I think we can all pretty much agree that: a) Gylfi Sigurdsson is the best thing to come out of Iceland since that one Sigur Ros song the BBC used relentlessly on pretty much everything, solidly, for like four years, and; b) Swansea City would be dead and buried, deep in the ground with no chance of survival, without him.
The Icelandic star is an outstanding footballer, and once again proved his worth with an assist and a winner during the Swans 2-1 win over Southampton last night. And a very well-taken winner it was, too.
Gylfi Sigurdsson puts the Swans back in front… Superb finish. pic.twitter.com/TZjiD61bka
— Swansea City (@swanseaVines) February 1, 2017
While the goal secured a vital victory for Paul Clement’s side, it also unearthed a remarkable stat.
Gylfi Sigurdsson has directly contributed to 50% of Swansea’s 28 Premier League goals this season.
7 assists
7 goals pic.twitter.com/Hlj4gRryyf— Premier League Zone (@ThePLZone) January 31, 2017
Sigurdsson has contributed to 14 of Swansea’s tally, the same amount as Adam Lallana for Liverpool and ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli. He’s an outstanding player in an extremely mediocre football team, so while it’s no surprise to know he bears the brunt of the work, it’s still pretty incredible he’s managed to rack up those numbers when he’s being playing alongside Borja Baston for most of the season. Go on: YOU try assisting Borja Baston, see how easy that is.
The 27-year-old is arguably in the prime of his career, and while he was linked to a move away from Wales last month, no one cashed in on the Icelander.
With no disrespect to Swansea, Sigurdsson is much, much too good for them. He was underused at Spurs during his brief two-year stint – something Mauricio Pochettino has previously lamented – and since his return to Wales he has excelled.
After signing in 2014, the midfielder has directly been involved in 44 goals in 91 appearances – that’s a goal or assist every two games, in a team who’s highest finish to date in the Premier League is eighth. Swansea and fantasy football owners everywhere thank you, Gylfi: you are single-handedly keeping ‘Mo Bony Mo Problems’ afloat.
It’s not just the creative aspect of his play that draws plaudits either, with Swans boss Paul Clement last night praising his all-round work-rate.
[quote] “Gylfi has fantastic delivery at set-plays and he produced a wonderful finish after good work from Luciano Narsingh, who made an instant impact.
“But I would like to comment on Gylfi’s work ethic. People have asked me if he is all right playing on the left, but I haven’t had a conversation with him about that.
“He has done everything that has been asked of him.” [/quote]
It’s weird that in a Europe so recently enamoured with everything Icelandic following the Euros – CLAPS, CLAPS FOR EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE, ALL THE TIME, CLAPS FOR ETERNITY, QUICK, BUY SOMEONE WITH ‘SON’ IN HIS NAME – Sigurdsson doesn’t seem to be fashionable enough to pique the interest of the big boys.
They’ll continue to buy the shiniest wonderkids world football has to offer, with names like Jesus or Dembele, or literally just a succession of randomly-placed consonants, while Sigurdsson will plod along with his ridiculous goals / assists-to-game ratio, pinging in set-piece dimes to the latest Spanish journeyman and wondering if he will ever see life outside of Wales again.
For the time being, everyone else’s loss is Swansea’s gain. Gylfi Sigurdsson is a marvel: how long until a top club realises it?
MORE GYLFI
Dramatic goals compilation incoming:
