Despite the lack of success in 2016 for Crystal Palace, it has still been an exciting team to watch. With the solid performance the Eagles gave last year, fans were certainly expecting a much better season. Players like Yannick Bolasie and Yohan Cabaye have caught the eye of many Premier League followers, but one other player, Wilfried Zaha, is thriving in an impressive way.
His pace is quick and his skill is notable, earning himself a very important role in the team. He is certainly not under-appreciated and when people name the best Crystal Palace players he usually comes close to the top of the list.
In a recent article posted by FYP Fanzine, Zaha has dominated in successfully taking on opposing players. Doing better than Lionel Messi and Ronaldo, Zaha comes in second place in Europe’s top five leagues for most completed take-ons. An interesting statistic, and one that shows just how dangerous this player can be against defenders.
As of the twenty-fourth of March, the young attacker has 108 completed take-ons. Neymar tops the list at 115, and Ben Arfa at a close third with 104. It may not be the most important statistic in the game, but it does shine a light on how threatening this player can be.
Crystal Palace has failed to capitalize on the excellent skill of Wilfried Zaha, but a key element to finding success again will rely on the ability to make use of his threat. Regardless of the poor form of Crystal Palace, this winger has been making many defenders shake in their boots at the sight of him sprinting forward.
