Our Premier League Team of the Season for the 2023/24 campaign has been finalised, a seriously tough selection of the season’s top talent.
We’ve done without full-backs in a 3-4-1-2 formation, with the champions and runners-up dominating our selection.
Here is The Football Faithful’s Premier League Team of the Season for 2023/24.
Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martinez – Aston Villa
Recent blunder against Liverpool excluded, Emi Martinez has been a key figure in an outstanding season for Aston Villa. The Holte End regularly champion the Argentine as world football’s best and the World Cup winner will now get a chance to test himself on club football’s biggest stage, after helping Villa to Champions League qualification.
The club’s top-four finish had no shortage of standouts but Martinez’s presence was a big one. Elsewhere, Jordan Pickford’s role in Everton’s successful survival bid should not be understated, while David Raya’s recovery at Arsenal to win the Golden Glove has been impressive.
HE’S TOP TWO AND HE’S NOT TWO. pic.twitter.com/fOSq8whNCU
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 7, 2023
Centre-back: William Saliba – Arsenal
So good and still getting better. Arsenal’s improvement from top-four hopefuls into genuine title contenders has coincided with the introduction of William Saliba into the side.
Across the last two campaigns, he has made defending look easy, culminating in a season shining in the Premier League’s best defence. Arsenal’s Rolls-Royce moves effortlessly through the gears.
William Saliba is the first Arsenal player in the competition’s history to feature in every single minute of a Premier League campaign.
He kept more clean sheets than any other player in 2023/24 and won possession in the defensive third more times than any other centre-back.
— Squawka (@Squawka) May 19, 2024
Centre-back: Virgil van Dijk – Liverpool
Virgil van Dijk inherited the captain’s armband at Liverpool last summer and has led the side magnificently in the final campaign of the Jurgen Klopp era. He’s won more aerial duels (140) than any other player in the Premier League this season and boasts the best aerial dual win percentage (81.4%) in the division.
The Dutch defender has been a dominant presence and crucial in the bedding in of youngsters Conor Bradley and Jarrell Quansah into Liverpool’s defensive ranks. Perhaps the biggest compliment to Van Dijk is that he increases the confidence and performances of those around him.
Centre-back: Gabriel – Arsenal
Saliba’s central defensive partner at Arsenal has been equally as impressive this season. While Saliba’s stylish brand of defending has earned glowing tributes, Gabriel has excelled through a more traditional route, overpowering opposition forwards and placing his body on the line for the cause.
Whether it’s a shot that needs blocking or a cross that needs clearing, Gabriel has so often been there when Arsenal have needed him this season. A long-awaited introduction into the Brazil set-up has been richly deserved.
Midfield: Rodri – Manchester City
The best defensive midfielder in the world is no longer an argument. Rodri has delivered another season of excellence for Manchester City, with the Spaniard the beating heart of the four-in-a-row champions. Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden might steal the headlines further forward but it’s Rodri who makes this team tick.
Rodri was the only player in the 2023/24 Premier League with:
◉ 20+ shots on target
◉ 20+ chances created
◉ 20+ aerial duels won
◉ 20+ fouls won
◉ 20+ take-ons completed
◉ 20+ tackles made
◉ 20+ interceptions
◉ 20+ clearancesAnd he added 8 goals and 9 assists.
pic.twitter.com/GnHlE5HAMd
— Squawka (@Squawka) May 20, 2024
Controlling, creative and combative, Rodri can do it all as the metronomic base of Guardiola’s all-conquering side. A penalty shoot-out exit to Real Madrid is the sole loss on his record for club or country in over a year.
Midfield: Declan Rice – Arsenal
Declan Rice became Arsenal’s record signing last summer and few have questioned the investment. A player who belongs on the biggest stage has been a driving force in Arsenal’s title challenge, offering dynamic drive from midfield and an increasingly complete skillset.
It’s been the 25-year-old’s best Premier League season for goals (7) and assists (8) without compromising the brilliant ball-winning and presence that made him so effective at West Ham. He will be a major part of Arsenal’s bid to go one better next season after back-to-back runners-up finishes.
Rice from long range
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) February 12, 2024
Midfield: Martin Odegaard – Arsenal
If Rodri is the man to make Manchester City tick, Odegaard is Arsenal’s equivalent. The Norwegian is a joy to watch in possession with his technique and range of passes, though marries those attributes with a commendable work ethic out of possession.
He ends the campaign with eight goals and 10 assists for Arsenal, though his influence extends far beyond the raw numbers. A cultured footballer, his £30m investment has been a bargain for Arsenal and a rare recent error in the transfer market from Real Madrid.
An Odegaard
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 8, 2024
Right-wing: Cole Palmer – Chelsea
Chelsea have handed the opportunities to Cole Palmer that were not forthcoming at Manchester City and the Blues have reaped the rewards. The shining light in a tough season, Palmer has thrived when others around him have floundered this season.
The 22-year-old had started just three Premier League games before this season but ended his first full season at the top level with 22 goals and 11 assists. His sumptuous technique and innate conviction in his ability have been one of the stories of the season at Stamford Bridge.
Cole Palmer finished with the most goal involvements in the Premier League this season (33)
He’s just getting started
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) May 20, 2024
The individual awards have arrived in number, with the Premier League Young Player of the Season, Chelsea Player’s Player of the Season, and Chelsea Player of the Season already bagged. There might still be more to come.
Left-wing: Phil Foden – Manchester City
When the time comes to look back on Phil Foden’s career, this might be the season discussed as the one that took the Manchester City midfielder to truly top-level status. Foden has just claimed his sixth Premier League title and while his contribution to previous triumphs should not be overlooked, this success has been stamped in the Stockport schemer’s class.
The 23-year-old has hit 19 league goals and laid on eight assists, including a crucial brace as the title was wrapped up on the final day. He has been arguably the best player in the best team, and a privilege to watch.
An unbelievable start from @PhilFoden!
— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 19, 2024
Forward: Ollie Watkins – Aston Villa
Ollie Watkins led Aston Villa’s push for Champions League qualification, producing the best goalscoring season of his career and leading the Premier League for assists.
He scored 19 times and created 13 more in a season of elite production at Villa Park, continuing his evolution into a complete number nine under Unai Emery. His 27 goals in all competitions are as many as he managed in the previous two seasons combined.
Ollie Watkins beat Kevin De Bruyne and Cole Palmer to the most assists in the Premier League
— GOAL (@goal) May 20, 2024
The Champions League stage now awaits.
Forward: Erling Haaland – Manchester City
Erling Haaland might not have hit the record-breaking numbers of last season but judging the forward off those statistics is perhaps not entirely fair.
He has become just the seventh player to retain the Premier League’s Golden Boot, finishing five clear of nearest challenger Cole Palmer, and ends the campaign with 38 goals in all competitions. For context, that’s more than the best-ever season Sergio Aguero managed at Manchester City. Oh, and did we mention he also missed two months injured?
Congratulations, @ErlingHaaland!
The 2023/24 @premierleague Golden Boot winner!
— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 19, 2024
The man is a machine.
Read – Premier League Awards: City champions, Caicedo’s corker
See more – Premier League Team of the Week from the final day
Subscribe to our social channels:
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok
The post Our Premier League Team of the Season for 2023/24 first appeared on The Football Faithful.Next
