With much often made of the playing style of some of the Premier League's physically dominant teams, WhoScored investigates the best XI from the division by position (in a 4-4-2 formation) for aerial duel success.
As many players maintain high records due to the limited number of aerial challenges they compete in we have filtered out all those who have yet to compete in at least 10 duels to gain a greater understanding of their individual effectiveness in the air. All inclusions have also played at least 5 games for their respective clubs to give a better indication of the consistency that has earned them their place.
The findings may go some way to dispel the notions that the likes of Stoke and Bolton are purely long ball teams with some of the league's top clubs represented in our XI including the likes of Tottenham, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United. Spurs are one of only two sides, along with Norwich, to have more than one player in our line-up, with some interesting inclusions elsewhere.
Defence
At the back, some may be surprised that Arsenal centre-back Laurent Koscielny has an exceptional aerial success rate, the best in the league when taking the requirements for inclusion into consideration in fact. In his 6 appearances the Frenchman has won 12 of the 14 challenges he has made in the air (86%) despite standing at a fairly average height of 6'1" for a centre-back.
Alongside him, Younes Kaboul is perhaps more impressive in making up an all French, North-London club partnership in our XI. In the absence of the likes of Dawson and Gallas, Kaboul has staked a claim for a regular berth with a number of eye-catching performances and his aerial dominance has certainly stood out. From a hefty 30 challenges Kaboul has come out on top 24 times (80%), winning 4 per game on average.
Two of the shortest players in our XI deserve a great deal of credit for their commitment to win the ball in the air at full-back. Aston Villa's Stephen Warnock has come back into the side after a dismal spell under Gerard Houllier and the former England international has won 10 out of 14 aerial duels (71%) to have a greater success rate than the likes of teammates Dunne and Collins, and all at just 5'10". Norwich loanee Kyle Naughton, interestingly another Tottenham player by parent club in our line-up, has been almost as effective on the right, winning 7 of 10 duels (70%) and shows great promise.
On average our defence have an excellent 77% aerial success and create a superb back four in the air.
Midfield
With wingers perhaps the least likely challengers of the aerial ball, the success rates of our duo are understandably low but still represent the best figures of those who reach the requirements. Undoubtedly the most surprising inclusion in our XI is United playmaker Nani. At just 5'9" much of his game is based on trickery and a low centre of gravity that makes him hard to dispossess. However, the Portuguese international, who has been much maligned for an unwillingness stay on his feet and compete physically, has put in an a great shift to challenge for 12 headers where most of his height wouldn't, and despite winning just 4, deserves credit.
On the opposite flank Gareth Bale has been more effective in the air, winning a header per game having come out on top 6 times and been willing to challenge for 17 high balls with a 40% success rate. Our centre midfield duo have an identical record of a hugely impressive 75% having won 12 of 16 duels each. Liverpool's Charlie Adam offers the height in midfield alongside Lucas while Norwich's new signing Bradley Johnson has impressed since coming into the team and looks to be one of the first names on Paul Lambert's ever-changing team sheet right now.
The average success rate of our midfield is understandably significantly down on the defence, and indeed attack, with the wingers effectiveness attributable.
Attack
While the likes of Nani and Bale may have been somewhat of a surprise to see in our line-up, perhaps the least shocking inclusion is that of Peter Crouch. The only inclusion from a Stoke side who seem to play as much of their football in the air as they do on the deck, record signing Crouch is one of 4 new players for their respective clubs to make our XI. The Englishman has challenged for a league high of 45 aerial duels in just 5 games and having won 31 (69%) he comes out on top an exceptional 6.2 times a game, thanks in no small part to a 6'7" frame.
His strike partner in our XI doesn't have such a build to rely on and at just under 6 foot, Kevin Doyle's inclusion is hugely commendable. The Wolves man is considered as one of the most committed front men in the league and shows this with his willing running and indeed jumping, winning a superb 65% of duels despite inevitably facing taller opponents in every game. Winning 17 of 26 duels, he proves an excellent out ball for Mick McCarthy's side and a constant menace to opposition defences.
On average, our attackers win 24 duels per game with a massively effective 67% success rate, meaning our entire XI has the same average success rate throughout the side, winning just over 15 headers each per game and losing just 7.
