City’s win over Arsenal felt like a massive turning point in the destination of this year’s title race. As such, I thought this would be the ideal time to dip my foot back into the Player of the Season conversation (which is quite murky this campaign).
Arsenal’s recent blip has changed the complexion of things. A few months back, Arsenal fans would have somehow squeezed their entire starting eleven into the top ten list (mathematics be damned). There are a few players that could still nudge their way into the season-ending list (namely Nico O’Reily and David Raya). But this feels like a decent approximation of when I’m at right now.
10. Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)
With Champions League football all but secured and a Europea League semifinal on the way, I felt like I had to include someone from Emery’s Villa side. Tielemans has improved this season while Ollie Watkins has led the line admirably. Ultimately, I had to opt for the guy who is going to be this coming transfer window’s golden Labubu doll: Morgan Rogers. The England international has been a breath of fresh air this campaign, scoring nine league goals and providing five assists while playing across the breadth of the forward line. His versatility has been a massive part of Emery’s success and could power Villa to European glory.
9. Dominic Szoboszlai (Liverpool)
Hungarian midfielder Dominic Szoboszlai is the chief reason that Slot’s defending champions will probably play Champions League football next season. Szoboszlai has blossomed while the likes of McAlllister and Gravenberch have regressed dramatically. His athleticism and range of passing Echoe Stevie G in his pomp. Also, his outlandish dead-ball ability gives Liverpool the ultimate get-out-of-jail-free card. Slot needs to freshen up the midfield ranks in the summer, preferably looking for a player who can match Szoboszlai’s unreal engine.
8. Igor Thiago (Brentford)
Igor Thiago has been one of the true breakout stars of the season. Brentford fans could have easily despaired following the departures of Mbeumo and Wissa. But Thiago has stepped up in legendary manner, scoring 21 league goals to put some pressure on Erling Haaland in that Golden Boot Race. In the process, he has become the first Brentford player to score 20+ goals in Premier League campaign (not even Toney did that). Amazingly, he is somehow the first Brazilian player to ever reach that mark! His hold-up play and general nuisance value allow him to be part of all facets of the game. Isn’t it crazy to think that little old Brentford will have a striker playing for Brazil at this year’s World Cup?
7. Gabriel Marghalles (Arsenal)
Gabriel has been immense in the Gunners’ title charge, pairing exceptional last-ditch tackling with a near-unparalleled presence in the opposition box. For months, it appeared as if his domination of set-pieces may be the defining characteristics of this year’s title race (even if it occasionally blurred the lines of legality). He is essentially the barometer of how things are going at Arsenal. As such, it has been noticeable that he has gone a little flat in this past month. He has occasionally let emotions get the better of him and really should have been sent off for that ‘headbutt’ gesture towards Haaland. Still, Gabriel is a warrior who has given everything for Mikel Arteta and his teammates (perhaps a little too much at times).
6. Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth and Man City)
Ghanian winger Antoine Semenyo has enjoyed a tale of two seasons, propelling Bournemouth into the upper reaches of the league table before adding potency to City’s title charge. Semenyo has scored 15 goals and created four assists across the campaign, proving himself a versatile utility striker with an incredible knack of making things happen. He has become a critical part of Guardiola’s current title charge, terrorizing left-backs with his sudden bursts of pace and ability to stop on a dime. He reminds me of Adama Traore, with 25% less muscle mass and 75% more footballing ability.
5. Ryan Cherki (Man City)
Undoubtedly the most refreshing player on this list, Cherki is a throwback to an era where individual brilliance trumped tactical discipline (think Zola or Bergkamp). The fleet-footed Frenchman has filled the massive creative void left by KDB, adding a dose of joyful unpredictability to City’s attacking setup. To be fair, he should be in the lower half of this list when you look at the totality of the season (he never endeared himself to Pep with his early showings). But his transformative effect on the City side during this title run-in sees him leapfrog a couple of names. Let’s hope he can keepy uppy the great form (see what I did there).
4. Declan Rice (Arsenal)
Rice has been a tireless workhorse this season and has very seldom given less than a 6/10 performance. His unerring set-piece delivery served as the foundation to Arsenal’s early-season dominance. Oft-accused as being a soft touch, Arteta’s Arsenal have become masters of the dark arts, using Rice’s metronomic delivery to wreak-havoc on opposition defences. I will say this; I’m not on board with the Rice Ballon d’or narrative. Sorry, that is ludicrous. Rice doesn’t do enough with the ball to be considered for football’s biggest individual prize. Still, he has proved an indispensable part of Arsenal’s current resurgence and deserves a high place on this list.
3. Erling Haaland (Man City)
Striking Viking Erling Haaland has now scored 23 goals and created seven assists in 31 league matches this season. What a turndown this season has been. Haaland has had a surreal campaign, going through several fertile periods and subsequent down periods. But the acquisition of Semenyo has taken some of the goal-scoring burden off his shoulders, allowing him to be productive even when he isn’t finding the scoresheet. His winner against Arsenal was just the latest in an ever-increasing portfolio of crucial, potentially title-defining goals.
2. William Saliba (Arsenal)
Saliba is the Cabernet Sauvignon to Gabriel’s draught beer, a smooth alternative to his centre-half partner’s more immediate thrills. Gabriel stole all the headlines in the early portion of the season, elevated by his starring role in Arteta’s set-piece fetish. But I just think that the Frenchman has gone from strength to strength as the season progressed, using his preternatural positional awareness and turn of pace to cover the occasionally reckless Gabriel. He pocketed Haaland in Sunday’s megawatt clash with City, forcing Haaland to focus all his energy on Gabriel (who surrendered a goal and was almost sent off).
1. Bruno Fernandes (Man United)
Even the most ardent anti-Bruno activists will have to concede that he has been a revelation this season. We have all been inundated with the stats for years now: nobody has created more chances in Europe’s too five years than Bruno, etc, etc. But this feels like the first year where it doesn’t come with a caveat. He hasn’t downed tools in the big games and has been liberated by Carrick in the latter part of the season. Fernandes moved to 18 assists for the campaign with his beautiful cross to Cunha at the weekend, meaning he is on track to potentially break De Bruyne and Henry’s record of 20 assists in a season. Those numbers are staggering when you consider he was part of a stagnant double-pivot for much of Amorim’s tenure. Is he the best player in the league? Maybe not. But he is undoubtedly the most important.
