Premier League’s New Number 10 Showdown: Who Was the Smartest Signing – Tottenham’s Xavi Simons, Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz, Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki, or Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze?

Introduction

The 2025–26 Premier League season has seen a fascinating battle for the top creative midfield spot, with four exciting new number 10s—Florian Wirtz, Eberechi Eze, Rayan Cherki, and Xavi Simons—taking centre stage.

Each brings a unique blend of vision, flair, and physicality, but the real question is: who has been the smartest signing in terms of influence, consistency, and impact?

By diving deep into minutes played, touches, passing, creativity, shooting, duels, and defensive contributions, a clear ranking emerges that highlights the player who has truly reshaped their team’s attacking engine.

Ranking of the Premier League Number 10s (2025–26 Season)

1️⃣ Florian Wirtz – Liverpool
Wirtz is the standout performer in this quartet. Leading in minutes (1,681), touches (1,353), passes (1,026 attempted, 862 completed), forward and backward passes, lay-offs (58), and shots on target (13), he combines high volume with consistent quality.

He dominates creative and build-up metrics, is highly involved physically (183 duels contested), and contributes defensively with 77 ball recoveries. While he doesn’t top every efficiency stat, his sheer involvement and influence make him Liverpool’s central engine and the most complete number 10 in the Premier League this season.

2️⃣ Rayan Cherki – Manchester City
Cherki excels in goal creation and line-breaking passes. Leading the group with 7 assists, 32 chances created, 15 through-balls, 47 crosses attempted, and 17 completed crosses, he thrives in Manchester City’s attacking system.

He also shows high engagement in duels and is regularly tackled, reflecting his influence in tight spaces. His discipline (fewest fouls committed) and occasional long-range scoring ability (1 goal outside the box) add to his value, placing him just behind Wirtz.

3️⃣ Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur
Simons impresses with his duel-winning ability and aerial effectiveness. Winning 81 duels, 11 aerial duels, and boasting 39.29% aerial duel success, he is Tottenham’s most combative number 10.

His long-pass accuracy (62.16%) also highlights his precision in switching play. Simons contributes creatively with 4 assists and 19 chances created, but overall involvement and minutes are slightly lower than Wirtz and Cherki, keeping him in third.

4️⃣ Eberechi Eze – Arsenal
Eze shines in efficiency metrics, with the highest passing accuracy (85.56%), shot accuracy (66.67%), conversion rate (22.22%), and dribble success (60.61%).

However, he lags in overall minutes (1,064), touches (549), chances created (9), and physical involvement (108 duels contested), indicating a lower overall impact compared to the other three.

While he is highly efficient when on the ball, Arsenal rely less on him as the primary engine in their attacking setup.

Here are the stats to support this ranking.

⬛Creativity & Playmaking

Minutes Played

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 1,681
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 1,064
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 1,198
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 1,028

Minutes on the pitch are more than just numbers—they reflect a player’s influence, consistency, and how much his team relies on him in the engine room.

This season in the Premier League, Florian Wirtz has been Liverpool’s heartbeat, logging a staggering 1,681 minutes. His constant presence highlights Arne Slot’s trust in him to drive attacks, dictate tempo, and unlock defenses.

Xavi Simons comes next with 1,198 minutes for Tottenham, proving Thomas Frank values his creativity and link-up play, while Eberechi Eze has accumulated 1,064 minutes for Arsenal.

Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki sits fourth with 1,028 minutes.

Verdict: Florian Wirtz takes the crown. His dominance in minutes played underscores not only his durability but also the pivotal role he plays in Liverpool’s attacking schemes. He is clearly the most trusted creative midfielder among this quartet in the EPL this season.

Touches

Touches are a key measure of a player’s involvement and willingness to influence the game. They show who is constantly looking to receive the ball, dictate play, and pull defenders out of position.

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 1,353
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 549
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 849
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 1,005

Florian Wirtz leads the way with a commanding 1,353 touches.

Rayan Cherki is next with 1,005 touches, demonstrating his hunger to impact Manchester City’s attacking rhythm, despite playing fewer minutes than both Xavi Simons and Eberechi Eze.

Xavi Simons has registered 849 touches, while Eze lags behind at 549.

