EPL Hot 11: Van Persie, Balotelli, City Well Represented in Match Day 9

Mario Balotelli continued his magnificent scoring form in City's 6-1 win over United on Sunday, as did Tottenham's Rafael van der Vaart and Arsenal's Robin van Persie, all three maintaining their place in this week's edition of the Premier League Hot 11.

The Italian Balotelli is one of four City players to make it into the rankings this week, a 6-1 drumming of Manchester United will do that.

Debuting this week are Arsenal's Gervinho, Swansea's Danny Graham, Wolves' Kevin Doyle and Everton's Royston Drenthe.

Every Wednesday, 11 footballers in the Premier League will make up the EPL Hot 11, a fluctuating power ranking that highlights the top performers over the course of the entire season. Dependent on their match-day performances, players may move up or down the list each week.

Robin van Persie

In terms of goal-scoring form in the long term, there may not be a hotter footballer than Arsenal's Robin van Persie.

The Dutchman recorded a double, his third in four matches, in the Gunners' 3-1 win over Stoke City Sunday.

Of the club's 15 goals this season, van Persie has a claim in seven of them, which makes him the most important asset for an Arsenal side that is slowly climbing the table after a troubling start to the campaign.

As long as the 28-year-old van Persie maintains his form, Arsenal keeps on winning.

Mario Balotelli

Mario Balotelli has given Manchester City a lift it surely did not see coming.

The controversial Italian scored a double in City's magnificent derby win over United, twice connecting with James Milner.

His goals marked the fourth consecutive match in which he has scored as City climb five points clear at the top of the table.

Balotelli opened the game in the 22nd minute with a precision-laden, side-footed strike that fit snugly into the side netting just out of the reach of David De Gea.

Then 15 minutes into the second half, Milner's cross found Balotelli front point-blank range, and a simple deflection off the 21-year-old's foot was all that was needed to secure City's three points.

Rafael van der Vaat

Rafael van der Vaart has recorded at least one goal in Spurs's previous four games, opening the scoring in each of those fixtures.

In Tottenham's 2-1 win over Blackburn Sunday, the Dutchman picked up a double as the 28-year-old's good form continues.

He failed to score in Spurs's first three games, but he now has five on the season all coming in the last four league games.

Van der Vaart's production, in part, has led to Tottenham's ferocious rise in the league table, jumping up to fifth place ahead of Liverpool.

Anthony Pilkington

Anthony Pilkington picked up a double in last weekend's 3-1 decision, and the winger followed up with another good performance Saturday in a 1-1 draw with Liverpool.

The 23-year-old connected with substitute Grant Holt in the 60th minute, as his cross from the right flank found the striker comfortably as Holt headed it home.

Pilkington nearly doubled up his assist effort just five minutes later, this time from the left side again finding Holt, but the attempt was brilliantly parried away by Pepe Reina.

Gervinho

Gervinho may finally be living up to his summer hype, as the Ivorian had influence in all three of Arsenal's goals in its 3-1 win over Stoke City Sunday.

Aaron Ramsey's lofted through ball found Gervinho with no one to beat but the keeper, and the summer signing easily found the net.

With the game locked 1-1 for nearly 40 minutes, the 24-year-old twice found Robin van Persie.

Grabbing the lead in the 73rd minute, Gerivnho's run along the right of the box finished with a lay off to the captain, who simply poked the ball through the near post.

Nearly nine minutes later, this time from the left, Gervinho again left a ball in the middle of the box for van Persie who squirmed another effort past Asmir Begovic for the Gunners' decisive third goal.

Edin Dzeko

Edin Dzeko was a late benefactor in City's 6-1 win over United this weekend, as the Bosnian played less than 25 minutes but found the stat sheet three times, twice as a goal-scorer and again as an assist man.

In the 89th minute, a corner kick eventually fell to Joleon Lescott, who simply popped the ball in front of Dzeko who almost unknowingly had the ball deflect off his knee and into the net.

Just over a minute later, Dzeko laid off a ball to David Silva on a 3-on-2 breakaway, and the Spaniard could not miss.

Finally, in the 93rd minute, in what would be the final seconds of the first Manchester Derby, Silva sprung Dzeko loose, and the 25-year-old curled a left-footed shot past the keeper to put a stamp on a shocking win at Old Trafford.

David Silva

David Silva once again proved to be quite the conductor for an overflowing Manchester City offense on Sunday, as his production led to a 6-1 win over rivals United.

Though he will not get the credit on the stat sheet, Silva twice found James Milner before the Englishman found Mario Balotelli who scored the goals.

With City up 4-1 as the game entered stoppage time, Edin Dzeko laid a ball off for Silva outside the box, and the Spaniard would not miss with his left foot as he calmly slid his attempt underneath a helpless David De Gea.

Silva's best work would come three minutes later. After controlling a clearance on his half of the pitch, the 25-year-old majestically put in a through ball that had Dzeko in prime position for City's sixth score.

Danny Graham

Courtesy of a goal and an assist from Danny Graham, Swansea City grabbed a 2-0 lead before halftime, only to see that advantage slip away within the final six minutes of regulation.

In the 23rd minute, Graham controlled a lofted ball over the top of the Wolves' defenders before slipping his shot under the keeper. It was the 26-year-old's third goal in as many games for the Swans.

Twelve minutes later, Graham delivered a ball from the right of the box before Joe Allen simply guided his shot past the keeper.

Kevin Doyle

Wolverhampton faced a 2-0 deficit for nearly 50 minutes before it secured two goals within two minutes to finish at a 2-2 draw with Swansea City.

After substitute Sam Vokes's attempt from inside the box was parried away by the keeper Michel Vorm, Kevin Doyle was in the right place at the right time as the rebound fell right at his feet, and Doyle could not miss.

Just two minutes later, Doyle found Jame O'Hara from the left of the box who took just one touch to bury the equalizer.

James Milner

The early, unsung hero in Manchester City's 6-1 derby win Sunday was James Milner, who laid two assists for Mario Balotelli to give City a 2-0 advantage within 60 minutes.

Milner's grounded cross found Balotelli at the top of the box, and the Italian brilliantly took it first time with the side of his foot to fit it past a diving keeper.

Sealing United's fate in the 60th minute, the England international made a clever run towards the near post and took a David Silva layoff before pushing the ball across the face of the goal for Balotelli, who merely had to poke it into the net for City's two-goal advantage.

Micah Richards would get the assist for Sergio Aguero's 69th minute score, but it was Milner who delivered the up-field ball to his fullback.

Royston Drenthe

With arguably the most cracking goal of the weekend came from Everton's Royston Drenthe in the Toffees' 3-1 result over Fulham at Craven Cottage.

In recent history, this matchup typically favors the home side, but the on-loan player from Real Madrid opened scoring in the third minute with a blistering effort from beyond 30 meters that curled just outside of the reach of keeper Mark Schwarzer.

Drenthe influenced Everton's go-ahead goal in extra time, heading a pass ahead of Luis Saha who clinically finished his effort into the side netting.

The young Dutchman has impressed since his arrival with the club, picking up a goals and two assists in his last two league appearances.