Some of the Premier League’s finest forwards have made a brilliant start to the new season, with four footballers having broken the five-goal barrier after just six league games.
Others have underlined their importance with a combination of goals and assists and a leading centre-forward can transform a team’s fortunes when in form.
We’ve decided to look at five Premier League strikers who have started the season in electric form.
Ivan Toney
Ivan Toney continues to take to Premier League football with consummate ease, beginning his second season at this level with five goals in six games.
Toney has taken the rise from League One to the top division in his stride and there are increasing calls for the 26-year-old to be given a chance at international level. The Brentford forward must be prominent in Gareth Southgate’s plans ahead of September’s international break, following a start to the season that has seen Toney torment Premier League defences.
https://twitter.com/ESPNUK/status/1567150628786298881
A brilliant performance saw Toney thrive as Manchester United were thrashed 4-0 in August, before the Bees’ talisman helped himself to a hat-trick in the 5-2 win over Leeds last weekend.
His hat-trick was the highest order and showcased the variety to his game, with Toney a forward who combines power and presence with a swagger around goal.
It is perhaps a surprise that bigger clubs did not come calling for Toney in the summer, with a number of sides higher up the division turning to alternatives. Should he maintain his current levels across the course of the campaign, Brentford are likely to face a queue of suitors next summer.
An opportunity with England will only increase the number that Brentford can place as a price-tag.
Aleksandar Mitrovic
Remember those doubting whether Aleksandar Mitrovic could cut it at Premier League level? Those loud in voice just a few weeks ago are rather quieter now, following an explosive start to the season for the Fulham forward.
Mitrovic’s most recent season in the Premier League ended in disaster, as he scored just three league goals in a relegation campaign that saw him fall out of favour under Scott Parker.
Marco Silva has instead coaxed the best from the Serbia international, who has scored a record-breaking 46 goals for the national side. Mitrovic was inspired last season to obliterate the Championship goal record, as he netted 43 goals in 44 games to fire Fulham to the second-tier title.
6️⃣ games. 6️⃣ goals. ????#FFC pic.twitter.com/vzO1nCBZqI
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) September 4, 2022
He has continued that form into the current campaign, with six goals from six games to date. Only Erling Haaland has scored more than the 27-year-old, who began with a brace against Liverpool on an afternoon in which he gave Virgil van Dijk a torrid time.
Four further goals – including a stunner at Spurs last weekend – have followed, with Mitrovic’s 27 shots more than any other player in the Premier League this season and his 15 shots on target are joint-top with Haaland.
Fulham have made a solid start and the menacing Mitrovic can help end the club’s yo-yo existence.
Harry Kane
Harry Kane has notoriously been a slow starter to Premier League seasons, but he has hit the ground running during the 2022/23 campaign.
Kane has scored five goals from six Premier League fixtures for Spurs, goals which have seen the England captain rise to third among the division’s all-time record goalscorers.
It’s now 188 top-flight goals for Kane, who will have ambitions of joining Alan Shearer (260) and Wayne Rooney (208) in the 200 club before the end of the campaign.
Clear in third place in the all-time list… Congratulations @HKane ???????????? pic.twitter.com/O723xMXRUI
— Premier League (@premierleague) September 4, 2022
The 29-year-old is also just 14 goals from bettering Jimmy Greaves’ club-record total for Spurs, with multiple records well within sight for Kane who could become England’s record goalscorer before the end of 2022.
Kane produced arguably his sharpest performance of the season in the win over Fulham last weekend and the additions of Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison across the past two windows have provided the forward with a stellar supporting cast.
Appearing content with life under Antonio Conte in North London, he will be aiming to win a record-equalling fourth Premier League Golden Boot this season.
Erling Haaland
Much was expected of Erling Haaland upon his arrival into the Premier League and it’s fair to say the Norwegian has not disappointed.
Haaland has hit a record-equalling ten goals in his first six Premier League games, a haul which has included becoming just the sixth star to hit consecutive hat-tricks in the division.
Questions were asked about how Haaland would fit into a Manchester City team that has operated without a recognised forward for much of the past two seasons, but he has issued an emphatic response to those who suggested he might need a period of adaptation.
Double figures ????@ErlingHaaland 1️⃣0️⃣ pic.twitter.com/pD4E2f2sfb
— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 3, 2022
Already four goals clear in the race for the Premier League’s Golden Boot, he is being billed as the missing piece of the puzzle for a City side chasing Champions League success in 2022/23.
The numbers are truly astonishing. Haaland’s goals – averaged at 1.86 per game – have come from an xG of 6.4, meaning he is far outperforming what is expected of the chances that have come his way. His ten goals have come from just 15 shots on target, equating to a goal every 1.5 shots on target.
A freakish footballer of raw pace, power and precision around goal, it should perhaps come as no surprise that Haaland and City has been a perfect marriage to date.
Gabriel Jesus
Haaland’s arrival at the Etihad led to Gabriel Jesus’ exit from Manchester City, with the forward heading south to sign for Arsenal in a £45m deal.
That investment has looked a shrewd one from the Gunners with Jesus having taken Mikel Areta’s team to new levels over the season’s opening weeks.
Jesus has six goal involvements (3G / 3A) in six league appearances for the North Londoners and his contribution has helped Arsenal to their best start to a Premier League season since 2004/05.
Gabriel Jesus has set up camp in the opposition box. ⛺ pic.twitter.com/EWRtHGb18K
— Squawka (@Squawka) September 5, 2022
The 25-year-old’s work-rate from the front and intelligent link-up play has brought the best from those around him, with compatriot Gabriel Martinelli having thrived alongside his international teammate at the Emirates.
Having traded a bit-part role at City for main man status at Arsenal, Jesus’ confidence and quality has shone through so far this season. On current form, he looks the prime candidate to be Brazil’s first-choice forward for the World Cup in Qatar.
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