This disparity speaks volumes: Cherki’s commitment to linking play and driving City forward stands out, while Eze, despite flashes of brilliance, is yet to consistently dominate possession.

Perhaps this is what Mikel Arteta meant when he called for more from Eze—more than the occasional magic moment, but continuous engagement across the pitch.

Verdict: Florian Wirtz dominates again. His sheer volume of touches reinforces his pivotal role in Liverpool’s build-up play and his influence in controlling games.

Assists

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 2
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 2
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 4
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 7

Assists are a crucial metric for attacking midfielders, showing their ability to create goal-scoring opportunities for teammates and influence the attacking rhythm.

In the 2025-2026 Premier League season, Rayan Cherki leads with 7 assists for Manchester City. Xavi Simons follows with 4 assists for Tottenham Hotspur, while both Florian Wirtz and Eberechi Eze have 2 assists each for Liverpool and Arsenal, respectively.

Verdict: Rayan Cherki wins this category, providing the most goal-creating contributions among the four number 10s this season.

Chances Created

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 41
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 9
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 19
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 32

Chances created is a key metric for attacking midfielders, highlighting how often they set up potential goal-scoring opportunities for their teammates.

In the 2025-2026 Premier League season, Florian Wirtz tops this category with 41 chances created for Liverpool.

Rayan Cherki follows with 32 for Manchester City, while Xavi Simons has created 19 chances for Tottenham Hotspur. Eberechi Eze has 9 chances created for Arsenal this season.

Verdict: Florian Wirtz leads in chances created, generating the highest number of opportunities for his teammates among the four number 10s this season.

Crosses Attempted

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 26
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 10
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 33
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 47

Crosses attempted indicate how often an attacking midfielder looks to deliver the ball into dangerous areas, providing service to teammates in the box.

In the 2025-2026 Premier League season, Rayan Cherki leads with 47 crosses attempted for Manchester City.

Xavi Simons follows with 33 for Tottenham Hotspur, Florian Wirtz has 26 for Liverpool, and Eberechi Eze has 10 for Arsenal.

Crosses Completed

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 5
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 1
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 6
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 17

Crosses completed show how effective a player is at delivering accurate balls into attacking positions.

Cherki again leads with 17 completed crosses for Manchester City. Xavi Simons has 6 for Tottenham Hotspur, Florian Wirtz has 5 for Liverpool, and Eberechi Eze has 1 for Arsenal.

Crossing Accuracy %

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 19.23
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 10
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 18.18
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 36.17

Crossing accuracy measures the precision of an attacking midfielder’s deliveries into the box.

Rayan Cherki tops this category with 36.17% accuracy for Manchester City. Florian Wirtz records 19.23% for Liverpool, Xavi Simons has 18.18% for Tottenham Hotspur, and Eberechi Eze has 10% for Arsenal.

Verdict: Rayan Cherki dominates in all crossing metrics this season, attempting and completing the most crosses with the highest accuracy among the four number 10s.

Through-balls

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 7
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 8
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 6
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 15

Through-balls are one of the clearest measures of an attacking midfielder’s ability to break defensive lines. They require vision, timing, weight of pass, and the confidence to attempt penetrative actions that turn possession into immediate danger in behind the defence.

In the 2025–26 Premier League season, Rayan Cherki stands out emphatically, registering 15 through-balls for Manchester City.

Eberechi Eze follows with 8 for Arsenal, narrowly ahead of Florian Wirtz, who has delivered 7 through-balls for Liverpool. Xavi Simons completes the group with 6 through-balls for Tottenham Hotspur.

Verdict: Rayan Cherki wins this category. His through-ball output is comfortably the highest among the four, underlining his prominence as the most frequent and aggressive line-breaking passer in this comparison.

Lay-offs Completed

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 58
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 19
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 21
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 27

Lay-offs are a subtle but vital part of an attacking midfielder’s game. They help maintain rhythm in tight areas, support quick combinations around the box, and allow teams to progress play through one- and two-touch football, especially against compact defensive blocks.

In the 2025–26 Premier League season, Florian Wirtz leads this category by a clear distance, completing 58 lay-offs for Liverpool. Rayan Cherki follows with 27 for Manchester City, while Xavi Simons has recorded 21 lay-offs for Tottenham Hotspur. Eberechi Eze ranks fourth with 19 completed lay-offs for Arsenal.

