Ranking Premier League Assists: Rooney, Van Der Vaart, Drogba, Fabregas, Crouch

The goalscorers get all the glory, but lest we forget the selfless providers who lay on the assists.

Whether their work comes in crosses, passes or flick-ons, it's the creators supreme who keep the assassins in bullets and their team in goals.

All hail the top 14 assist makers in the Premier League so far this season...

Aston Villa's Ashley Young and Stewart Downing

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WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 26: Stuart Downing of Aston Villa celebrates scoring to make it 1-0 with Ashley Young during the Barclays Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa at Molineux on September 26, 2010 in Wolverh

Aston Villa and England wingers Stewart Downing and Ashley Young have both laid on seven goals in the Premier League this season.

Young has form—having made 10 assists in the 2009-10 season to rank inside the Top 10 in the division.

And when you consider Villa have earned just a solitary point from the four games Young has missed this season, it's clear he's key to their operation.

Tottenham's Dutch Delight Rafael Van Der Vaart

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LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 19: Rafael van der Vaart (L) of Tottenham in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United at White Hart Lane on March 19, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Image

Rafael van der Vaart has made a remarkable impact in his 20 Premier League appearances this season.

The Dutchman has scored 10 times and laid on seven assists.

If Spurs somehow won the Champions League he'd be ranked one of the greatest Premier League transfers of them all.

Bolton's Chung-Yong Lee

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BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 12: Chung-Yong Lee of Bolton Wanderers applauds the fans during the FA Cup sponsored by E.On Sixth Round match between Birmingham City and Bolton Wanderers at St Andrews on March 12, 2011 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Jami

The South Korean midfielder doesn't score many (six in 57 EPL games), but he's provided seven assists for Bolton this season.

That's already one better than he managed last season.

Blackpool's Most Wanted—Charlie Adam

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BLACKBURN, ENGLAND - MARCH 19: Charlie Adam of Blackpool celebrates scoring to make it 1-0 during the Barclays Premier League match between Blackburn Rovers and Blackpool at Ewood Park on March 19, 2011 in Blackburn, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Get

Blackpool captain, Charlie Adam, has scored nine and set up seven in his first Premier League season—with that cultured left peg largely responsible.

No wonder the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United are reportedly keen to sign him.

Adam nearly went to Anfield in January, but the £9 million deal fell through.

Stoke City Midfielder Matthew Etherington

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WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 20: Matthew Etherington of Stoke celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City at The Hawthorns on November 20, 2010 in West Bromwich,

Matthew Etherington has missed just three games for Stoke this season—and they've lost all three.

Like Adam, his cultured left foot is the biggest reason for his productivity as a creative player.

Etherington has laid on eight goals for Stoke so far this season.

Good Touch for a Big Man—Peter Crouch

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LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 09: Peter Crouch of Tottenham applauds the crowd during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and AC Milan at White Hart Lane on March 9, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Jamie McDonal

Peter Crouch has only started 15 times for Tottenham in the Premier League this season, but he's still managed to set up nine goals.

It's a well-worn media cliche to say he has "good touch for a big man," but the evidence speaks for itself.

Arsenal Captain Cesc Fabregas

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BARCELONA, SPAIN - MARCH 08: Cesc Fabregas of Arsenal looks on during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Barcelona and Arsenal on March 8, 2011 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images)

Let's talk about Cesc. He's set up 10 goals in 20 Premier League appearances this season—giving him an altogether straightforward ratio of one assist every two games.

No wonder Barcelona won't forget about signing him.

Didier Drogba Is No Selfish Hitman

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LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 20: David Luiz of Chelsea (2R) celebrates with Didier Drogba (L), John Terry (R) and Ashley Cole (2L) as he scores their first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on

Chelsea's Didier Drogba is the only man currently inside the Top 10 for goals and assists in the EPL.

He's got 10 of both, which puts to bed any notion of the Ivorian being a greedy, self-interested hitman.

Manchester United Striker Wayne Rooney Gives It Up

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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 19: Wayne Rooney of Manchester United battles with Stuart Holden of Bolton Wanderers during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Bolton Wanderers at Old Trafford on March 19, 2011 in Manchester, Engla

It might not have been a vintage goalscoring year for Wayne Rooney, but the Manchester United and England man has played a key role in laying them on.

Rooney has delivered 11 assists this season, and played his part in helping teammate, Dimitar Berbatov, to the top of the scoring charts.

West Brom Midfielder Chris Brunt

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WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 01: Chris Brunt of West Brom in action during the Barclays Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Wigan Athletic at The Hawthorns on February 1, 2011 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote

West Brom have scored 40 goals with Chris Brunt on the pitch this season, and the midfielder has set up just over a quarter of them.

Brunt has 11 assists from 28 starts, and you feel sure without him the Baggies would be down in the bottom three right now.

Everton Lefty Leighton Baines

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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 19: Leighton Baines of Everton controls the ball during the FA Cup sponsored by E.ON 4th round replay match between Chelsea and Everton at Stamford Bridge on February 19, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty

Everton defender Leighton Baines has no right to be mixing it with the likes of Wayne Rooney and Didier Drogba on the assists list—but the numbers don't lie.

Baines was ranked 11 in assists last season, and he could finish higher this season. He's already got 11, which puts him in a tie for second with Rooney, Chris Brunt and...

Arsenal Magician Andrey Arshavin

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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 12: Andrey Arshavin of Arsenal passes the ball during the FA Cup sponsored by E.On Sixth Round match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford on March 12, 2011 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty

Arsenal's Andrey Arshavin completes the group on 11 assists.

The mercurial Russian has already bettered his tally of 10 from last season, and you get the feeling his inspiration could be key to the Gunners maintaining their title push in this campaign.

But there's no mistaking the creator supreme...

Manchester United Winger Nani—Pleased to Be of Assistance

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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 15: Javier Hernandez (L) of Manchester United celebrates scoring the opening goal with teammate Nani during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Manchester United and Marseille at Old Trafford on Marc

Nani has already got 16 assists for this campaign—one shy of Frank Lampard's winning haul of 17 last season.

The Manchester United winger has long lived in the shadow of his compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo, but this season he's proved his worth at Old Trafford.

Nani has also scored nine times in his 26 appearances this season, meaning he's been involved in 25 of the 53 goals United have scored with him on the pitch.

Now that's influence.