Player Focus: The Premier League's Big Dippers

Having focused on the Premier League's Most Improved Players last week it seems only fitting for the ever-judgemental WhoScored to analyse the individuals to have gone through the biggest decline this season. To do so we have calculated the greatest decrease in their WhoScored rating from last season to this and, as before, included a mandatory filter of at least 10 appearances in each campaign.

6. Andrey Arshavin (Arsenal) - WhoScored Rating Difference -.65 (6.97 to 6.32)

Technically still an Arsenal player, Russian forward Andrey Arshavin returned to former club Zenit St. Petersburg on loan in January in what was widely identified as the best outcome for all parties involved. Having been an immediate hit at the club, netting 16 league goals in his first 18 months in the capital, Arshavin stagnated quite dramatically. Despite tailing off in the latter half of the season last year, Arshavin shared the lead for Arsenal with former captain Cesc Fabregas for assists, with 11.

His final ball proved to be impressive; picking up said tally from just 1.5 key passes per game last season, while he also netted 6 times from 70 shots in 2010/11. The crowd began to get on his back for some lacklustre displays having scored just once and provided 3 assists prior to his move this time around. A lack of confidence was seen as the main issue and is exemplified by the fact that he completed just 0.6 dribbles per game this season, compared to 1 per game last and 1.4 per game the season before.

5. Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool) - WhoScored Rating Difference -.66 (7.11 to 6.45)

Dirk Kuyt has always been and remains a very important member of Liverpool's squad, proving as much through his impact as he earned his first medal since moving to the club in the Carling Cup final last month. However, while the Dutchman's work ethic never comes into question, his contribution to goals this season certainly does.

Having netted a very reputable 13 goals last season and provided 7 assists, Kuyt was Liverpool's main goal threat, converting over 20% of his chances and averaging 1.7 key passes per game. This time around he has a solitary figure in both his goals and assists columns and is one of a number of faltering finishers at the club. Kuyt has had 38 shots this season, meaning his conversion rate is unbelievably under 3%, as well as creating fewer chances per game for teammates (1.2).

4. Antolin Alcaraz (Wigan) - WhoScored Rating Difference -.90 (7.12 to 6.22)

In his debut season at Wigan, Antolin Alcaraz was one of the surprise high-fliers in the WhoScored ratings, playing an integral role in The Latics eventual survival. He led the way at Wigan for tackles and interceptions, with averages of 3.8 and 3.5 ranking fifth and second in the league respectively. He also topped the charts for Martinez in terms of clearances (8.3) and aerial duels per game (3.1).

His average rating of 7.12 was top for Wigan by some distance, though his average of 6.22 this time around sees him down in 17th for the 19th placed club. In terms of tackles he is down to fourth at the DW with 2.3, and while he still leads the way for interceptions, his average of 2.5 is considerably lower than last season. His clearances per game are also way down at 4.9 per game, as well as winning less than half as many aerial duels a match (1.3).

3. Kenwyne Jones (Stoke) - WhoScored Rating Difference -.95 (6.97 to 6.02)

Signing for Stoke for a club record fee of £8m in 2010, Kenwyne Jones' career at the club has been in a gradual state of decline, not helped by new record signing Peter Crouch's arrival this summer. Pulis' decision to bring in the England international was a real shun to Jones, with the option of deploying both target men in the same team never seeming likely. The choice could be deemed as a little harsh after the former Sunderland striker ended his first season as the team's top scorer, despite falling just short of the 10-goal mark.

He has netted just once this season and, having started just 8 of his 17 league appearances, currently finds himself as possibly the fourth choice forward at the club, with Cameron Jerome also signed in the summer. He attempted 2.6 shots per game last season compared to just 1.1 this, while his massive average of 6.6 aerial duels won per game - which led the way in the entire league last season – has dropped to less than a third of that figure, with just 2 a match thus far as Stoke constantly look to Crouch.

2. Steve Gohouri (Wigan) - WhoScored Rating Difference -.96 (6.82 to 5.86)

Ivory Coast international defender Steve Gohouri has the unfortunate accolade of being the Premier League's worst rated player according to WhoScored (5.86) of all of those to feature at least 10 times this season. The fact that he is the second Wigan centre-back in our top (or is it bottom) 6 here tells a story. Martinez's backline have made numerous errors this season and Gohouri's first game of the current campaign sadly set the tone for the 31-year-old, sent off after an hour against Tottenham.

He started 26 games in the previous campaign, fielded across the backline, and proved dependable in the most part, ranking as Wigan's fourth best player in 2010/11. He averaged an impressive 3 tackles, 2.3 interceptions and 7.5 clearances per game, with those figures down at 1.7, 0.9 and 2.9 respectively this time around. If Wigan are to stay up it is clear that they need more from the likes of Alcaraz and Gohouri though the latter, perhaps unsurprisingly, is out of the side at the moment.

1. Florent Malouda (Chelsea) - WhoScored Rating Difference -.98 (7.46 to 6.48)

Though Gohouri may be bottom of the pile this season, in terms of players who have shown the greatest decline in form from last season Chelsea's Florent Malouda is our biggest loser. He finished last season as The Blues top scorer in the league with 13, ahead of Drogba and Lampard, and also topped the team for key passes despite only registering 4 assists.

Malouda's impressive efforts across the board in 2010/11 saw him pick up an average rating of 7.46 having featured in every single league game for the eventual runners-up, ranking him 7th in the league. However, his involvement under Villas-Boas was dramatically limited, starting just 6 of his 19 league appearances thus far. He has netted once in the league, back in August and the second match of the season at home to West Brom, contributing 2 assists in the process.

The France international's average of 3.1 key passes per game was the best in the league last season, but has dropped to 1.2 this time around. His creativity is no longer needed and indeed, fittingly outdone by his replacement Juan Mata, whose average of 3.3 key passes a match is now the best in the division. With the 31-year-old winger's contract up next year, and the club unlikely to offer him a new one, he is widely expected to leave come the end of the season.