Former Arsenal pair feature in U21 player form rankings

Two former Arsenal players feature in the U21 player form rankings across Europe's top five leagues as a familiar face retains top spot.

10. Jean-Philippe Mateta (Mainz 05) - 7.32 weighted rating 

A new qualifier in the top 10 of the U21 player forming rankings, Jean-Philippe Mateta has 12 league goals to his name this season, five of which have come in his last four Bundesliga outings. He may have flattered to deceive in a 1-0 loss at table footers Hannover over the weekend, but the Frenchman’s weighted rating of 7.32 is enough to make the cut in this list. 

9. Ismael Bennacer (Empoli) - 7.32 weighted rating 

Dropping down to ninth, with his WhoScored rating (7.32) following suit, Empoli’s young midfielder Ismael Bennacer has still done enough in recent weeks to feature in this ranking. The 21-year-old put in a man of the match display at the beginning of the month in a 2-1 win over Napoli, that a bright spark for the Algerian of late. Nevertheless, he needs to up the ante next time out or risk dropping out of the top 10. 

8. Youri Tielemans (Leicester) - 7.41 weighted rating 

Rising up into eighth we have Youri Tielemans, who continues to shine in the Leicester midfield. The Belgian scored a second half header to set the Foxes on their way to a 3-0 win over Arsenal on Sunday, that his third league goal since his January arrival. Having now had a direct hand in seven league goals since making his debut back in February, Tielemans’ WhoScored rating of 7.41 is enough to surge into the top 10 and you wouldn’t back against that rising further. 

7. Merih Demiral (Sassuolo) - 7.42 weighted rating 

Dropping to seventh this week is Sassuolo’s young Turkish centre-back Merih Demiral. The Serie A side may have won 1-0 on Monday night, yet Demiral has failed to match the same performance levels seen in recent stand out displays against Chievo and Parma, and while his weighted rating in recent weeks is 7.42, that’s fallen and seen the centre-back drop in the top 10. 

6. Jeff Reine-Adelaide (Angers) - 7.44 weighted rating 

A new qualifier in the top 10 ratings, and the second former Arsenal man to make the cut, Jeff Reine-Adelaide has been in good form for Angers of late. Having recently bagged his first league goals of the season, the Frenchman also has two assists in his latest run of fixtures, which includes a man of the match display against Rennes. If Angers are to end the season strongly and secure a top half finish, he’ll be key. 

5. Kai Havertz (Bayer Leverkusen) - 7.45 weighted rating 

Propping up the top five is riser Kai Havertz, who continues to blossom in the Bundesliga. Bayer Leverkusen romped to a 4-1 win at Augsburg on Friday night, with the young German netting a sumptuous lob in the victory, that his 14th league goal of the season. With four goals in his last four league outings, Havertz is good value for a weighted rating of 7.46. 

4. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) - 7.63 weighted rating 

The first of three English stars in the top four, Trent Alexander-Arnold notched his ninth league assist of the season and fifth in his last six competitive outings for Liverpool. The Reds will hope the England international can maintain his good form when they take on Barcelona at Camp Nou on Wednesday night, with Alexander-Arnold boasting a weighted rating of 7.63 of late. 

3. Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Crystal Palace) - 7.64 weighted rating 

In the battle of the young English right-backs, Aaron Wan-Bissaka edges out Trent Alexander-Arnold, with the Crystal Palace star helping himself to a weighted rating of 7.64. Wan-Bissaka completed more dribbles (7) than any other player in the recent round of Premier League fixtures as the young defender continues to go from strength-to-strength. 

2. Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund) - 7.67 weighted rating 

Jadon Sancho has now registered more assists (14) than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues this season having provided a perfect ball for Mario Gotze to score in Borussia Dortmund’s 4-2 loss to Schalke. The teenage England international has now had a direct hand in seven goals in his last six league outings and boasts a fine weighted rating of 7.67 in that run. 

1. Kylian Mbappe (PSG) - 7.99 weighted rating 

Kylian Mbappe’s Coupe de France campaign ended with a red card, but in the league, the Frenchman continues to shine having bagged a hat-trick in PSG’s 3-1 win over Monaco. Having had a direct hand in all but two of his last 16 appearances for club and country, Mbappe is deserving of a WhoScored rating of 7.99 to top the U21 player form rankings.