Verdict: Florian Wirtz wins this category. His lay-off numbers are significantly higher than the rest, highlighting his heavy involvement in close-quarter combinations and his importance in linking Liverpool’s attacking play.

⬛Passing & Build-Up

Passes Attempted

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 1,026
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 374
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 552
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 710

The number of passes a player attempts is a clear measure of involvement and proactivity in a game.

It shows who actively seeks the ball, circulates possession, and exploits gaps in the opposition. In modern attacking football, high passing numbers signal a player determined to drive tempo, link play, and break down defenses.

Florian Wirtz leads the pack emphatically, attempting 1,026 passes this season.

Rayan Cherki ranks second with 710 passes. Xavi Simons has tried 552 passes for Tottenham, while Eberechi Eze sits at the lower end with just 374.

Verdict: Florian Wirtz takes the crown once again. His passing volume underlines his role as the central engine in Liverpool’s buildup and one of the most influential creator among this group of Premier League number 10s.

Passes Completed

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 862
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 320
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 454
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 600

Florian Wirtz once again leads the way, completing 862 passes this season and showing he’s a high-risk, high-reward creator at the heart of Liverpool’s buildup play.

Rayan Cherki ranks second with 600 completed passes—a notable figure considering he has logged fewer minutes than most of his peers.

Xavi Simons has managed 454 completed passes for Tottenham, while Eberechi Eze sits on 320.

Verdict: Florian Wirtz takes the top spot. His volume and consistency in passing underline his role as Liverpool’s central playmaker and the most dominant pass master among these Premier League number 10s.

Passing Accuracy %

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 84.02%
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 85.56%
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 82.25%
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 84.51%

While Eberechi Eze hasn’t been the most prolific passer in terms of volume, he leads this group in precision with an impressive 85.56% passing accuracy.

Florian Wirtz is just behind at 84.02%, combining high volume with strong efficiency—a rare mix for a number 10. This explains why he is highly rated in that Liverpool team.

Rayan Cherki follows closely with 84.51% while Xavi Simons sits in third with 82.25%.

Verdict: Eze takes the top spot for pure accuracy.

Pass Master Verdict: Florian Wirtz.

While Eberechi Eze edges everyone in pure passing accuracy, Wirtz’s incredible combination of high volume and consistent precision makes him the most influential playmaker. He is reliable over the long game – consistently completing passes.

Long Passes Attempted

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 48
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 19
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 37
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 34

Long passes are crucial for an attacking midfielder as they help switch play, bypass the opposition’s midfield, and create attacking opportunities from deep positions.

Looking at this season’s Premier League numbers, Florian Wirtz leads the way with 48 long passes attempted for Liverpool in 2025-2026. Xavi Simons comes next with 37 long passes for Tottenham Hotspur, while Rayan Cherki has attempted 34 for Manchester City.

Eberechi Eze has the fewest in this group, with 19 long passes attempted for Arsenal this season.

Verdict: Florian Wirtz wins this category, leading all four attacking midfielders in long passes attempted this season.

Long Passes Completed

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 23
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 7
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 23
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 14

Completing long passes is essential for an attacking midfielder, as it shows precision in switching play and delivering the ball accurately over distance to teammates in attacking positions.

In the 2025-2026 Premier League season, Florian Wirtz has completed 23 long passes for Liverpool.

Xavi Simons matches him with 23 completed long passes for Tottenham Hotspur, while Rayan Cherki has 14 for Manchester City.

Eberechi Eze completes the list with 7 long passes successfully delivered for Arsenal.

Verdict: Florian Wirtz and Xavi Simons share the top spot for long passes completed this season.

Long Pass Accuracy %

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 47.92
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 36.84
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 62.16
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 41.18

Long pass accuracy is a key metric in football and highlights how precise players are when delivering the ball over distance to teammates, helping to maintain possession and launch attacks.

In the 2025-2026 Premier League season, Xavi Simons leads this category with a 62.16% long pass accuracy for Tottenham Hotspur. Florian Wirtz follows with 47.92% for Liverpool, Rayan Cherki has 41.18% for Manchester City, and Eberechi Eze sits at 36.84% for Arsenal.

