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Top 10 Scandinavian Players

jonjoward1998


There were a few players from Scandinavia who were playing in England before the Premier League with Jan Molby being the main example from his time at Liverpool.


But since the Premier League's inception, the number of Scandinavians that have come over here has grown and a lot of them have made a big impact.


But there have been some who have struggled or haven't quite made the same level of impact. This could be down to the pace of the Premier League or the league being a big step up from the previous league they were playing in.


Alexander Isak is the latest one to light up the Premier League with the form he's been in for Newcastle both this season and last season. But he unfortunately isn't on the list as I didn't think about putting him in, and he hasn't played in the Premier League for very long. There might be one or two other names that I might've left off as well.


And it's now about time I reveal the list.


And here it is:


Peter Schmeichel

Erling Haaland

Christian Eriksen

Freddie Ljungberg

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Martin Odegaard

John Carew

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Nicklas Bendtner

John Arne Riise


  1. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

If this was the greatest Scandinavians of all-time, Zlatan would've been top of the list because of the player he was and the career he had. But as this is about the Premier League, I had to put him in 10th because he was only here for one season.


He was very good in that one season he had at Man United as he scored 17 goals. There were questions being asked of him when he arrived as he was in the latter stages of his career at the time of his arrival. But he went on and proved that age of just a number by scoring those 17 goals whilst at the age of 35.


He scored a number of quality goals right throughout his career including some great ones. Although he's now retired, his flexibility is still incredible.


  1. Nicklas Bendtner

Bendtner had a lot of potential when he started out as a young player at Arsenal, but he didn't always show it.


He did score some important goals during his time at Arsenal and was a good player on his day in that he was quick, good in the air and had good movement off the ball.


But he didn't show it enough as he was never able to force his way into becoming a regular ahead of both Van Persie and Adebayor, and was never able to fulfil his potential.


  1. John Carew

Carew was a tough striker to play against on his day as he was big, strong and good in the air.


He scored a lot of important goals during his time at Aston Villa and was one of their most important players in that good side they had under Martin O'Neil.


He formed a good partnership with Gabby Agbonlahor up top during his time at Villa Park with him being the one who would win aerial duels and head the ball onto Agbonlahor to run onto.


  1. Martin Odegaard

What a signing Odegaard has been for Arsenal. He's taken Arsenal onto another level since he's been at the club with his ability to create, score goals and take control of games in midfield. He's been the player that has knitted everything together for them over the last few years.


He was originally signed on loan when he first arrived and that move was soon made permanent a matter of months later. His influence on the team has turned Arsenal into title contenders and without him they haven't been the same team, as we saw earlier in the season.


I've put him down in 7th because he hasn't around in the Premier League for very long. But he'll probably be higher in a a couple of years time.


  1. John Arne Riise

If Riise was playing in todays game, he would've been right up there among the best full backs in the league because of how good he was going forward.


He was a brilliant crosser of a ball, would run up and down the touchline all game, and he was also a great striker of the ball.


His shots were so powerful that not many keepers could keep them out, as Fabian Barthez found that when Riise scored that free kick against Man United in 2001.


He could also play left midfield as well as at left back and there were a number of times where he played that position.


  1. Freddie Ljungberg

Ljungberg was part of the Arsenal's Invincibles side in 2004 during which he played a major role. It was his goal against Spurs and secured the title that season.


He was a player who was quick, could both create and score goals, and play on either wing and centrally depending on what system Arsenal were playing.


He scored a lot of important goals for the Gunners during his time most of which came centrally after drifting inside. He hit double figures in two separate seasons in 2002 where he scored 12 goals, and 2005 where he scored 10.


  1. Erling Haaland

Haaland hasn't played in England as long as some of the players in the list did, but the impact he's made since he's been here is why he's in my top five.


He's been a goal scoring machine since he's been in the Premier League and his goal scoring exploits have taken City onto another level. He netted a record-breaking 36 times in his first season as City won the treble and he won the golden boot. He bagged another Premier League title and golden boot in the following season, scoring 27 times.


He recently signed that long-term contract and if he sees it out, he could potentially break Alan Shearer's all-time goal record. He might also move himself to the top of this list.


  1. Christian Eriksen

Eriksen was a player with potential when he joined Spurs from Ajax and he soon went on to become one of the best attacking midfielders both in the Premier League and in Europe.


He was one of Spurs' most important players during his time there because of his creativity, vision, and ability to score goals both from open play and set pieces. But he was somewhat underrated at times as he didn't always get the credit his performances deserved.


It's good to see him still playing after his cardiac arrest at Euro 2020 and he showed in his brief spell at Brentford that he was still capable of playing at a higher level.


  1. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Solskjaer is probably the greatest super-sub in Premier League history as the majority of his goals did come from the bench.


He did score a lot in the games he started as well, but he is best remembered for his goals as a substitute and his goals from the bench all played a huge role in the success he had at United.


He was absolutely adored by the Man United fans as a player and whenever they needed someone to step off the bench and make a difference, he was often the man to do that.


  1. Peter Schmeichel

Goalkeepers are never at no.1 on in any category as they don't get the credit that the other players on the pitch receive.


But this one had to be won by a keeper in Schmeichel because of what he won and the quality of keeper he was.


He pulled off many quality saves during his time at Man United and every single one was crucial in the success he had at United.


He won 5 league titles and the Champions League at United and is in my opinion the greatest Premier League keeper of all time.


MY TOP 10:


  1. Peter Schmeichel

  2. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

  3. Christian Eriksen

  4. Erling Haaland

  5. Freddie Ljungberg

  6. John Arne Riise

  7. Martin Odegaard

  8. John Carew

  9. Nicklas Bendtner

  10. Zlatan Ibrahimovic



 
 
 

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