Picking our 22/23 Premier League Team of the Season

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It’s that time of the campaign when we like to reflect on events of the past months and choose our Premier League Team of the Season.

The 2022/23 campaign has been an unforgettable one and we’ve attempted to choose our best XI. Manchester City dominate our side after a fifth title win in just six seasons, while Arsenal and Newcastle earn multiple entrants after securing Champions League football.

Here is The Football Faithful’s Premier League Team of the Season.

Goalkeeper: Nick Pope – Newcastle

Nick Pope earns inclusion in goal after an excellent debut season at Newcastle. Pope has long been a reliable presence at Premier League level, but has had a remarkable season in which he has swapped the Championship for Champions League qualification.

Newcastle’s top four finish was built on a brilliant defensive record across the first half of the campaign, with the Magpies keeping 12 clean sheets across their opening 21 league fixtures.

No goalkeeper has conceded less goals per 90 minutes than Pope (0.88), while he ranks third in the division for save percentage (74.6%). His £10m arrival from Burnley has been a shrewd signing for Newcastle, who can look forward to big European nights next season.

Right-back: Kieran Trippier – Newcastle

Kieran Trippier has been a prominent part of Newcastle’s superb season, with the England right-back excelling as part of Eddie Howe’s side.

Trippier leads the Premier League for crosses and passes into the penalty area this season, while he ranks second for expected assists, expected assists per 90, key passes and shot-creating actions.

Trippier’s consistent service has been a major threat for Newcastle going forward and he has seven assists in the Premier League this season. The 32-year-old – named as Newcastle’s Player of the Season this week – has mixed outstanding deliveries with strong defensive performances and leadership.

Centre-back: John Stones – Manchester City

John Stones might not have been as ever-present as other candidates for this position, but the defender’s role in Pep Guardiola’s tactical masterplan means he earns his inclusion here.

Manchester City’s season changed when Guardiola unveiled his latest concept in search of control, a defensive restructure that relied on Stones’ intelligence and poise in possession to invert from the backline into midfield.

The results have been astounding, with City recording 12 consecutive Premier League wins to power past Arsenal and claim the title. Stones – now a five-time Premier League winner – has been equally crucial to City’s pursuit of the Champions League and a final with Inter Milan shapes as a date with destiny for this side.

Stones has been at the heart of their remarkable run. What a footballer.

Centre-back: Ruben Dias – Manchester City

William Saliba, Sven Botman and Lewis Dunk can all be considered unfortunate to miss out here, but Ruben Dias’ return to fitness was another defining moment in City’s season.

Pep Guardiola’s side lost four games in the Premier League, three of which came with Dias absent from the side. City are unbeaten since the Portugal international returned from a hamstring issue in February, with Dias’ body-on-the-line defending and dressing room leadership central to City’s success.

Since Dias arrived at the Etihad three years ago, the Citizens have won three consecutive Premier League titles and reached two Champions League finals. Talk about impact.

Left-back: Nathan Ake – Manchester City

Questions were asked when Manchester City allowed Oleksandr Zinchenko – excellent this season and unfortunate to miss out on this side – and Joao Cancelo to leave in consecutive transfer windows, but Nathan Ake has risen to the challenge to shine for Manchester City this season.

The Dutch defender has impressed both centrally and at full-back for the Citizens, becoming a fans’ favourite for his committed performances and ability to shut down the best opposition wingers. Pep Guardiola was full of praise for Ake’s contribution after City’s title was confirmed last weekend.

“I learnt this season when you play against Bukayo Saka, Vinicius Junior, Gabriel Martinelli or Mohamed Salah, you need proper defenders to win duels one-on-one,” he told Sky Sports.

“[Nathan Ake] has been fundamental for us. They need just one action to beat you. Nathan gave us a boost that we did not have in the past.”

Midfield: Rodri – Manchester City

Manchester City’s dominance of our Premier League Team of the Season continues into midfield, with Rodri tasked with anchoring an all-star engine room.

No midfielder has had more touches (3188), played more passes into the final third (261) or completed a higher percentage of their passes (91.1%) than Rodri, who so often chooses the right pass and has a metronomic effect on this Manchester City team.

Guardiola is the perfect tutor for Rodri and has helped mould him into the best defensive midfielder in the game. At 26, there might still be more to come.

Midfield: Kevin De Bruyne – Manchester City

Kevin De Bruyne is set to claim his third Premier League Playmaker of the Season award, following another outstanding season of creative quality.

De Bruyne has provided 16 assists in the Premier League this season, just four short of the single season record he currently shares with Thierry Henry. The Belgian has revelled in finding space for Erling Haaland to burst into, with the two having forged considerable chemistry during the latter’s debut season at the Etihad.

De Bruyne – as he often does – saved his best form for the run-in and rose to the occasion when City needed him most. The 31-year-old provided eight goal contributions in just four games in April, with his individual performance in the 4-1 thrashing of title rivals Arsenal a defining one in the season.

Midfield: Martin Odegaard – Arsenal

Martin Odegaard has been the catalyst behind Arsenal’s unexpected title challenge in what has been a coming-of-age season for the midfielder.

Odegaard was named as club captain last summer in a decision that surprised some, but has relished the responsibility to emerge as one of the Premier League’s most influential talents. The Norwegian has scored 15 league goals and laid on seven assists for the Gunners, who for the opening period of the campaign were the Premier League’s finest outfit.

Odegaard was often at the centre of all things good at Arsenal, carving defences open with invention and subtle touches in the final third. Arsenal’s end to the season means disappointment is the overriding emotion, but this was a campaign of encouragement at the Emirates.

Forward: Bukayo Saka – Arsenal

Bukayo Saka joins Odegaard as the Arsenal representatives in this side, perhaps a harsh number of inclusions given their excellence for most of the season.

Saka starred as Arsenal threatened to upset the odds and claim the Premier League title, with his wing partnership with Gabriel Martinelli tormenting the division’s defences. Only three players have been directly involved in more goals than the 21-year-old, who has scored 13 goals and provided a further 11 assists for the Gunners.

Saka appears to be getting better and better and that bodes well for an improving Arsenal team, after the north Londoners secured his long-term future on a new contract.

Forward: Harry Kane – Tottenham

But for a certain someone, it’s fair to say the talk around Harry Kane might just be a little louder.

The England captain has had a sensational individual season despite the struggles of Spurs, having scored 28 goals in 37 league appearances for the north Londoners.

This season has seen Kane score in a record-breaking 25 Premier League games in one campaign, while he has also passed Jimmy Greaves and Wayne Rooney to become both Spurs’ and England’s all-time record goalscorer.

He deserves a much better platform than the one provided this season. The summer transfer window will be fascinating.

Forward: Erling Haaland – Manchester City

What more can be said about Erling Haaland?

A phenomenon, a freak, we’ve wrote it all this season and we’ll likely continue to do so as the Norwegian blitzes every goalscoring record in his path.

Time to adjust to the Premier League? Na, not Haaland.

Just the 36 league goals and counting. No player in Premier League history has ever scored more in a single season. The title’s been wrapped up and Haaland is now chasing the FA Cup and Champions League. A treble for Manchester City should make him the overwhelming Ballon d’Or favourite.

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