Verdict: Xavi Simons wins this category, posting the highest accuracy among the four number 10s this season.

Forward Passes

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 249
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 89
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 164
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 162

The balance between forward, backward, and sideways passing offers a clear picture of how an attacking midfielder manages tempo, recycles possession, and progresses play through different phases of attack.

These passing directions collectively show how often a player looks to advance the ball, reset play, or keep circulation moving under pressure.

In terms of forward passes, Florian Wirtz leads the group with 249 for Liverpool, making him the most frequent progressive passer among the four. Xavi Simons follows closely with 164 forward passes for Tottenham Hotspur, narrowly ahead of Rayan Cherki, who has completed 162 for Manchester City. Eberechi Eze trails in this category with 89 forward passes for Arsenal.

Backward Passes

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 253
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 91
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 154
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 215

Looking at backward passes, Wirtz again tops the list with 253, showing heavy involvement in recycling possession and maintaining structure. Cherki comes next with 215 backward passes, while Simons has recorded 154. Eze once more ranks fourth, completing 91 backward passes during the season.

Sideways Passes

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 524
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 194
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 234
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 333

For sideways passes, which are key to ball circulation and positional play, Wirtz is once again dominant with 524 sideways passes. Cherki follows with 333, ahead of Simons on 234. Eze completes the set with 194 sideways passes for Arsenal.

Verdict: Florian Wirtz wins this category convincingly. He leads across forward, backward, and sideways passing, underlining his all-encompassing role in Liverpool’s build-up and possession game, and marking him out as the most involved and influential passer in terms of overall passing volume and directional balance.

⬛Shooting & Goals

Attempted Shots

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 21
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 18
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 16
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 17

Attempted shots are a key indicator for attacking midfielders, showing how often they look to test the goalkeeper and create scoring opportunities.

In the 2025-2026 Premier League season, Florian Wirtz has attempted the most shots with 21 for Liverpool. Eberechi Eze follows closely with 18 attempts for Arsenal.

Rayan Cherki has 17 attempts for Manchester City, while Xavi Simons has 16 for Tottenham Hotspur.

Shots On Target

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 13
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 12
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 7
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 7

Shots on target reveal how frequently a player’s attempts are precise enough to challenge the goalkeeper.

Florian Wirtz leads this category as well, hitting the target 13 times for Liverpool. Eberechi Eze has 12 shots on target for Arsenal.

Both Xavi Simons and Rayan Cherki have 7 shots on target for Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City, respectively.

Shot Accuracy %

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 61.9
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 66.67
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 43.75
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 41.18

Shot accuracy percentage measures a player’s precision in front of goal.

Eberechi Eze tops this metric with 66.67% accuracy for Arsenal. Florian Wirtz is close behind at 61.9% for Liverpool.

Xavi Simons has 43.75% for Tottenham, and Rayan Cherki records 41.18% for Manchester City.

Verdict: Florian Wirtz takes the crown overall in shooting. He leads in both volume and shots on target, making him the most active and dangerous number 10 in front of goal among these four Premier League midfielders this season.

Non-penalty Goals

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 4
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 4
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 1
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 3

Non-penalty goals are a key measure for attacking midfielders, showing their ability to score from open play and contribute directly to the team’s attacking output. In the 2025-2026 Premier League season, Florian Wirtz has scored 4 non-penalty goals for Liverpool. Eberechi Eze also has 4 for Arsenal, matching Wirtz. Rayan Cherki has 3 non-penalty goals for Manchester City, while Xavi Simons has 1 for Tottenham Hotspur.

Verdict: Florian Wirtz and Eberechi Eze share the top spot for non-penalty goals among these four number 10s this season.

Goals from Inside Box

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 4
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 4
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 1
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 2

Goals scored from inside the box highlight an attacking midfielder’s ability to capitalize on close-range opportunities and finish in dangerous areas.

In the 2025-2026 Premier League season, Florian Wirtz has scored 4 goals from inside the box for Liverpool. Eberechi Eze also has 4 for Arsenal. Rayan Cherki has netted 2 for Manchester City, while Xavi Simons has 1 for Tottenham Hotspur.

Verdict: Florian Wirtz and Eberechi Eze share the top spot for goals from inside the box among these four number 10s this season.

