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David Silva has undoubtedly been one of the stars of the 2011/12 Premier League season so far, assisting a league-high 12 goals for Manchester City and creating more goalscoring chances from open play than any other player in the top-flight (62).
However, Silva still has some way to go to eclipse the efforts of former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas' efforts in the Premier League between August 2007 and his departure from the Gunners last summer.
Premier League's Leading Creative Players since August 2007
* Only players with 1500+ mins considered.
Fabregas managed to create an impressive 266 goalscoring chances from open play in nearly four years for Arsenal in the Premier League between August 2007 and May 2010 - creating a chance from open play every 33 minutes and 14 seconds on average.
Two fellow Spaniards follow Fabregas in this ranking; with Silva creating a chance every 34 minutes and 27 seconds on average, followed by Chelsea's summer signing Juan Mata (36 mins, 46 seconds on average).
The most creative English player in the Premier League since August 2007 is, perhaps surprisingly, Aaron Lennon. The Tottenham man has managed to create a chance from open play every 45 minutes and 36 seconds on average. However, Lennon's efforts are only good enough to rank 15th - followed by only two other Englishmen in the top 20; Kevin Davies (16th) and Wayne Rooney (19th).
Captain Cesc is - or will soon become - the best creative midfielder in the business.
wow there is alot of surprising faces here... Ramsey ? a nice player but need more accuracy. Rosicky ? looks like he running around for nothing. Obinna ? someone even remember his shirt number? benayoun is a creative player and i think he should get much more chances from AW way ahead of Arshavin and Chamake... but this table really sums it up - Fabregas is the best middfilder there is! better then Xavi and Iniesta!
Man Utd are also well represented here. Although they've all played a lot more hours than the gunners
There are so many Arsenal players in this list! Or should I say ex-arsenal players!
david silva has been incredible for city since joining and by the way their playing i dont see him budging!
Kalous involvement in there surprises me. He must be the super-sub coming on and creating chances!
4 of the top 6 from Chelsea? Says enough to me...
Lennon? I honestly thought he was so wasteful! Impressed.
Juan Mata is only going to get better as well, I think he'll stay up there with Fabregas
It shows how much Fabregas was injured in those years, only playing only 8800 minutes. And how influential he was for Arsenal
There's some really strange players in there! Obina especially! Not one i'd expect to see..!
Isn't that list outdated already? I mean, going by your stats on the site, Mata has created more chances per game than Silva. Around 67 in total, if my math is to be trusted (=rare occasion).