Speed is key in modern football.
Whether it be defenders recovering to win a last-ditch tackle or attackers hitting teams on the counter, we are constantly told that 'there is no substitute for pace'.
So, who have been the quickest players in the Premier League this season? Thanks to the clever people at Opta, we can now tell you.
Opta now measure the top speed recorded by each player during every game. That means we have been able to list the 10 players who have registered the fastest speed so far this season - you can see the list below.
The headline news? Kyle Walker, the right-back who moved from Tottenham to Manchester City this summer, has been the top-flight's quickest player so far - clocked moving at a remarkable 35.16 kilometres per hour.
That's not terribly surprising. After all, Walker is known for being rapid - that's part of the reason Pep Guardiola decided to pay £48million for his services.
Similarly, seeing Sadio Mane and Jamie Vardy popping up in this top 10 won't come as much of a shock. Again, the Liverpool and Leicester forwards both have reputations as speed merchants.
However, there are several things about this list which WILL cause you to stop and think… 'Eh?'
Things like…
- N'Golo Kante being the fastest player at Chelsea.
- Paul Pogba being the fastest player at Manchester United - and quicker than Jamie Vardy.
- And, most bizarrely of all, the fact that only two players in the entire division have been clocked moving faster than Arsenal centre-back Laurent Koscielny this season.
See for yourself:
=10. Salomon Rondon (West Brom) - 34.56 km per hour
=10. Romelu Lukaku (Man United) - 34.56 km per hour
