If you are a fan of a Premier League club, there is likely a player who calms your nerves as soon as his name appears in the starting XI. These individuals are not necessarily the most high-profile stars, but their impact on the final result can be immense. The statistics experts at Opta have provided Daily Mail Sport with the top 20 'lucky charms' in the English top flight this season and also revealed who holds that title at each club.
Top of the List
The player with the highest winning percentage in the league is English rising star Nico O'Reilly. At just 21 years old, he has already become an essential component of Pep Guardiola's machine. Not only has O'Reilly demonstrated elite-level defending and versatility to play at full-back or in midfield, but he also poses a significant goal threat. He has scored eight times and provided four assists in all competitions, underlining his importance to the team. His Premier League win rate stands at 77 per cent, having started 26 games and won 20 of them.
Manchester City Dominance
City have four of the top five players, with Jeremy Doku, Josko Gvardiol, and Nico Gonzalez also featuring prominently. However, there is a surprise name at number three: Kobbie Mainoo. The Manchester United midfielder was heading towards the exit after being exiled by Ruben Amorim and had been desperate to join Napoli last summer and in January. But he has now completely reversed his fortunes after being entrusted with a starting role under interim boss Michael Carrick, so much so that he recently signed a contract extension until 2031. Mainoo has a smaller sample size of 12 starts this term, but his 75 per cent win rate is still impressive.
Arsenal's Influence
The list then features five Arsenal stars, led by a man Mikel Arteta must have wished was fully fit for the entire season. Arsenal may even have wrapped up the title by now if he could stay off the treatment table. Bukayo Saka's 73 per cent win rate places him in sixth position. He may have only scored six times and delivered four assists, but output is not everything; clearly, the attention defences must give the right winger frees up space for teammates. Narrowly trailing Saka on 72 per cent are Eberechi Eze, Leandro Trossard, and Riccardo Calafiori, with Viktor Gyokeres on 71 per cent.
Other Notable Names
Unsurprisingly, the Gunners and City make up most of the rest of the top 20, but there is another unexpected name on the list: Aston Villa's Boubacar Kamara. A season-ending knee injury in January severely impacted Villa's form, showing his importance to the group in what was his best season at the club. His win rate of 71 per cent is outstanding, and he is the only player not from Manchester City, Manchester United, or Arsenal to make the top 20. The other Manchester United player present is Harry Maguire, who has won 67 per cent of his games, starting 15 times and earning three points in 10 of those.
Lucky Charms for Every Club
Moving on to the 'lucky charms' of every Premier League side, the aforementioned cohort of Nico O'Reilly, Kobbie Mainoo, and Bukayo Saka all feature. Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike (62 per cent) and Chelsea defender Malo Gusto (43 per cent) represent their respective clubs. Gusto's 43 per cent perhaps demonstrates just what a struggle the season has been for Chelsea, and you would be hard-pressed to call him a lucky charm. Brighton midfielder Diego Gomez deserves a mention on 48 per cent. The 23-year-old has been a revelation for the Seagulls and was at the heart of their sensational recent run before suffering an injury.
Injury Impact
Another notable name on the list is Mohammed Kudus. How different could Tottenham's season have been if their summer signing had stayed fit? He had a 37 per cent win rate before his campaign was cut short. Kudus went down in January with a thigh injury and suffered another setback, meaning he might require surgery. He added a potency to the attack that was severely lacking, and now he could find himself playing in the Championship the next time he is fit again.
Relegation Battle
Anthony Gordon has been the shining light for Newcastle in a poor campaign; he is on 38 per cent, and the same can be said of Jarrod Bowen on 26 per cent. Of the relegated teams, Burnley's Jacob Brun Larson (30 per cent) and Wolves' Matheus Mane (20 per cent) were the lucky charms, though neither man will be feeling much good fortune with their fate confirmed.
