Opta, renowned statisticians, have assembled their Premier League team of the season 22/23 based on their comprehensive data analysis from the campaign.
Let’s take a look at the lineup they have determined:
Opta 22/23 Premier League team of the season
David Raya (Brentford):
In the 2022-23 Premier League season, David Raya, the goalkeeper for Brentford, played every minute and played a vital role in the team’s best top-flight finish since 1938.
He made an impressive 154 saves, the highest among all goalkeepers, and boasted a remarkable save percentage of 77%, the best among goalkeepers with at least five appearances.
Raya’s ability to make long passes was also advantageous for Brentford, who led the league in long passes. He completed 410 long passes, the most by any goalkeeper in a season since 2017-18.
Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United):
Kieran Trippier had a remarkable season with Newcastle United, helping them secure qualification to the Champions League for the first time since 2002-03. He was the only player to start every single game for the Magpies.
Trippier’s consistent presence on the field was evident in his high number of touches, with only three players having more touches than him in the Premier League.
He also achieved notable records, creating the most chances from set-plays (76) and playing the most passes into the box (551) among all players in a season. Additionally, his 138 successful crosses were the most by any player in a season since 2005-06.
Manuel Akanji (Manchester City):
In his first season in English football, Manuel Akanji had an outstanding campaign with Manchester City, winning the Premier League title and potentially completing the Treble.
Akanji had an impressive win ratio, being on the winning side in 24 of his 29 appearances, contributing to City’s average of 2.5 points per game with him in the team. In contrast, City won only four out of nine games without him.
Akanji showcased excellent ball-playing skills, completing 93.3% of his passes, the highest pass accuracy among players who attempted at least 500 passes that season.
He ranked among the top players in terms of passes completed and ball carries, demonstrating his significant contributions to the team.
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Ruben Dias (Manchester City):
Ruben Dias continued his impressive form with Manchester City, winning the Premier League title for the third consecutive season.
He maintained an exceptional win ratio of 78% in his 87 Premier League appearances, and City won 85% of the games he featured in. Dias played a crucial role in the team’s defensive stability, as City conceded fewer goals with him on the pitch.
Despite missing 12 games, Dias ranked seventh for successful passes and had the highest pass completion rate among midfielders who attempted at least 500 passes.
His passing and defensive contributions solidified his importance to the team’s success.
Oleksandr Zinchenko (Arsenal):
Oleksandr Zinchenko had another impressive season, finishing in the top two in every season he has featured.
Playing for Arsenal, Zinchenko excelled in passing statistics, completing the most passes, most passes in the opposition half, and playing the most passes into the final third among Arsenal players who played at least 1,000 minutes.
He also had a significant impact in Arsenal’s attacking play, contributing to 16 build-up goal involvements.
Zinchenko showcased his abilities as a left-back, ranking first in progressive passes and fourth in secondary chances created among all full-backs.
Declan Rice (West Ham United):
Declan Rice had a consistent and influential season with West Ham United, missing only one game and scoring four goals, equaling his goal tally from his previous three campaigns combined.
Rice’s performance stood out in defensive midfield, leading in several statistical categories.
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Rodri (Manchester City):
Rodri had another outstanding season for Manchester City, showcasing his skills as a midfield maestro. He topped the charts for successful passes by a midfielder in a Premier League season for the fourth consecutive campaign, completing a remarkable 2,717 passes.
This tally is his best in a single campaign and only surpassed by Jorginho’s record in the 2018-19 season.
Rodri’s ability to control the game from midfield was evident as he completed 1,475 successful passes in the opposition half, a significant lead over any other player.
His passing accuracy and vision played a crucial role in City’s possession-based style of play.
Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City):
Kevin de Bruyne once again proved himself as one of the Premier League’s most creative forces. He recorded his fourth season with at least 16 assists, a feat achieved twice as many times as any other player.
De Bruyne created 98 chances throughout the season, ranking third among all players. He led the league in both assists (16) and expected assists (14.1), showcasing his ability to provide goal-scoring opportunities for his teammates.
De Bruyne’s partnership with Erling Haaland was particularly fruitful, with half of his assists coming from setting up the Norwegian striker.
Their combination set a Premier League record for the most assists from one player to another in a single season for Manchester City.
Martin Odegaard (Arsenal):
Martin Odegaard had a breakout season with Arsenal, significantly increasing his goal involvement compared to the previous year.
He contributed 15 goals and seven assists, doubling his goal involvement tally from the previous season.
Odegaard ranked among the top performers in several statistical categories, including chances created (76), successful passes in the opposition’s half (1,017), and secondary assists (nine).
He emerged as Arsenal’s highest-scoring midfielder, demonstrating his ability to contribute both as a goal scorer and a playmaker.
Odegaard’s involvement in Arsenal’s attacking build-up was exceptional, featuring in 232 unique shot-ending sequences, second only to Bruno Fernandes, and ending 33 of those sequences with a goal.
Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur):
Harry Kane had a remarkable season individually, breaking multiple records and reaching significant milestones.
He scored 30 goals, securing his second 30-goal Premier League season. Kane’s consistent goal-scoring prowess was evident as he found the net in 26 different games, matching the record set by Andy Cole in 1993-94.
He became the first player to score 100 away goals in the Premier League, and his 10 headed goals in a season set a new record. Despite Tottenham finishing eighth in the league, Kane’s goal-scoring achievements stood out.
He registered the most shots (130) and shots on target (63) in the league, while also creating a considerable number of chances in open play.
Erling Haaland (Manchester City):
Erling Haaland had an extraordinary debut season in the Premier League with Manchester City, rewriting the record books and leaving a lasting impact.
He scored a record-breaking 36 goals in a single season, surpassing the previous record held since 1966-67.
Haaland’s goal-scoring exploits continued throughout the season as he shattered multiple records for goals in a player’s first five, ten, twenty, twenty-five, and thirty games.
He also became the youngest player to score consecutive hat-tricks in the Premier League. Haaland’s prolific scoring extended to his partnership with Kevin de Bruyne, with the duo breaking the record for most assists from one player to another in a season for Manchester City.
His remarkable debut season solidified his status as one of the most formidable strikers in the league.
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