Chelsea and Aston Villa dominate Premier League best new signing XI
Now in the midst of the November international break, and the Premier League season eight games old, the table is beginning to take shape. While there will be plenty more twists and turns between now and May, the early indications suggests Liverpool will be challenging for their Premier League crown once more, but, as the current table shows, they may face competition from the likes of Tottenham and Leicester, rather than Manchester City, this season.
Big spending Chelsea remain in the hunt, while surprise packages Southampton and Aston Villa round off the top six.
A number of new signings have hit the ground running to aid their teams and here, using our unique rating system, we take a look at the best new signing XI from the 2020/21 season so far...
Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa) - 6.92
The first of four Aston Villa representatives in the best new signing XI, Arsenal fans were disappointed to see the back of Emiliano Martinez over the summer as he swapped the Emirates for Villa Park. Villa's 3-0 win at Arsenal on Sunday marked Martinez's fourth clean sheet in the Premier League this season; no goalkeeper has registered more in 2020/21. The Argentine ranks fifth for total saves (22) in England's top tier and his good form between the sticks has seen him garner a WhoScored rating of 6.92.
Matty Cash (Aston Villa) - 7.22
Aston Villa upgraded their right-back options and then some with the capture of Matty Cash from Nottingham Forest. The youngster was one of the best full-backs in the Championship last season and Forest's failed promotion push meant Villa pounced for Cash. He has lived up to expectations having made 44 tackles and interceptions combined, a record only N'Golo Kante (45) has bettered so far this season, albeit having played one game more than the Villa ace, and it's contributed towards Cash's WhoScored rating of 7.22.
Gabriel (Arsenal) - 7.05
Arsenal beat off competition from Everton and Manchester United to sign Gabriel from Lille over the summer. The Brazilian set the tone on his Premier League debut, netting in the 3-0 win at Fulham. Arsenal's form may have dropped since that opening day victory at Craven Cottage, with Mikel Arteta overseeing three defeats from their last four, but Gabriel has proven a solid capture. His WhoScored rating of 7.05 is better than any other Arsenal player, while 604 passes is the third best in the Premier League, reinforcing a WhoScored strength of 'passing'
Thiago Silva (Chelsea) - 7.02
It's an all-Brazilian partnership at the heart of the defence, and the first of three Chelsea players to feature in the best rated new signing XI. Thiago Silva endured a debut to forget, but has quickly established himself as a key man for the Blues in a backline that was in dire need of an injection of experience. Silva has started just five of Chelsea's eight league games this season, but they have conceded just four of their 10 goals in those five, and just once in the last four. A 92.8% pass success rate is the fourth best in the Premier League this season and has helped the Brazilian to a WhoScored rating of 7.02.
Ben Chilwell (Chelsea) - 7.77
Another Chelsea man rounds off the backline. The Blues' pursuit of Ben Chilwell was well-documented and they finally landed their main left-back target back in August for around £45m. While there were ample left-backs in the market over the summer, Frank Lampard pushed hard for Chilwell and the England international has repaid the faith shown in him by the Chelsea boss. The 23-year-old has two goals and two assists to his name for the west London side, while 2.2 key passes per 90 is a fine return for the left-back, who has garnered a WhoScored rating of 7.77 as a result.
James Rodriguez (Everton) - 7.84
The Premier League's best rated new signing was also the headline grabbing capture of the summer. Everton pulled off a coup to land James Rodriguez, who reunited with Carlo Ancelotti for the third time in his career. A couple of sub-par displays of late has taken some of the shine off the arrival of the Colombian, but Rodriguez has still done enough to warrant a WhoScored rating of 7.84 in the Premier League this season. The 29-year-old has scored three and provided three assists for the Toffees, while only two players have forged more clear-cut chances than the Everton creator (5) this season to cap a commendable start to life on Merseyside.
Ross Barkley (Aston Villa) - 7.62
A loan arrival from Chelsea, Ross Barkley has enjoyed a new lease of life for Dean Smith's side. The 26-year old has already scored more league goals for Aston Villa this season (2) than he managed in 2019/20 (1) and he managed his first assist of the campaign with a fine cross for Ollie Watkins against Arsenal on Sunday night. Barkley has taken to his new attacking duties in a Villa shot with ease having mustered averages of 3.4 shots, three key passes and 2.2 successful dribbles per 90, all of which have helped the England international return a WhoScored rating of 7.62.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Tottenham) - 6.98
Tottenham invested heavily over the summer, making no fewer than seven signings to strengthen the squad. However, only one Spurs player makes this team. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was the first new arrival through the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium doors as the Dane swapped the south coast for north London. Hojbjerg has proven a solid capture for Jose Mourinho's side having made more passes (659) than any other Premier League player this season. The 25-year-old, then, partners Barkley in this XI with a WhoScored rating of 6.98.
Timo Werner (Chelsea) - 7.40
The final Chelsea representative in the best new signing XI, Timo Werner took some time to get going, but now he has gained a head of steam, the German shows no signs of slowing. Indeed, Werner now has four goals and one assist to his name, all of which have come in his last four Premier League outings. While supporters may have expected Werner to sit closer to the top of the scoring charts, the former RB Leipzig man looks to be hitting his stride after taking some time to settle in the capital and it means he has returned an average WhoScored rating of 7.40.
Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) - 7.82
The fourth and final Aston Villa player in this team, Ollie Watkins has had a direct hand in seven league goals this season, scoring six and assisting one. Three goals and one assist in a 7-2 win over Liverpool may have pushed his average WhoScored rating up to 7.82, but for a player in his debut top-flight season for a team that just beat the drop last season, Watkins has enjoyed a stunning start to life in the Premier League.
Callum Wilson (Newcastle) - 6.93
Rounding off the XI is Newcastle's big name new striker Callum Wilson. The former Bournemouth man has six goals to his name in 2020/21, an impressive return when considering Newcastle's top scorer in the Premier League last season was Jonjo Shelvey, with six goals. The Magpies' strikers - Dwight Gayle, Joelinton and Andy Carroll - each netted six times between them in 2019/20, which made a new frontman imperative over the summer. Wilson's good form on the frontline sees him partner Watkins in this team with a WhoScored rating of 6.93.