Goals from Outside Box

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 0
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 0
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 0
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 1

Goals from outside the box reflect an attacking midfielder’s ability to shoot from distance and score from long-range opportunities.

In the 2025-2026 Premier League season, Rayan Cherki has scored 1 goal from outside the box for Manchester City.

Florian Wirtz, Eberechi Eze, and Xavi Simons have yet to score from outside the box this season, with all three registering 0 goals in this category.

Verdict: Rayan Cherki leads this category, being the only player among the four number 10s to score from outside the box this season.

Conversion Rate %

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 19.05
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 22.22
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 6.25
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 17.65

Conversion rate measures how efficiently an attacking midfielder turns their chances into goals, indicating their finishing precision.

In the 2025-2026 Premier League season, Eberechi Eze leads this category with a 22.22% conversion rate for Arsenal. Florian Wirtz follows with 19.05% for Liverpool, while Rayan Cherki has 17.65% for Manchester City. Xavi Simons records 6.25% for Tottenham Hotspur.

Verdict: Eberechi Eze wins this category, posting the highest conversion rate among these four number 10s this season.

Take-ons Completed

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 32
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 20
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 17
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 28

Take-ons, or successful dribbles, are crucial for attacking midfielders as they break lines, create space, and destabilize defenses.

Florian Wirtz has completed 32 take-ons for Liverpool this season. Rayan Cherki follows with 28 take-ons for Manchester City. Eberechi Eze has 20 take-ons for Arsenal, while Xavi Simons has completed 17 take-ons for Tottenham Hotspur.

Verdict: Florian Wirtz leads this category, successfully taking on more opponents than the other three number 10s.

Take-on Success %

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 56.14
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 60.61
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 41.46
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 44.44

Take-on success percentage measures how efficiently an attacking midfielder beats their opponent when attempting a dribble.

Eberechi Eze tops the list with a 60.61% success rate for Arsenal. Florian Wirtz follows closely with 56.14% for Liverpool. Rayan Cherki has 44.44% for Manchester City, while Xavi Simons records 41.46% for Tottenham Hotspur.

Verdict: Eberechi Eze is the most efficient dribbler among these four number 10s this season.

⬛Defensive Contributions

Tackles Made

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 25
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 12
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 25
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 18

Tackling is a vital skill for attacking midfielders, especially in teams that press high and rely on regaining possession quickly. It shows how often a player is willing to engage defensively, disrupt opposition play, and contribute to transitions.

Florian Wirtz has made 25 tackles for Liverpool this season. Xavi Simons matches him with 25 tackles for Tottenham Hotspur. Rayan Cherki has contributed 18 tackles for Manchester City, while Eberechi Eze has made 12 tackles for Arsenal.

Verdict: Florian Wirtz and Xavi Simons share the top spot in this category, both registering the highest number of tackles among these four number 10s.

Fouls from Tackle Attempts

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 6
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 3
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 9
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 4

Tracking fouls from tackle attempts is important for attacking midfielders as it shows how aggressive or risky they are when trying to win the ball back.

Florian Wirtz has committed 6 fouls from tackle attempts for Liverpool this season. Xavi Simons leads slightly with 9 fouls for Tottenham Hotspur. Rayan Cherki has 4 fouls for Manchester City, while Eberechi Eze has the fewest with 3 fouls for Arsenal.

Verdict: Xavi Simons ranks highest in this category, committing the most fouls from tackles, while Eze remains the cleanest.

Fouls Won

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 14
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 20
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 28
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 24

Fouls won is an important stat for attacking midfielders as it shows how often they draw infringements, helping their team gain set-piece opportunities or relieve pressure.

Xavi Simons leads this category with 28 fouls won for Tottenham Hotspur. Rayan Cherki follows with 24 for Manchester City. Eberechi Eze has 20 for Arsenal, while Florian Wirtz registers 14 for Liverpool.

Verdict: Xavi Simons has been the most effective at winning fouls among these four attacking midfielders this season.

Fouls Committed

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 15
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 10
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 13
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 7

Fouls committed is a key stat for attacking midfielders, showing how often they risk giving possession away or disrupting play.

