Erling Haaland, Martin Odegaard and the 8 best Premier League players of the 2022-23 season – ranked

Erling Haaland (Man City)

Could it really have been anyone else? Remember those question marks around whether Haaland could do in England what he had done in Germany and Austria? Remember the fuss after the Community Shield, when he missed a couple of chances against Liverpool? Remember those debates about whether his presence had actually made Manchester City worse as a team?
He hasn’t. Haaland has enriched City and enriched the Premier League. He has broken record after record, surpassed 50 goals in all competitions, terrified defenders, won games single-handedly and won the league title in his first season in England. The FA Cup and Champions League could yet follow.
Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)

A prodigy in his teens, a superstar in his 20s. Odegaard has been Arsenal’s captain and creative hub this season, his performances rarely dipping throughout a brilliant campaign.
With 15 goals and seven assists, the Norwegian has certainly impacted games. But it is his intelligence, his poise, his class on the ball, which marks him out as a truly special talent. The boy has become a man at the Emirates.
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)

One of Arsenal’s own, and what a special talent he is turning out to be. Saka has reached double figures for both goals and assists in the Premier League this season, proving himself among Europe’s top wide players in the process.
Still only 21, there is so much more to come from the Hale End graduate, whose performances for England at the World Cup served only to underline that fact. He’ll be playing Champions League football next season, and you would expect him to thrive on that stage.
Kevin De Bruyne (Man City)

Is this the greatest attacking midfielder of the Premier League era? There’s certainly a case to be made.
De Bruyne is not only one of the most decisive players around, but he’s also one of the most spectacular and exciting. Those whipped crosses, those long-range thunderbolts, those perfect through balls and that relentless consistency; they’ve all been instrumental in keeping Manchester City on top of the Premier League pile, and in the hunt for a historic treble.
Harry Kane (Tottenham)

Tottenham have been pretty miserable for most of this season, but imagine where they’d be without their one genuine superstar. Kane’s consistency really is staggering. With 30 goals in all competitions – the fifth time he has achieved that feat – he has been just about the only reliable thing Spurs have had.
They’ll be lucky to have him for much longer.
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal)

Jurgen Klopp once called Martinelli “the talent of the century”, and at times this season you could understand why. The Brazilian has scored 15 times in the Premier League and racked up five assists, his speed and dribbling ability key in turning Arsenal into unexpected title contenders.
And at 21, the best is very much still to come from Martinelli too.
Jack Grealish (Man City)

After a mixed first season at Manchester City, Grealish has been outstanding this term, his performances playing a major role in earning Pep Guardiola’s side the league title.
Few players can do what Grealish does, continually taking on defenders, receiving kicks, driving with the ball. What he has added this season, though, is the ability to make the right decision at the right time, either with a final pass or a shot. He has become decisive for City, and could soon find himself a treble winner too.
Marcus Rashford (Man Utd)

What a return to form this has been for Rashford, who looked lost 12 months ago but who has been reborn, with 30 goals in all competitions, comfortably the best return of his career.
The England star has, along with Bruno Fernandes, carried United at times this season. Fitter, stronger, sharper and more clinical in front of goal, the 25-year-old will be playing in the Champions League again next season, and deservedly so.
Ilkay Gundogan (Man City)

Pep Guardiola’s first signing as Manchester City boss, and he hasn’t made many better. Gundogan’s class and consistency has been a feature for the Premier League champions, and his ability to pop up with big goals helped Guardiola’s men reel in Arsenal at the top of the table.
No wonder City are desperate to keep him amid rumours of a free transfer to Barcelona. Even at 32, Gundogan has few equals in terms of midfield players in the Premier League.
Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton)

What a season this has been for Mac Allister, who has established himself as one of the Premier League’s best midfielders at club level, while becoming a World Cup winner on the international stage with Argentina.
The 24-year-old has contributed 12 goals in all competitions for Brighton, helping make Roberto De Zerbi’s side one of the most exciting and aesthetically-pleasing in Europe. Mac Allister’s performances have caught the eye of Liverpool, who look set to push to sign him this summer. It’s easy to see why.