Arsenal
Arsenal & Chelsea stars join Rooney in our ultimate Premier League 5-a-side team
Players from Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea make up our ultimate Premier League 5-a-side team. See who made the cut here
It takes a certain type of player to succeed on the 5-a-side pitch. The physical nature of the game coupled with the speed at which its played makes it a very different kettle of fish to regular football. Not to say that its in any way harder, but there are certain types of players that are just not needed in the 5-a-side game. Sorry Titus Bramble…
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes there are five main attributes for a 5-a-side player, as he told FourFourTwo: “You must have speed, skill, an eye for goal, the ability to pass, vision and above all the intelligence to put all these aspects into practice.”
“Five-a-side confronts the player with constant decision-making. When you receive the ball, you are faced with dozens of options. Your brain acts like a computer: it realises it has been faced with this situation before and tries to come up with the right answer – the right pass or right shot. In five-a-side, you are faced with many of these situations, and that is why you improve so much when you play.”
So, which Premier League players fit the bill? Check out our 5-a-side team of current players below – Could you pick a side to beat them?
Goalkeeper: Hugo Lloris – Tottenham
The French number one is our choice between the sticks, with the Tottenham man one of the keepers best suited to a stint on the AstroTurf. His cat-like reflexes would allow him to reach almost anything thrown at him, with his distribution and leadership skills also top notch.
Defence: Aleksandar Kolarov – Manchester City
With vision and a hammer shot akin to one John Arne Riise, the Serb is an ideal 5-a-sider, especially considering that he’s a defender! Kolarov has been in top form so far in the Premier League this season, nailing down the left-back spot and being part of a defence that hasn’t conceded a single goal so far.
Midfield: Alexis Sanchez – Arsenal
With a low centre of gravity, a warrior-like will to succeed, and shoulders to rival Johnny Bravo; Arsenal’s Sanchez is a must for our 5-a-side team.
A man known to have stayed late to sprint up and down the Emirates pitch after the defeat to West Ham early August, its pretty clear the Chilean would be well at home racing back and forth constantly on the smaller pitch until his legs finally fall off!
Midfield: Willian – Chelsea
A surprise inclusion considering the temptation of his teammate Eden Hazard, but we feel that the dynamic Willian could have even more of an impact in 5-a-side than his illustrious colleague.
We’d have Willian in the pivot, dictating and initiating devastating counter attacks. Selfless, defensive minded, and without the need ever for any kind of rest; you’d be hard pushed to find any better for this situation than the Brazilian.
Striker: Wayne Rooney – Manchester United
Captain of Manchester United, and renowned tough guy, Wazza gets the nod up top. Magic with both feet, strong as an ox, and not afraid of getting stuck in. Rooney has all the attributes to be an outstanding 5-a-side striker – or defender if he wanted to be!
He’s quite the tackler – plus, he’s not half bad in goal, as I’m sure most of you remember..
Super Sub: Diego Costa – Chelsea
If ever there was a player made for a scrap, it was the Chelsea man. Bring on the Spaniard when the going gets tough, and he’d soon sort things out! Just make sure you keep a leash on him, he’ll go after the ref and bystanders if you’re not careful!
Granted, there’s nothing wrong with Rooney being the hard man up top, but Costa has a knack of flying under the radar, despite his crimes being blatant and often quite mad.
And we’ve all seen Rooney get knocked out in his own home!
What do you think? Agree with our 5-a-side picks? Get involved in the comments below, and send us your top Premier League side for he 5-a-side pitch!
Playing football this weekend?
Fancy playing a 5-a-side game with your friends? Goals, the world’s largest and most respected operator of 5-a-side pitches, is the place to be. With over 500 pristine, FA accredited pitches at all-weather centres spread across the UK, Goals is the ultimate destination to scrap for bragging rights under beaming floodlights.
Ranging from between £60-£73 per pitch (just over a tenner each), and with leagues and tournaments to join/create, top notch shower and changing facilities, an exclusive app to keep track of progress, and fully licensed BT Sport lounge bars in every location – you and your mates will be strutting the Ronaldinho on (and off) the pitch in no time!
And if that wasn’t enough, how about receiving new gear and beer on the day, and potentially winning prizes from a treasure trove worth £200,000?
Goals are gearing up to launch their Kick Off Festival week, and teams booking a pitch on or after the 6th September will be given a guaranteed scratch-card on their arrival, with prizes ranging from new shin pads and goalie gloves, to pitchers of beer for celebrations (or wound licking) after the game!
There’s also an automatic entry for those teams into the main prize pot, with an Xbox One, PS4, Go Pro and iWatch just some of the amazing kit up for grabs!