Florian Wirtz has committed 15 fouls for Liverpool. Xavi Simons follows with 13 for Tottenham Hotspur. Eberechi Eze has 10 for Arsenal, while Rayan Cherki has the fewest with 7 for Manchester City.

Verdict: Rayan Cherki has been the most disciplined in terms of fouls committed this season.

Ball Recoveries

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 77
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 43
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 68
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 62

Ball recoveries highlight an attacking midfielder’s defensive work rate and ability to win back possession for their team.

Florian Wirtz has made 77 ball recoveries for Liverpool. Xavi Simons follows with 68 for Tottenham Hotspur. Rayan Cherki has 62 for Manchester City, while Eberechi Eze has 43 for Arsenal.

Verdict: Florian Wirtz leads this category, topping the chart in regaining possession.

⬛Possession & Involvement

Possession Lost

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 272
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 106
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 213
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 232

Possession lost measures how often a player gives the ball away, highlighting risk-taking and involvement in attacking play.

Florian Wirtz has lost possession 272 times for Liverpool. Rayan Cherki follows with 232 for Manchester City. Xavi Simons has lost possession 213 times for Tottenham Hotspur, while Eberechi Eze has 106 for Arsenal.

Verdict: Florian Wirtz tops this category, reflecting his heavy involvement in Liverpool’s build-up and attacking sequences.

Touches in Opposition Box

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 113
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 39
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 34
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 94

Touches in the opposition box show how often an attacking midfielder gets into dangerous areas, influencing goal-scoring opportunities.

Florian Wirtz has registered 113 touches in Liverpool’s opponent box. Rayan Cherki has 94 touches for Manchester City. Eberechi Eze has 39 for Arsenal, while Xavi Simons has 34 for Tottenham Hotspur.

Verdict: Florian Wirtz leads this category, demonstrating his constant presence in threatening positions inside the final third.

Times Tackled

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 47
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 24
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 44
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 57

Times tackled highlights how often an attacking midfielder is challenged by opponents, reflecting defensive pressure faced during games.

Florian Wirtz has been tackled 47 times for Liverpool. Rayan Cherki leads this stat with 57 tackles for Manchester City. Xavi Simons has been tackled 44 times, while Eberechi Eze has faced 24 tackles for Arsenal.

Verdict: Rayan Cherki tops this category, showing he is frequently engaged by defenders in high-pressure situations.

⬛Physical & Duel Stats

Duels Contested

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 183
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 108
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 168
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 155

Duels contested are a key measure of an attacking midfielder’s physical involvement, competitiveness, and willingness to engage in battles across the pitch, whether under pressure in midfield, during transitions, or when pressing and recovering possession.

It highlights how often a player is directly involved in 50–50 situations rather than operating on the fringes of the game.

Across the four players, Florian Wirtz leads the category with 183 duels contested for Liverpool, making him the most physically involved attacking midfielder in this group. Xavi Simons follows closely with 168 duels for Tottenham Hotspur, showing a high level of engagement in midfield contests. Rayan Cherki has contested 155 duels for Manchester City, while Eberechi Eze ranks fourth with 108 duels for Arsenal.

Verdict: Florian Wirtz wins this category. His duel numbers underline his relentless involvement on both sides of the ball and reinforce his status as the most complete and physically engaged attacking midfielder among the four.

Duels Won

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 76
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 57
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 81
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 70

Duels won are a crucial indicator of how effective an attacking midfielder is when physically challenged. Winning duels helps sustain attacks, resist pressure, regain possession in advanced areas, and support the team during defensive phases, especially in the high-intensity environment of the Premier League.

In this category, Xavi Simons comes out on top, winning 81 duels for Tottenham Hotspur in the 2025–26 season. Florian Wirtz follows with 76 duels won for Liverpool, while Rayan Cherki has recorded 70 duel wins for Manchester City. Eberechi Eze completes the group with 57 duels won for Arsenal.

Verdict: Xavi Simons wins this category. He records the highest number of duels won among the four attacking midfielders, edging out Wirtz and underlining his effectiveness when engaging in physical contests.

Ground Duels Contested

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 146
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 89
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 140
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 150

Ground duels contested highlight how frequently an attacking midfielder is involved in physical battles at pitch level, whether under pressure in midfield, during transitions, or when challenging for loose balls.

