The Premier League's Most Aerially Dominant Players

The Premier League treats us to some fantastic footballing moments. Unfortunately, you can't always win in style, and an aerially dominant player can come in handy when times get desperate.

Equally, you need a dominant central defensive pairing in order to control the game and so, in essence, the aerial battle in football is of paramount importance.

I've put together a list of the 10 most aerially dominant players in the Premier League with statistics sourced from WhoScored.com and SkySports.com.

Take a look to see who's there—I'll bet you'll be surprised at some of the inclusions.

Enjoy the slideshow!

Peter Crouch

Surprised? Me neither.

First one on the list is beanpole striker Peter Crouch of Stoke City.

All 6'7" of him has won the most aerial duels per game in any European league, averaging 4.6 per game.

This part of his game is both established and expected considering his unbelievable height advantage, it's only the goal return he needs to work on.

He's only bagged six goals in 20 games this season, something he might need to improve to justify his £10million fee. He's certainly at the right club to do so, and it wouldn't be a big surprise if it picks up during the season run-in.

Heidar Helguson

Despite Queens Park Rangers' lavish spending, it's been Heidar Helguson, an existing member of the squad who got promoted last season, who has been their most efficient striker.

In 13 Premier League starts, Helguson has bagged eight goals and two assists. That's a pretty decent record that shows he averages more goals per game than £24million Aston Villa striker Darren Bent.

He also wins an average of 4.3 aerial duels per game, which is unbelievable considering he stands at just 5'10". Looking at those statistics, you might suggest that Peter Crouch should be doing better.

In any case, he is QPR's top striker. It's baffling as to why Neil Warnock stuck by Jay Bothroyd so fervently at the start of the season considering he yielded just two goals in 11 starts. 

Younes Kaboul

Younes Kaboul has been the single best central defender so far this season—aerially speaking of course.

You'd think with injury troubles haunting Michael Dawson and Ledley King, Tottenham Hotspur would suffer for that.

They've had their best season in my lifetime, and it's not just offensively they excel. Kaboul has been a massive player at the back for Spurs, and it's meant they've barely missed fan favourite Dawson.

Aerial dominance isn't the only asset of his game worth admiring though; his ball playing ability is decent and that stems from him being able to fill in at right-back or defensive midfield.

Kaboul has recorded an 84 percent pass completion rate and wins an average of 4.2 aerial contests per game.

Andy Carroll

OK, so at least he can perform his basic duties. Andy Carroll is a traditional target striker, something that made him very effective whilst playing for Newcastle United.

He is a big, bullying centre-forward who simply doesn't fit into Liverpool's style of play. If the Reds decided to utlilise him more, he'd likely have more than three goals in 14 starts. 

It's clear that Carroll is an effective aerial threat. He has won an average of 3.7 aerial duels per game and that's without the misfiring Stewart Downing sending in his usual accurate crosses.

Emile Heskey

Much maligned striker Emile Heskey can't pass, can't shoot and certainly struggles to score. 

He's currently testing the patience of Aston Villa fans everywhere, and I can bet Randy Lerner winces every week when he pays him close to £60,000 for his 'efforts'.

Alex McLeish has tried to play the ex-England striker at left-wing, central attacking midfield and up front. None of these positions have yielded results for him so far, and the fact remains the only thing he's any good at is winning the ball in the air.

He wins around 60 percent of his aerial duels, but that can't make up for his abysmal one in 12 goal to game ratio this season.

Gary Cahill

Although his form was suffering as part of a leaky Bolton Wanderers defence during the first half of the season, Gary Cahill was still one of the most efficient in dominating the aerial battle.

Although his marking and ability to pick up clever runs suffered during the last month, he spent in Bolton shirt, his heading and positioning was spot on as he wins an average of 3.3 battles per game with around a 60 percent success rate.

Chelsea will be hoping he can retain that aerial stability now they've picked him up during the January transfer window as their defence is currently at sixes and sevens.

That being said, Andre Villas-Boas needs to actually decide to play him first.

Gareth McAuley

Gareth McAuley has been a bit of a surprise performer this season, having gone from a mostly unknown status to Premier League starter for West Bromwich Albion.

He's been reliable and solid, winning 77 percent of his aerial battles and completing 75 percent of his passes. He's also chipped in with one goal in the 20 starting appearances he's made this season.

It's surprising to think McAuley is West Brom's most dominating defensive player in an aerial sense ans they have the likes of Jonas Olsson—someone everyone very much assumes wins the most duels between striker and defender.

Interestingly, the Northern Irish international hasn't had a single yellow or red card this season. Clean!

James Collins

James Collins is the second Aston Villa player in this list, which might prompt you to believe, on face value at least, that the claret and blue side are having a successful season.

As an Aston Villa fan, I can ultimately confirm to you all that we're not.

Both Emile Heskey and James Collins have good aerial statistics as a result of the long ball tactics Villa employ, more or less resulting in ping-pong between the defensive and offensive line.

Villa do have two huge, dominating centre-backs though, and Collins is the most efficient of the two, winning 69 percent of his tussles so far this season.

Steven N'Zonzi

Steven N'Zonzi is a big guy. To have that kind of height in midfield is a blessing, and so you have to question why Blackburn Rovers aren't able to retain second balls very well.

The Frenchman, like many Blackburn players, is under performing at the moment, but at least he is enjoying moderate success in the air.

He is, however, often paired up to mark a much smaller midfield player. Should N'Zonzi really be performing at double his current capacity when it comes to winning aerial duels?

He currently wins around 50 percent of the headers he goes for.

Jay Bothroyd

Queens Park Rangers' misfiring striker Jay Bothroyd is at least good for something as he sneaks onto the list thanks to an acceptable average of 3 aerial duels won per game.

He's in the same sort of situation as Andy Carroll, though without the £35million price tag weighing him down.

Queens Park Rangers play some pretty attractive football with the likes of Joey Barton, Adel Taarabt and Shaun Wright-Phillips all very capable in the short game.

Unfortunately, that doesn't really suit the one-cap England striker. On the occasion Wright-Phillips has delivered a cross for him, he has inexplicably headed over when it was easier to score.

Can Bobby Zamora solve the puzzle? He's better on the deck and equally good in the air so he could be the answer to QPR fan's prayers.