Newcastle fans, get ready to see some serious pace at St James’ Park this season.
With the club wrapping up a £55million move for Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest, Eddie Howe now has one of the most blistering forward lines in the Premier League.
And we’re not just talking quick—we mean lightning.
Elanga is coming off an impressive season with six goals and 11 assists, and it’s not just his productivity that caught Howe’s eye.
He was officially the fastest attacking player in the Premier League last season, clocking a blistering top speed of 22.77mph.
Add that to Anthony Gordon’s relentless runs and Alexander Isak’s movement, and you’ve got a front three built to burn defenders.
Speed Stats Don’t Lie: Who Has the Fastest Frontlines?
Let’s break it down. Using data from Stats Perform, here’s how the Premier League’s fastest attacking trios stack up based on their top speeds from last season.
Only teams who played in the 2024-25 campaign were considered, and realistic line-ups were factored in.
🥇 Man City’s Speed Demons Lead the Way – 22.08mph
Erling Haaland, Omar Marmoush, Jeremy Doku
It’s no surprise that Pep Guardiola’s side is top of the pace chart.
Haaland alone hit 22.37mph last season, ranking him fifth overall.
Add in Doku’s dribbling dynamism and Marmoush’s raw pace, and you’ve got an average sprint speed of 22.08mph across the front three.
🥈 Brentford’s Underrated Speed Surge – 22.07mph
Bryan Mbeumo, Kevin Schade, Yoane Wissa
Just behind City are the Bees. Mbeumo was actually the second-fastest forward in the league last year (22.76mph).
Schade and Wissa weren’t far behind either, making Brentford’s front line a nightmare for any defense not ready to turn and sprint.
🥉 Newcastle’s New Trio is Built for the Break – 22.03mph
Anthony Elanga, Anthony Gordon, Alexander Isak
Elanga’s arrival immediately boosts Newcastle’s speed ranking.
He was the fastest attacking player last season, with Gordon also cracking the top 10. Isak might not be as rapid (21.19mph), but he brings finesse and timing.
Without Elanga, their average drops to 21.70mph with Harvey Barnes in his place.
Notably, former Magpie Yankuba Minteh—now at Brighton—was the third-fastest last year.
Letting him go wasn’t easy, but Newcastle’s PSR (Profit and Sustainability Rules) left them with little choice.
Arsenal’s Young Guns Just Miss Out – 22.02mph
Gabriel Martinelli, Ethan Nwaneri, Kai Havertz
Bukayo Saka is notably missing here due to a dip in top-speed stats last season.
Instead, Arteta’s fastest trio includes teenager Ethan Nwaneri, Martinelli on the wing, and Havertz up top.
Together, they just fall short of the top three.
Brighton’s New Flyer from Newcastle – 21.90mph
Yankuba Minteh, Kaoru Mitoma, Georginio Rutter
Brighton could be one of the most electric counter-attacking teams this season.
With Minteh (third fastest last season) joining Mitoma and Rutter, there’s real threat from wide areas.
Tottenham Have Options to Crank Up the Pace – 21.76mph
Wilson Odobert, Mathys Tel, Dominic Solanke
Tottenham could sneak into the top spot if they use Son Heung-min in place of Solanke—raising their average to 22.09mph.
Still, Odobert (fourth fastest in the league) and Tel add serious sprint power to the wings.
Chelsea’s Fast Lane Depends on Transfer Activity – 21.74mph
Pedro Neto, Noni Madueke, Joao Pedro
Chelsea’s quick front line includes Madueke (though he might be off to Arsenal), and new signing Joao Pedro.
Neto remains their most consistently rapid player, narrowly edging out Nicolas Jackson.
United’s Speed Potential Needs Reshuffling – 21.67mph
Rasmus Hojlund, Matheus Cunha, Amad
This line-up could look very different depending on who stays or goes.
Rashford and Garnacho, if kept, would immediately push their average speed back over 22mph. Swapping Cunha for Mbeumo? United would top the list at 22.12mph.
Liverpool’s Speed Holds Strong – 21.64mph
Luis Diaz, Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo
The reigning champs aren’t the fastest, but they’re balanced. Diaz remains the quickest, while Salah’s still holding it down despite his age.
Gakpo adds a strong central option.
Palace and Bournemouth Are Slipping Under the Radar – 21.47mph / 21.46mph
Crystal Palace: Jean-Philippe Mateta, Ismaila Sarr, Eberechi Eze
Bournemouth: Dango Ouattara, Justin Kluivert, Evanilson
Both clubs bring decent pace—Mateta and Ouattara particularly stand out—but they’re just shy of the elite tier.
Still, their speed could be a problem in transition-heavy matches.
West Ham’s Ageing Attack Slows Them Down – 21.38mph
Mohammed Kudus, Michail Antonio, Jarrod Bowen
Kudus is their quickest, but Antonio’s fitness and age are question marks.
Bowen, though slower, is vital for their build-up.
With new arrivals like Luis Guilherme and Fullkrug in the mix, there’s potential for change.
Villa, Everton, Wolves and Fulham Lag Behind
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Aston Villa (21.31mph): Donyell Malen, Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins
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Everton (21.23mph): Beto, Iliman Ndiaye, Jack Harrison
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Wolves (21.03mph): Rodrigo Gomes, Jorgen Strand Larsen, Hwang Hee-Chan
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Fulham (21.02mph): Adama Traore, Ryan Sessegnon, Rodrigo Muniz
Surprisingly, even with Adama Traore’s raw speed, Fulham are second-last.
Villa’s Watkins is a top striker but isn’t winning any sprints, and Everton’s options are severely limited after key departures.
Forest’s Pace Plummets Without Elanga – 20.58mph
Jota Silva, Chris Wood, Callum Hudson-Odoi
Losing Elanga stings—hard. Forest thrived on counters last season, but now they rank dead last in terms of frontline speed. Chris Wood, who shockingly recorded a better top speed than Hudson-Odoi, remains their central figure up top.
What It All Means
Speed isn’t everything, but in the Premier League, it sure helps.
Whether it’s Man City’s perfectly balanced attack or Newcastle’s turbo-charged trio, clubs are putting serious emphasis on pace.
With counter-attacks, pressing systems, and transitions dominating modern football, don’t be surprised if the fastest teams end up being the most dangerous ones this season.
So buckle up. This year’s title race—and relegation scrap—might just be decided by who can sprint the fastest