Aubameyang Tied With Vardy for Most Goals; Now 3-1 Odds to Win Golden Boot
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang bagged two goals on Sunday against Everton, taking his tally to 17 this season, tied with Jamie Vardy for the most in England’s top flight
- Leicester City’s main man up front hasn’t scored since December 21st
- See the odds and contenders to win the Golden Boot below
The Golden Boot race is a very close one in the Premier League, with four players currently fighting it out. Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy and Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are tied for first with 17 goals to their name, while Sergio Aguero has 16. Southampton star Danny Ings, who is enjoying a breathtaking campaign, has netted 15 times this term.
Vardy, who enjoyed a torrid start to the season, has slowed down in the last three months, failing to score since December 21st. Aubameyang meanwhile, is in fine form lately, bagging four goals in his last five Premier League appearances, including a brace against Everton on Sunday. He now has EPL Golden Boot odds of +300.
EPL Golden Boot Odds
| Player | Goal Total | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Sergio Aguero | 16 | +225 |
| Jamie Vardy | 17 | +300 |
| Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | 17 | +300 |
| Mohamed Salah | 14 | +600 |
| Danny Ings | 15 | +1400 |
| Sadio Mane | 12 | +2000 |
| Raul Jimenez | 12 | +4000 |
| Tammy Abraham | 13 | +4000 |
| Raheem Sterling | 11 | +6600 |
| Gabriel Jesus | 10 | +8000 |
| Marcus Rashford | 14 | +10000 |
| Roberto Firmino | 8 | +10000 |
| Teemu Pukki | 11 | +10000 |
| Anthony Martial | 10 | +10000 |
| Kevin De Bruyne | 8 | +15000 |
Odds taken Feb 24.
Aubameyang Lighting up the Scoresheet
It looked like a safe bet that Jamie Vardy would run away with the Golden Boot this year with a six-goal lead on December 23rd. But with his struggles, other players have found their best recently, most notably Aubameyang. The Arsenal star has flourished since Christmas, scoring six goals in just eight matches. He now looks like a serious favorite to win the scoring race in the Premier League, especially if he can keep up his deadly form in the final third for Mikel Arteta’s new and improved Arsenal side.
Last year, the 30-year old finished in a three-way tie for first place with Liverpool duo Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane with 22 goals apiece. At the rate Aubameyang is scoring, it’s a great possibility that he reaches his total from last season.
Vardy Struggling to Capitalize
Vardy was the talk of the Premier League before the New Year, bagging 17 goals in just 18 appearances while scoring in nine straight matches from late October to early December. But since 2020 began, the 33-year old has immensely struggled to find the back of the net. He’s had his fair share of opportunities, but Vardy is finding the woodwork or missing the goal more often than he’d like.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjzYWwh8d6Y
He’s failed to score in his last nine appearances but has tallied two assists during that span. It’s only a matter of time until he finds his best once again though. Dry spells in the final third happen to the best footballers in the world. Soon enough, Vardy will find his scoring touch because his pace and excitement on the attack is still very present in every single match.
Can Aguero or Ings Make a Run?
Man City’s all-time leading goal-scorer is having an outstanding campaign, firing home 16 goals in 21 Premier League appearances this term. However, the Argentine has been relatively quiet as of late, failing to score in his last four appearances. Prior to that though, Aguero netted eight goals in just five matches. His instinct and natural ability to score goals makes him one of the best strikers in Europe. He’s currently in the race for the Golden Boot, just one goal behind Vardy and Aubameyang.
Saints striker Danny Ings is having a career season, already doubling his goal total from last year with another 11 matches to go. His 15 goals put him third in the Premier League. He’s been a huge part of Southampton’s surge up the table, where they currently sit in 12th place after a 2-0 win over Aston Villa over the weekend. With Marcus Rashford and Harry Kane both injured for a prolonged amount of time heading into this summer’s European Championships, Ings could see a call-up to the Three Lions if he continues his impressive form.
Aguero is Best Bet Currently
Vardy has had a wonderful year but with his struggles over the last few months, I don’t think he will win the Golden Boot this season. Even though Aguero is scoreless in his last four appearances, the 31-year old receives tremendous service from City’s world-class midfield, anchored by Premier League assist leader, Kevin De Bruyne, who’s set up 16 goals this season.
From the Belgian wizard to others like Bernardo Silva or Ilkay Gundogan, Aguero is always the main target up front for Pep Guardiola’s midfielders. I do believe Aubameyang is going to give Aguero a run for his money for the Golden Boot, but in the end, the Man City star will take home the honors.
Pick: Sergio Aguero
Quinn Allen is a sports journalist, with a background and education in broadcast journalism (BCIT '17). He is a full-time associate editor at ClutchPoints by day, where he writes about soccer, baseball, basketball, football, and more. At night, Quinn is a frequent contributor at SBD.
