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EPL: Predicting the top 15 Prem players in FIFA 17

By Tom Bogert

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 20: David De Gea of Manchester United and Sergio Aguero of Manchester City in discussion during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on March 20, 2016 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 20: David De Gea of Manchester United and Sergio Aguero of Manchester City in discussion during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on March 20, 2016 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
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BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 07: Goalkeeper Artur Boruc of Bournemouth looks dejected as Mesut Oezil of Arsenal celebrates as he scores their first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between A.F.C. Bournemouth and Arsenal at the Vitality Stadium on February 7, 2016 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 07: Goalkeeper Artur Boruc of Bournemouth looks dejected as Mesut Oezil of Arsenal celebrates as he scores their first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between A.F.C. Bournemouth and Arsenal at the Vitality Stadium on February 7, 2016 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images) /

3. Mesut Ozil /// Arsenal /// Predicted FIFA 17 rating: 89 /// FIFA 16 rating: 88

If the season ended in January, Ozil would have won PFA Player of the Year rather than Mahrez. But it didn’t. And the record pace of assists Ozil was going down dissipated some and Arsenal stuttered. The London club finished second, 10 points adrift Leicester.

The German still racked up an incredulous amount of assists, 19 in the league. More than one every other game for him, as he made 35 starts. Ozil continued his strong season into the Euros where he was the creative force driving Germany. Thomas Muller’s goals disappeared from his game while Mario Gotze was all sorts of out of sorts as Ozil was an incandescent figure in their run to the semifinals.

Ozil is a fantastic player. He got a rough shake in his first season in London, because of unrealistically high expectations. He isn’t a goal scorer, he’s a creative player. Fans wanted to see goals more regularly than he’s going to attempt a shot.

Having Ozil around the third best player in the league seems right. His skill is second to none and he’s a leading man on a top club. Along with Alexis and Cech, Arsenal certainly have ability in abundance to win the league, though last season may have been their easiest route. But when have Arsenal ever made things easy on themselves?

Next: 2. Sergio Aguero

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