Premier League Top Scorers Week 8: Grading Saturday's X-Factors

In true Premier League fashion, Saturday’s instalment of elite English entertainment didn’t fail to excite as big guns were halted by some of the smaller forces at hand.

Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City were more successful, however, scoring a magnificent total of 11 goals between them, albeit none managed to keep a clean sheet.

With some of the best talent that the world has to offer on show, there were a number of individuals who stand head and shoulders above the rest from Saturday’s action, ranked on a scale out of 10.

All statistics courtesy of Squawka.

Sergio Aguero

The hero of Manchester City’s 2011/12 Premier League campaign is once again at his scoring best and showed it with a two-goal contribution at Upton Park this weekend.

The player himself showed his joy after the result:

As well as bringing his tally for the season up to six, the Argentinian had a hand in David Silva’s goal and generally led the Citizens’ line with comfort alongside Alvaro Negredo.

It’s not too often that a talent of Aguero’s fast and explosive nature combines sweet control and a calm finishing touch, but Manuel Pellegrini is lucky to have that exact sort within his ranks.

Grade: 9.0

Aaron Ramsey

Whatever it was that Aaron Ramsey got up to this summer, we could all do with some.

The Welshman continued his fantastic run of form against Norwich City, and despite the fact that he only came on just before halftime, Ramsey’s 55-minute input is enough to give him Man of the Match honours, which is saying something.

Granted, Mesut Ozil scored two goals in the 4-1 win over the Canaries, and Jack Wilshere netted possibly the Goal of the Season, but it wasn’t until Ramsey came on that the Gunners really got into their creative stride.

Tom Williams thinks the star is simply coming of age and was always destined to produce this kind of talent:

Ramsey was able to grab a goal himself and assisted one of Ozil’s efforts, capping off a simply seamless display from the bench.

Grade: 8.5

Adam Lallana

Southampton’s rise this season has been a terrific tale of team tactics, not centred around one player in particular but more relying on the great dynamic across the squad.

One such team player has been Adam Lallana, who played a starring role in the 1-1 draw at Old Trafford. Aside from scoring his team’s vital equaliser in the dying seconds against Manchester United, the Saints star created no fewer than five scoring chances for his side and got all three of his shots on target.

The result against the reigning Premier League champions is just the latest impressive outing for Mauricio Pochettino’s side, again thanks to the squad’s great understanding of one another.

Grade: 8.5