Premier League players to watch in GW11: Will Saka join the company of a Man City legend? | OneFootball

The 2024/25 Premier League season is heading into its 11th gameweek, and some players are beginning to distinguish themselves. Let’s take a closer look at them.

Erling Haaland currently leads the scoring charts but is experiencing an inconsistent run of goalscoring form.

Meanwhile, an in-form Arsenal forward is on the verge of matching the achievements of Haaland’s illustrious predecessor. At the same time, an underrated forward is eager to score his first goal this weekend.

Welbeck on the cusp of a personal milestone

Danny Welbeck is experiencing a remarkable resurgence this season. After the first ten matchdays of the 2024/25 season, he has matched his best goal tally for Brighton with six goals, three less than his highest goal count during his time at Manchester United in the 2011/12 and 2013/14 seasons.

Notably, Welbeck scored three goals or assisted one in his last four Premier League games. He’s never had goal involvement in five consecutive league matches before. The question now is whether he can achieve this against a vulnerable Manchester City defence.

Gvardiol on the road

He will not oppose Welbeck directly, as the former England international will be playing in the centre of Brighton’s attack, but Joško Gvardiol will be part of a Manchester City defence that has been unworthy of their champion status. So far this season, they have conceded the first goal in five of their ten Premier League games. This is the first time since the 2006-07 season that they have allowed the opening goal in half of their first ten matches. Despite this, Gvardiol contributes significantly to City’s attack, having scored in their last three away matches in the league. He has netted six goals in his previous eight Premier League matches on the road.

Can Isak do it again?

It’s hard to imagine where Newcastle would be without Alexander Isak’s goals. After a difficult start to the season — scoring just one goal in his first six appearances — the Swedish striker has found his form, netting in each of the Magpies’ last two matches. He is now aiming to score in three or more consecutive Premier League games for the fourth time since the start of last season, which would make him the player with the most different scoring runs of that kind during this period.

Nketiah to get off the mark?

On the opposite end of the spectrum is Eddie Nketiah, who can’t seem to find the back of the net this season. After joining Crystal Palace from Arsenal this summer, which ended his nearly decade-long association with the North London club, Nketiah has made seven league appearances.

He has registered more shots without scoring than any other player in the Premier League this season, with a total of 17 attempts. His last goal in England’s top division came during a remarkable performance against Sheffield United in October 2023, when he scored his first-ever Premier League hat trick.

Saka chasing Agüero

Nketiah’s former club, Arsenal, is currently facing a challenging period. They have failed to win any of their last three Premier League matches, recording one draw and two losses. This comes ahead of an exciting showdown with their London rivals, Chelsea, with the Gunners again relying on the influential Bukayo Saka, who has an impressive record at Stamford Bridge.

In his last three away games against Chelsea in the Premier League, he has either scored one goal or provided two assists. The only other visiting players to achieve a goal or assist in four consecutive appearances at Chelsea are Sergio Agüero (2013 to 2017) and Javier Hernandez (2012 to 2018).

More home comforts for Wissa?

Staying in West London, Brentford has the opportunity to quickly put their dramatic last-minute loss to local rivals Fulham behind them. Bournemouth are the visitors and will need to be cautious of Yoane Wissa, who has been directly involved in seven goals during his last four Premier League home games (5 goals and 2 assists), scoring in each of these matches.