doing outside the football pitch? 🤔 Watch this… 😁 #assist #M1Ö @Arsenal pic.twitter.com/Aw93xcgZuA
— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) March 11, 2018
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