Premier League Archive: Six stunning solo goals

The Premier League has been stage to some unforgettable individual moments from the wealth of stars to have shone in the division, with nothing quite like the thrill of a stunning solo goal.

Kaoru Mitoma added another extraorindary effort to his particular category last weekend, with the Brighton winger ignoring all other avenues to head single-mindedly for goal and score against Wolves.

Following the Japan winger’s wonderful individual effort, we’ve decided to remember some of the Premier League’s best ever solo goals.

Premier League Archive: Six stunning solo goals

Dalian Atkinson

Dalian Atkinson claimed Match of the Day’s Goal of the Season Award during the Premier League’s inaugural campaign, after the Aston Villa forward embarked on a mazy solo run at Wimbledon.

Atkinson’s run began well inside his own half and he ignored all other options to drive direct for goal. He shrugged off the challenge of Lawrie Sanchez and dribbled past both Scott Fitzgerald and Gary Elkins (twice), before impudently lifting the ball over Hans Segers with a delicate chip.

Outstanding.

#OnThisDay in 𝟭𝟵𝟵𝟮, Dalian Atkinson scored one of our greatest Premier League goals. 😍 pic.twitter.com/BswyZZ2WEQ

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) October 3, 2021

Ruud van Nistelrooy

Ruud van Nistelrooy’s repertoire of goals might not be the first fans flock to watch re-runs of, with the Dutch forward more renown as one of the Premier League’s premier penalty-box predators.

The six-yard box might have been more often his domain, but Van Nistelrooy scored this brilliant individual effort as Manchester United beat Fulham during the 2002/03 campaign.

Despite being surrounded by white shirts, Van Nistelrooy danced through a succession of challenges before firing home. It was the pick of the 150 goals he scored in just five seasons at Old Trafford.

There was just no stopping him 💨@RvN1776 | @ManUtd pic.twitter.com/gKmQXaIDen

— Premier League (@premierleague) July 15, 2023

Thierry Henry

For many, Thierry Henry remains the finest footballer of the Premier League era.

Henry was the leading light of Arsenal’s fantastic side across the turn of the millennium, a record four-time winner of the Premier League Golden Boot and a forward who made embarrassing opposition defenders his forte.

The Frenchman had no shortage of stunning solo candidates for this feature, but arguably his most important was this individual effort against Liverpool. Arsenal’s unbeaten run was on the line with Liverpool leading in north London, but a Henry hat-trick turned the game around and included this moment of genius.

It ensured Arsenal remained undefeated on route to Invincible immortality, with Henry turning the Va Va Voom into top gear at Highbury. The bamboozled Jamie Carragher is still having nightmares.

Thierry Henry. ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/FpFPkJVO1A

— Premier League (@premierleague) August 17, 2023

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Hatem Ben Arfa

Hatem Ben Arfa never quite hit the heights his natural gifts perhaps should have, but when he was good, he was very good.

For a short spell at Newcastle the mercurial Frenchman made magic happen, including outrageous on-his-own goals against Bolton and Blackburn. The former deserves its place in this list, as Ben Arfa turned sharply inside the centre circle before bursting forward to fire home.

🎂 Happy birthday, Hatem Ben Arfa 🥳

Who remembers this outrageous solo goal? 😍 pic.twitter.com/kcqnNiLNNS

— Premier League (@premierleague) March 7, 2022

Sofiane Boufal

Sofiane Boufal falls into a similar category to the aforementioned Ben Arfa, though not quite in the same league as Newcastle’s flamboyant Frenchman.

Boufal was blighted with inconsistency at Southampton, but still capable of jaw-dropping moments. See below – as he shimmied past SIX West Brom players – for a prime example.

Sometimes it’s just better to go it alone…

As Sofiane Boufal shows us 🤩#GoalOfTheDay @SouthamptonFC pic.twitter.com/HCVnz4KhVY

— Premier League (@premierleague) September 23, 2019

Son Heung-min

Son Heung-min scored one of the Premier League’s best ever coast-to-coast goals, as the South Korean stormed from the edge of his own area to find the net against Burnley.

Son ran 70 meters in just 12 seconds, accelerating away from a number of Claret shirts in a lung-busting crusade towards the Burnley goal. A phenomenal effort from the Tottenham forward and a deserved winner of the 2020 FIFA Puskás Award.