Premier League 2022-23 review: young players of the season

When I wrote the equivalent article a year ago, Saka was again the first name on my list. I finished my entry with: “What is frightening is how much better he could become, especially if Arsenal invest in a proper striker and a right-back capable of overlapping and creating more space for Saka.” The emergence of Ben White at right-back and the signing of Gabriel Jesus have indeed furthered Saka’s development: he has scored 14 league goals and only Kevin De Bruyne, Leandro Trossard and Mohamed Salah have more than his 11 assists. Before the World Cup, many were unsure whether Saka had a place in Gareth Southgate’s first XI. By the end of the tournament, he was probably the second or third name on the team sheet. For club and country, the cheerful Saka is a smiling assassin and has propelled Arsenal from also-rans to title contenders in less than 12 months. Gunners fans will be delighted about his new four-year contract, which will allow Mikel Arteta to build around him.

It is not often that a teenager comes from nowhere to catapult himself into the limelight but that is what the Republic of Ireland forward has done this season. Roberto De Zerbi predicts that the Bettystown-born boy “will become one of the best players and the best strikers in the Premier League”. No pressure, Evan! Ferguson has averaged a goal or assist every 118 minutes this season. For context De Bruyne’s equivalent figure is 97 and Salah’s 106. That’s not bad company to keep and, with his 6ft 2in frame, clinical finishing and all-round game, it feels inevitable that the Irishman will also soon be regarded as an elite talent. Manchester United, City and Tottenham have been linked with a move but do not be surprised to see him stay put for a while yet.

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