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The 2023/2024 Premier League season has not been one void of entertainment on all sides from completing teams. Hundreds of players have taken center stage in a rather remarkable season that has seen records broken and set on all fronts.
Here, we take a look at a select few that have taken the league by storm and are particularly instrumental to their respective team campaigns.
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David Raya – Arsenal
Raya, 28, joined Arsenal on a loan move from Brentford in the off-season. Initially being the deputy to Aaron Ramsdale and incurring a lot of media attention. Raya eventually deposed the English goalie and made the spot his following an impressive display in his debut for the club against Everton. The Spanish shot-stopper racked up an impressive 16 clean sheets in his first 31 league games and already picked up the Golden Gloves award with about 3 games to spare.
Josko Gvardiol – Manchester City
The Croatian defender had a tough start to life in Manchester, a consequence of Pep Guardiola’s constant team rotations and the hefty price tag he commanded from RB Leipzig. Gvardiol since the turn of the year has found renewed form now being a constant name in the first team squad. Asides the defensive performances, he’s also popped a number of important goals across Manchester City’s title run-in. Gvardiol has scored the most goals by a PL defender in the calendar year while no one eclipses him across all competitions this campaign.
William Saliba – Arsenal
The French central defender has now earned back-to-back young player of the season nominations. His partnership with the Brazilian Gabriel Magalhães at the heart of an impressive Arsenal defence that conceded the least goals across the campaign. The towering defender leads the way this season for the most clean sheets of any player and ties with Spurs counterpart Micky Van de Ven for the most last man tackles.
Virgil Van Dijk – Liverpool
The Dutch colossus has enjoyed a seamless return to first team football since full recovery from his anterior cruciate ligament injury. In a season Liverpool FC have been plagued by injury, he’s stayed as the only constant along their defensive line partnering Joel Matip, Joe Gomez, Ibrhaima Konate and the young Jarell Quansah. He boasts the best aerial duel success rate amongst defenders to have played 25+ games and also stays the highest ranked central defender for the campaign.
Ben White – Arsenal
The 26-year-old defender joined Arsenal back in 2021 as a top rated center back. With Mikel Arteta, he’s evolved into a right-back to accommodate the Saliba-Gabriel partnership. Arguably, he’s one of Arsenal’s most improved players of the campaign with his forays down the right-hand side as part of a trio with Saka and Odegaard. White himself as found 4 goals and 4 assists for the campaign in addition to jis defensive duties.
Declan Rice – Arsenal
Another Arsenal player to make this list with the very assured performances across this campaign. Arsenal’s club record signing has slotted in rather easily going straight into the lineup. Either as a six or eight as determined by the availability of Jorginho or Thomas Partey, Rice has put in an impressive shift whenever called upon. He’s also been a partaker in set-piece duties for the North-London side. Also, adding a total of 15 goal involvements.
Rodrigo Hernández Cascante – Manchester City
Rodri has over the years enforced himself as one of football’s finest in the defensive midfield role. Rodri currently boasts a 48-game unbeaten run in the premier league. All City’s losses this campaign have been in his absence. This season, the Spaniard remains the only player to make 20+ in the metrics of shots on target, chances created, aerial duels won, take-ons completed, tackles made, interceptions as well as clearances.
Martin Odegaard – Arsenal
The Gunners skipper enjoyed a slow start to the 2023/2024 campaign but aa however picked up where he left the form. Odegaard’s redefined role to deeper midfield to dictate play and call the shots has been a smart piece of business.
The Norwegian has racked 8 goals and 8 assists across Arsenal’s premier league charge. Also, rapidly establishing himself as one of the best playmakers in the league and finest in the continent overall. His 95 chances created is only bettered by United’s skipper Bruno Fernandes and Pascal Gross with the seagulls. In addition, 16 big chances have rolled off his boots while boasting a per 90 xA of 10.6.
Phil Foden – Manchester City
Foden’s introduction must come as no surprise. The English forward has taken center stage this season with the worrisome fitness issues of Kevin de Bruyne and star forward Erling Haaland. Foden sits comfortably amongst the conversation for the season’s best player in his finest campaign till date. He also joins the exclusive club of English players to have made 25+ GAs in the league this season. Joined by Ollie Watkins, Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer.
Ollie Watkins – Aston Villa
The villains wild chase for a UEFA champions league spot is catalyzed by the impressive form of the English forward this campaign. He leads the way for most goal involvements competing with the pack leading the golden boot and playmaker chase. The former Brentford man has also racked up the most goal contribution across away games. Only Harry Kane betters his tally amongst English strikers this season and should likely earn him a call-up for the approaching European championships.
Cole Palmer – Chelsea
Palmer’s refusal for a bit-part role in Pep Guardiola’s squad saw him make the switch to West-London. Under Mauricio Pochettino, he’s truly been the revelation with the constant injuries to Christopher Nkunku and the worrisome form of the rest of the attack.
This season, Palmer became the third English player to score 20+ goals and provided 10+ assists in a 38-game Premier League season as well as the 3rd player in the history of Chelsea. The 22-year-old’s impressive season which has seen him take up 40+ goal involvements without European football has more than put him on the radar.
Substitutes –
Jordan Pickford, Antonee Robinson, Micky Van de Ven, Douglas Luiz, Bukayo Saka, Dominic Solanke.
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