Umair Mirxa's Premier League Team of the Season 2023-24
By Umair Mirxa
Each season, there are standout performances from the league’s established stars, breakthrough campaigns from young players, and tactical master classes from managers.
Here, we have gone with the 4-3-3 formation, selected the best player and one substitute for each position, and given them a manager/assistant manager pair to lead them from the dugout.
Goalkeeper
David Raya [Arsenal]
16 Clean Sheets
The uproar when Mikel Arteta decided to sign Raya, and then start him over Aaron Ramsdale, was almost magnificent to watch from a distance: all pundits and every publication spoke out against it, criticized and even laughed at the Arsenal manager but David Raya has proven his mettle and his brilliance in goal by winning the Golden Glove with 16 clean sheets in just 32 appearances.
Substitute: Jordan Pickford [Everton]
13 Clean Sheets
Right Back
Ben White [Arsenal]
13 Clean Sheets | 04 Goals | 04 Assists
He can invert, overlap or underlap, pass, cross, assist, score, tackle, intercept, recover, and win his aerial duels. He is a right nuisance for the opposition goalkeepers from attacking corners, and he is always available for selection. Yes, even when injured, he plays. And, he gives a 7/10 performance on his worst days. You simply could not ask for more.
Substitute: Trent Alexander-Arnold [Liverpool]
04 Clean Sheets | 03 Goals | 04 Assists
Center Back
William Saliba [Arsenal]
18 Clean Sheets | 02 Goals | 01 Assists
The Rolls-Royce of defenders, William Saliba played every single minute of the Premier League season with Man of the Match performances away at Anfield, the Etihad, and Old Trafford. He made it clear this season exactly why Arsenal fell away at the end of last season when he got injured, and his partnership with the next name on this list is one major reason why Arsenal have been challenging for the title, and might even win it next season.
Substitute: Virgil van Dijk [Liverpool]
09 Clean Sheets | 02 Goals | 02 Assists
Center Back
Gabriel Magalhães [Arsenal]
15 Clean Sheets | 04 Goals | 00 Assists
The massively and constantly under-rated Brazilian was colossal at the back for the Gunners all season, and one major reason why they did so well at both attacking and defending set-pieces. He may be prone to an occasional mistake or the odd lapse in concentration but those are being coached out of his system by Arsenal’s coaching staff, and you only have to watch him celebrating blocks and tackles which preserve clean sheets to see his passion for the art.
Substitute: Jarrad Branthwaite [Everton]
12 Clean Sheets | 03 Goals | 00 Assists
Left Back
Josko Gvardiol [Manchester City]
09 Clean Sheets | 04 Goals | 01 Assists
Gvardiol got off to a slow start in the Premier League, as most players do at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola. The depth and complexity of tactical instructions to master by necessity requires some time. Once Gvardiol had done it, he became instrumental to City’s charge toward the title in the second half of the season, and scored crucial goals along the way.
Substitute: Antonee Robinson [Fulham]
07 Clean Sheets | 00 Goals | 06 Assists
Read Our Premier League 2023-24 Season Review Part One
Central Midfielder
Declan Rice [Arsenal]
07 Goals | 08 Assists
A bargain at £100 million, Declan Rice is one of very few players who have not only justified their massive transfer fee but made it look cheap. He has 17 goals and 18 assist in his Premier League career, 7 and 8 of which respectively he got in one season for Arsenal this campaign while helping his team be the best defensive unit across the league. It serves to highlight all the value Mikel Arteta has extracted for the mega bucks he spent in the summer.
Substitute: Rodri [Manchester City]
08 Goals | 09 Assists
Central Midfielder
Martin Ødegaard [Arsenal]
08 Goals | 10 Assists
Arsenal’s Captain Fantastic, Ødegaard does it all for them. The work rate is phenomenal, he is brilliant on-and-off the ball, his touch excellent, and that left foot often produces magic when his club needs it the most. A true leader, he is vocal where necessary, and always leads by example. If there is one player who could be the next Mr. Arsenal after Tony Adams and Patrick Vieira, then certainly it is the Norwegian maestro.
Substitute: Bruno Guimarães [Newcastle United]
07 Goals | 08 Assists
Central Attacking Midfielder
Cole Palmer [Chelsea]
22 Goals | 11 Assists
Manchester City do not often regret selling their players, not even to their rivals in the Premier League but Cole Palmer might prove to be the exception after the season he’s just had for Chelsea. Especially if he can perform under a new manager next season the way he did for Mauricio Pochettino. England too will hope he can translate his club form to the international stage at the Euros this summer, if Southgate can find the right combination wherein he can start.
Substitute: Eberechi Eze [Crystal Palace]
11 Goals | 04 Assists
Read Our Premier League 2023-24 Season Review Part Two
Right Wing
Bukayo Saka [Arsenal]
16 Goals | 09 Assists
The ‘Starboy’ recorded a fifth consecutive season where his goal contributions [goals and assists] total has improved upon the previous campaign. He is the beating heart of this Arsenal side, always improving, consistently available, and relentlessly brilliant. He has a big summer ahead with England at the Euros, and then perhaps an even bigger season for his club where they will challenge for the Premier League and the Champions League once more.
Substitute: Jarrod Bowen [West Ham United]
16 Goals | 06 Assists
Left Wing
Phil Foden [Manchester City]
19 Goals | 08 Assists
The story of Phil Foden’s career is remarkable: six Premier League titles [four of them in a row], a treble, and a FIFA Club World Cup, not to mention the FA Cups [2], League Cups [4], and other honors, all aged 23. Oh, and he had his best season for goal contributions so far. If he can take his form to the Euros, and Southgate figures out how to use him, Saka, and Palmer together, England might be an unstoppable force in the summer.
Substitute: Anthony Gordon [Newcastle United]
11 Goals | 10 Assists
Striker
Erling Haaland [Manchester City]
27 Goals | 05 Assists
Erling Haaland did what he does best: score a bucket load of goals, took annoyingly [for rival fans and his critics, at least] few touches, and won the Golden Boot award. For the second time in his two seasons in the Premier League. There has been criticism, as perhaps there always will be, of his overall contribution and his performances in big matches [where he could certainly do better] but if he keeps scoring at this rate, few at Manchester City would care much for what else he does or does not deliver.
Substitute: Ollie Watkins [Aston Villa]
19 Goals | 13 Assists
Read Our Premier League 2023-24 Season Review Part Three
Manager
Pep Guardiola
Centurion | Treble-Winner | Four Consecutive Premier League Titles
There could only ever be one, right? The greatest manager in the world right now, and perhaps across the history of football, Pep Guardiola appears intent on surpassing every achievement ever recorded by his peers, past and present.
Assistant Manager
Mikel Arteta
Heir to the Throne
Guardiola’s former protégé must curse his luck, as much as he claims to enjoy the challenge, to manage against his friend and mentor. Mikel Arteta could have won two Premier League titles already were it not for Pep, and might suffer another near-miss next season unless Manchester City drop off.