Ranking the Premier League's all-time greatest super subs

Mikel Arteta may have attempted to rebrand them "finishers," but the focus remains on those players renowned for making a significant impact off the bench, earning the title of super subs. These players are the game-changers that managers turn to when desperately needing a goal.

Among those who narrowly missed inclusion is Adam le Fondre, who holds the record for the most goals scored from the bench in a single Premier League campaign, netting five of his eight goals during a three-game stretch in January 2013. Hernan Crespo boasts an impressive goals-per-game ratio, yet his six goals in 16 substitute appearances for Chelsea constitute a small sample size, as does Mark Robins, who netted five in 14 appearances as a substitute for Norwich and Leicester.

To be ranked among the top 10 Premier League super subs, players needed to have consistently delivered throughout their careers in terms of goals and assists. Here is the ranking:

10. Theo Walcott
Walcott holds the record as the most subbed-off player in Premier League history, replaced on 168 occasions. However, it’s his contributions off the bench that stand out. He has 14 assists—the most by any player as a sub in Premier League history—alongside 10 goals while playing for Arsenal, Everton, and Southampton, placing him fourth in overall goal contributions from the bench.

9. Victor Anichebe
Anichebe tied with Divock Origi, scoring half of his Premier League goals while as a substitute. The former Everton and West Brom striker achieved 13 goals off the bench, placing him joint-eighth overall, while also contributing five assists.

8. Daniel Sturridge
Sturridge, who scored 17 of his 76 Premier League goals as a substitute, has a strong case for higher ranking due to his prolific goal contribution rate, which was at a better average than every other sub in Premier League history, barring Edin Dzeko and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

7. Olivier Giroud
A World Cup and Champions League winner, Giroud has scored 21 of his 90 Premier League goals as a substitute, making him second on the all-time list for substitute goals.

6. Tore Andre Flo
Flo scored 34% of his Premier League goals as a substitute, while providing three assists through his tenure in the league.

5. Javier Hernandez
Hernandez, known as 'Chicharito', scored 19 goals as a substitute with a striking rate of 0.24 goals per game, primarily for Manchester United, and has been a persistent threat for defenders.

4. Edin Dzeko
With 50 Premier League goals, Dzeko scored more than a quarter of those from a substitute position, assisting 17 times, making his contributions off the bench some of the most significant in the league’s history.

3. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Solskjaer is often considered the quintessential super sub, best known for his dramatic late winner in the Champions League final. In Premier League action, he remains one of the most prolific scorers off the bench, reflecting his vital role in Manchester United's successes.