The top five summer arrivals making an immediate impact in the Premier League

Although the Premier League is littered with stars who have failed to adjust to life among England’s elite, a handful of players relish the opportunity and take to it like a duck to water.

As we enter a hectic Christmas period and with the January transfer window on the horizon, managers and fans have had a chance to fully weigh up their summer additions.

While some have struggled, a handful have hit the ground running and have quickly established themselves as firm fan favorites.

So, who are the five players most impressing at the start of their Premier League career:

 

Lucas Torreira – Arsenal

If there is one man who deserves to sit atop of this list it is undoubtedly Arsenal’s new terrier-like midfielder Lucas Torreira.

Scoring his first goal for the Gunners in Sunday’s north London derby win, many at the Emirates will argue that it has been the 22-year-olds arrival that has been the catalyst for Arsenal’s revolution under Unai Emery.

Forming an eye-catching partnership with the previously untrustworthy Granit Xhaka, the Uruguayan international has now picked up three Premier League Man of the Match awards in his last four appearances.

https://twitter.com/SoccerNationNg/status/1069609254632529921

The only player in the Premier League to hold a pass accuracy of 90%, Torreira is quickly being labeled as one of the most talented central midfielders across Europe.

A tireless work ethic that has quickly endeared himself to fans in north London, he is currently recovering position for Arsenal every nine minutes, once again, the best return in the top-flight.

The man who breaks up play and has helped resolve Arsenal’s defensive issues over recent years, his ability to frustrate the opposition and dictate play has seen him hacked down at the same rate as Palace’s often targeted Wilfried Zaha.

 

Jorginho – Chelsea

From one holding midfielder to another.

Along with Torreira making an immediate impact at the Emirates, Italian international Jorginho is having a similar effect across London.

Following Maurizio Sarri to Stamford Bridge after two successful years under the 59-year-old at Napoli, Jorginho embodies the ‘Sarri-Ball’ style of play that last year’s Serie A Coach of the Year is looking to bring to west London.

With N’Golo Kante moved to a more out and out midfield role in Chelsea’s new system, the 26-year-old sits in front of David Luiz and Antonio Rudiger operating from almost a quarterback position.

180 – Chelsea midfielder Jorginho attempted 180 passes against West Ham – since 2003-04, this is the most by a player in a single Premier League match. Metronome. pic.twitter.com/3jwxjMlhkU

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 23, 2018

While many believe that Jorginho was left exposed during Chelsea’s 3-1 defeat to Tottenham last month, the midfielder has quickly become a firm fan favorite in SW6.

Featuring in all of the Blues matches both in Europe and in the Premier League, no player in the top-flight has had more touches than Jorginho entering December.

Averaging an astonishing 95 passes per match on average and his defensive duties playing a huge part of Eden Hazard’s creativity in the final third, Chelsea’s £50 summer addition could be the key behind a return to the Champions League.

 

Felipe Anderson – West Ham

With West Ham smashing their transfer record and splashing £35million on Felipe Anderson over the summer, the former Lazio man certainly had a lot of pressure on his shoulders.

Making his Premier League debut in a 4-0 defeat to Liverpool on the opening weekend, the Brazilian international was probably wondering what he had signed up for.

However, with West Ham now winning their last two Premier League matches on the bounce, Manuel Pellegrini has brought a new attacking identity to the London Stadium and Anderson appears to be relishing his role.

Featuring in all of the Hammers’ 15 league outings this season, the 25-year-old has recorded five goals and two assists.

Finding the net four times in his last five league appearances, Anderson’s performances have also earned him a spot in the running for the EA Sports Premier League Player of the Month for November.

OFFICIAL: The seven nominees for the November Premier League Player of the Month:

🇧🇷 Felipe Anderson
🇫🇷 Lucas Digne
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Andy Robertson
🇩🇪 Leroy Sané
🇪🇸 David Silva
🇫🇷 Moussa Sissoko
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Raheem Sterling

Who is your winner? pic.twitter.com/6PjZZu15W1

— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) December 4, 2018

Operating on the right-hand side of West Ham’s attacking trio, it isn’t just his contribution in the final third catching the eye.

Anderson has been an ever-willing runner for Pellegrini’s side and no player in east London has made more tackles than their latest arrival.

In fact, no attacking player in the Premier League has made more tackles than Anderson.

 

Alisson – Liverpool

Although his £70million price tag may have raised plenty of eyebrows across Europe, Jurgen Klopp’s decision to break the bank and bring Alisson Becker to the Premier League is already looking like a smart piece of business.

Standing at 6’2′ and a commanding figure in front of the Kop End, the former Roma shot-stopper, along with fellow new recruit Virgil van Dijk have played a crucial part in Liverpool’s defensive resurge.

Keeping a clean sheet in his debut Merseyside derby on Sunday, Alisson has now conceded just one Premier League goal in nearly 400 minutes of action.

Entering a hectic Christmas period, no goalkeeper across Europe’s top five leagues have kept more clean sheets so far this season.

https://twitter.com/AnfieldHQ/status/1070465744645705728

Although Alisson’s performances in England have seen him receive plenty of praise, the Brazilian international is still picking up the awards from his time at the Stadio Olimpico.

Earlier in the week, the new star of Anfield picked up the Serie A’s best goalkeeper award for last season.

Appearing to show no signs of needing time to adjust to the Premier League, Alisson’s remarkable save success of 85.29% is the highest held by any goalkeeper at a top-six side.

With Liverpool almost universally tipped to be Manchester City’s leading contender in the title race this season, Klopp will know that having a reliable number one between the posts could be pivotal come May.

James Maddison – Leicester

Although many have famously struggled after making the jump up from the Championship, James Maddison has only gone from strength to strength following £20million move from Norwich over the summer.

Leicester’s playmaker contributed directly to six goals in his first eight appearances and also scored a sublime solo goal in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Watford.

With Jamie Vardy suffering with a handful of injury issues since the start of the season, Maddison has quickly become the Leicester’s standout attacking performer.

James Maddison has been directly involved in 4 goals in his 6 #PL home games for @LCFC this season, scoring 3 and assisting 1#LEIWAT pic.twitter.com/hzUgkuZdll

— Premier League (@premierleague) December 2, 2018

No forward player has had more touches or completed more passes for Claude Puel’s side and no English player has won more fouls (29) or created more chances (26) in the Premier League this season.

Putting in an early push for Leicester’s Player of the Season, Maddison’s performances have been so impressive that the 22-year-old was awarded with his first call-up to Gareth Southgate’s England squad.

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