It reflects how active a player is in direct, one-on-one situations throughout a match.

In the 2025–26 Premier League season, Rayan Cherki leads this metric with 150 ground duels contested for Manchester City.

Florian Wirtz follows closely with 146 for Liverpool, while Xavi Simons has contested 140 ground duels for Tottenham Hotspur. Eberechi Eze records 89 ground duels contested for Arsenal.

Verdict: Rayan Cherki wins this category. He edges out the competition with the highest number of ground duels contested, showing the greatest level of involvement in on-the-ground physical battles among the four.

Ground Duels Won

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 71
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 52
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 70
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 70

Ground duels won measure how often an attacking midfielder comes out on top in one-on-one battles at ground level, while ground duel success percentage adds context by showing how efficient a player is when engaging in those duels. Together, these metrics give a clear picture of both volume and effectiveness in physical contests during open play.

In terms of ground duels won, Florian Wirtz leads the group with 71 wins for Liverpool. Xavi Simons and Rayan Cherki are joint-second, each winning 70 ground duels for Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City respectively. Eberechi Eze has won 52 ground duels for Arsenal.

Ground Duel Success %

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 48.63
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 58.43
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 50
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 46.67

When it comes to ground duel success rate, Eberechi Eze tops the category with a 58.43% success rate, the highest among the four.

Xavi Simons follows with 50%, while Florian Wirtz records 48.63%. Rayan Cherki ranks fourth with a 46.67% success rate.

Verdict: Florian Wirtz wins on volume, recording the highest number of ground duels won, while Eberechi Eze leads on efficiency with the best ground duel success percentage.

Aerial Duels Contested

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 37
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 19
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 28
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 5

Aerial duels are an often-overlooked part of an attacking midfielder’s profile, but they remain important for second-ball situations, pressing from the front, defending set-pieces, and competing for long clearances or diagonal balls.

These metrics show how frequently a player is involved in aerial battles and how effective he is when challenging in the air.

In terms of aerial duels contested, Florian Wirtz leads the group with 37 for Liverpool. Xavi Simons follows with 28 for Tottenham Hotspur, while Eberechi Eze has contested 19 aerial duels for Arsenal. Rayan Cherki has been involved in just 5 aerial duels for Manchester City.

Aerial Duels Won

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 5
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 5
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 11
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 0

Looking at aerial duels won, Xavi Simons comes out on top with 11 wins, while Florian Wirtz and Eberechi Eze have both won 5 aerial duels each. Rayan Cherki has yet to win an aerial duel this season.

Aerial Duel Success %

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 13.51
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 26.32
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 39.29
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 0

When assessing aerial duel success rate, Xavi Simons again leads with an impressive 39.29% success rate. Eberechi Eze follows with 26.32%, while Florian Wirtz records 13.51%. Rayan Cherki remains at 0%.

Verdict: Xavi Simons wins this category. He dominates aerial effectiveness, leading both aerial duels won and aerial duel success percentage among the four attacking midfielders.

Yellow Cards

Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – 2025-2026 – 1
Eberechi Eze – Arsenal – 2025-2026 – 1
Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur – 2025-2026 – 3
Rayan Cherki – Manchester City – 2025-2026 – 1

Yellow cards indicate how often a player has been officially cautioned for fouls or unsporting behavior during matches.

Discipline-wise, Florian Wirtz, Eberechi Eze, and Rayan Cherki have kept it clean with just 1 yellow card each this season. Xavi Simons stands out with 3 yellow cards, showing a more aggressive approach.

Verdict: Wirtz, Eze, and Cherki are tied with the lowest number of yellow cards, while Xavi Simons has received the most cautions with 3.

Conclusion

Florian Wirtz has proven to be the Premier League’s most complete and influential number 10 this season. His combination of creativity, passing dominance, physical engagement, and consistency puts him clearly ahead of Cherki, Simons, and Eze.

Rayan Cherki comes second, thriving in goal creation and aggressive line-breaking play, while Xavi Simons makes his mark through duels and aerial dominance.

Eberechi Eze, though exceptionally efficient, ranks fourth due to lower overall involvement and minutes on the pitch.

For clubs seeking a number 10 who dictates tempo, drives attacks, and impacts every facet of play, Wirtz is the blueprint.