We’ve come to the end of the first act of the 2022-23 Premier League season. And at this natural point to take stock, few would have predicted Newcastle would be in the top four and even fewer would have had Arsenal leading Manchester City at the top of the table.
Half of the players in this list hail from those two Premier League agencies of chaos. These are the top ten players of the season so far.
10) Rodri
Under-appreciated to the point of appreciation maybe, but continues to fly under the radar, as is his wont and probably what Pep Guardiola wants from his defensive midfielder. He hasn’t got the ‘everywhere-ness’ of N’Golo Kante in his prime, because it’s not required in this Manchester City team.
He can normally be found around the centre circle, stroking passes around as though he’s wearing velvet slippers and nicking possession from the opposition just when it looks as though a break might be on.
9) James Maddison
He’s realised his dream of going to the World Cup, but the reality of him not playing all that much at said World Cup will likely dawn on him early doors, if it hasn’t already. But fair play, his inclusion looked a long way off at the start of the season and to have won Gareth Southgate over despite Leicester’s poor start to the season is good going.
A creator in tight spaces, brilliant over the dead ball and just the right amount of arrogance.
8) Bruno Guimaraes
It took only a few minutes for the Newcastle fans to become infatuated with the Brazilian, and not much longer for that love to be reciprocated. It felt as though Bruno was too good for Newcastle when he first arrived in January, but that no longer seems to be the case, or at least the gap in quality has narrowed significantly, not because the midfielder’s form has dipped but because he’s been dragging the team up to his level.
He seems to have an awful lot of time on the ball, which is always a tell tale sign of a very skilled operator, and he rarely loses possession despite his desire to be progressive whenever possible. They’ll have a job hanging on to him despite going great guns.
7) Kieran Trippier
You’ve got to wonder whether Reece James would be starting against Iran on Monday even if he was fit. Trippier has been seen as a safe choice by Southgate in front of the Chelsea full-back and Trent Alexander-Arnold on the right for England, but few could have those same reservations after the 32-year-old’s start to this season.
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