2023/24 Premier League Team of The Season
After a (not-so) nervy title race going right down to the wire, Manchester City won their fourth successive Premier League, and sixth in seven years. Arsenal came incredibly close, and even exceeded their points tally from the Invincibles season, while Unai Emery’s Aston Villa made a return to the Top 4, surviving through injuries and a tight European schedule. Manchester United had their worst ever finish, while a late surge from Chelsea ensured European football for next season. The three promotees dropped straight back down, but Luton Town proved all their doubters wrong, because they weren’t the worst team in the League. Sheffield United, with just 16 points in 38 games, had the third-worst Premier League season in history.
With yet another fantastic Premier League season coming to an end, it’s time to analyze the best XI of the season..
Goalkeeper : Jordan Pickford
Probably the most difficult to position to pick from, goalies haven’t been all that superb this season. But if I had to pick one, it has to be Pickford. England’s first choice keeper is one of the major reasons why Everton are comfortably still in the top flight despite an 8-point deduction. He kept 13 clean sheets in 38 games, conceding 51 goals. He’s fairly composed, and is a solid presence at the back. There’s a reason he’s Southgate’s first choice..
Defenders : White, Saliba, Gabriel
So rarely does a League’s Team of the season have a defense from a single side, but Arsenal’s defense has been so good this season, that their inclusion is more than deserving.
Ben White has been versatile and effective in his pairing with Saka down the right flank, with 4 goals and as many assists to his name. His main duty with the ball is getting it swiftly and safely to Bukayo Saka or Martin Ødegaard. Mikel Arteta has cleverly turned him into yet another attacking weapon.
As you might remember, William Saliba made my 2023 Team of the Year and I also listed him as one of the reasons why France can win the Euros. That in itself speaks volumes, as Saliba has played every single minute in the League this season. He’s the rock at the heart of the Gunner’s backline, as they only conceded 29 goals in 38 games. The best defender in England this season.
Saliba’s partner in crime, Gabriel is the vocal force of Arsenal’s back force. If Saliba is the ice headed monk, Gabriel is the fiery brute, whose rugged and nasty defending allows Saliba to do the “elegant” work. William Saliba and Gabriel are the first centre-back partnership to restrict Erling Haaland to 0 shots on target both home and away in a single Premier League season. That should be enough to show you their worthiness; not everyone can keep the Viking quiet.
Midfielders : Rodri, Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard
Rice, Rice, Baby!! Declan Rice has been absolutely fantastic, making even his 105 Million look like a bargain. At West Ham, he was criticized for not scoring or assisting enough, and he has silenced those doubters too, scoring 7 and assisting a further 9. He has also extremely reliable, and hasn’t missed a game all season. Arsenal have a player who will become a club legend — and a man who could bring the Premier League title back to north London, and almost did this season, along with his skipper — Martin Odegaard.
One of the biggest transfer mistakes Real Madrid have committed in recent history (after Eden Hazard), is the sale of Odegaard to Arsenal. 8 Goals, 10 Assists, which in itself is a decent return, but Martin Odegaard is so much more than that. He’s an excellent passer into the final third, taking every possible opportunity to attempt to progress play by breaking lines with incisive passing, and so he regularly cuts opponents out of the game. He’s also capable of curling goals into the top corner. Often an in-game cheerleader, he is always the last to leave the field at the end of a game, win or lose, thanking them for their support. He is a fantastic leader, fully deserving of the armband, as showcased by his decision to give the penalty to Kai Havertz when he needed a boost of confidence.
74 games unbeaten, Rodri is the final piece of this midfield trio. He’s the focal point around which Pep’s tactics function. City have lost 3 out of the 4 games he missed, including a poor performance at the Emirates when they only had one shot on target.
“Rodri is the best,” said Guardiola. “In his position, he is the best so he can do everything. The quality, he reads the game, his mentality, he is always ready and Rodri is a top, top [player]. He is so good at many things.
Rodri is a very competent defensive player. That positioning that makes him always available to receive a pass when they’re in offence translates to defence. He’s always in the right spot. He’s one of the best short passers in the game. He’s the Wazir in Pep’s chessboard. That probably should sum it up?
Forwards : Foden, Watkins, Haaland, Palmer
Man City’s young homegrown sniper, Phil Foden, has finally reached the level he was always pegged for. Contributing 17 goals and eight assists to the City’s championship charge, Foden is truly living upto Guardiola’s comments comparing him to Messi, not because of the quality, but due to his importance to this team, and his creativity on the ball. To think he was a ball boy and a player escort a few years back at the Etihad, Foden has now transformed into a superstar, who gets to walk to the pitch with his son, Ronnie. It just goes to show that as much money as you might have, homegrown talents are still a key element of football, even at City. His link-ups with Bellingham and Kane in the Euros will be crucial to England’s European Championship bid. Oh, he’s also the PFA Player of the Year.
Erling Haaland may have won this season’s Golden Boot, but he hasn’t been on the same level as his monstrous form last season. But, 27 goals is still a ridiculous return, more than the previous 4 Golden Boot winners. Haaland is a machine, running at defenders, and winning aerial balls and all that. He’s the perfect target man, and when paired with a sniper passer like Kevin De Bruyne, he’s unstoppable. He’s a guaranteed future Ballon D’Or winner, easy-peasy.
On the other hand, Ollie Watkins has been a standout perfomer for Unai Emery’s team. His amazing all-round game was crucial to Aston Villa qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in 40 years. 19 Goals (no penalties) and 13 assists, Watkins has improved to a completely different level this year. He provides flexibility in set pieces, and times his runs perfectly. Sure, he does benefit from all the chances created, but he is quality enough to finish those off, and has deservedly earned a seat on England’s plane to Germany.
Cole Palmer may have been Chelsea’s most (and probably, only) succesful piece of business under the new regime. 22 goals and 11 assists have been extremely crucial in Chelsea’s late surge, as they shockingly climbed up to sixth place. He’s very versatile, playing as a #10, a #9 and even a right winger. He can slot in anywhere upfront, and has been Chelsea’s most important player this season. Any manager who has the guts to take over at Stamford Bridge will definitely build his team around this guy.
Manager : Pep Guardiola
4 Premier Leagues in a row, 6 in 7 seasons. This bald genius is the Greatest manager of all time.
