Sergio Aguero. Manchester City’s greatest ever goalscorer. The Premier League’s deadliest marksman. There are few strikers in world football who can match his ability in the final third.
His goal in the win away at Napoli, his 178th goal For City, saw him overtake Eric Brook and become the Club’s greatest scorer of all time. He did it in double quick time and is now unanimously considered the best out-and-out striker in City’s history. Even Francis Lee, a bona-fide Club legend, took 330 games to reach his total of 148.
And now the Argentine stands just one goal away for another hugely significant milestone: 200 Manchester City goals.
It would be a remarkable achievement, and one he will surely achieve in the coming weeks.
Even without taking into account the small matter of THAT goal against QPR in May 2012, his place is set ins tone as a true City legend.
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But what is it that makes him so good?
His pace is a valuable weapon, particularly the devastating burst of speed he is capable of summoning over the crucial first ten yards.
Defenders are constantly battling with the problem of how best to mark him. Give him room, and his pace will destroy you, but get too tight, and he can use his formidable body strength to both over-power and overwhelm opposition defenders.
He has a low centre of gravity that has become another potent weapon as it allows him the flexibility of movement affording him vital fraction of a second’s head-start on his rivals.
Aguero is also no slouch when it comes to heading, all of which helps make him the complete striker.
Last season saw him post another 30-goal haul, including 21 in 22 Premier League starts.
He has now scored a remarkable 143 Premier League goals in 206 games – a goal every 107 minutes, which constitutes the best ratio in the competition’s history.
Thierry Henry, second on the list, scored a goal every 121 minutes during his eight-year stay at Arsenal. Aguero’s is a sizeable lead.
The frightening thing for opposition defenders is Aguero is improving.
Under the leadership of Pep Guardiola, City have married sublime artistry with a prodigiuous work-rate and Aguero has led by example in that regard.
One of the many remarkable sights of last season’s record-breaking exploits was to see him embarking on lung-bursting chases to harry the opposition with time almost up.
He looks leaner, sharper and hungrier than ever. Guardiola, known for his exacting standards, has demanded more from all of his players and Aguero has responded superbly.
One thing is for sure: fitness permitting, Aguero is set to re-write the record books once again over the course of the new season.
It’s an exciting prospect that should thrill every City fan and give opposition defenders cause for concern!
