GOAL’s Premier League Team of the 2023-24 Season: No Erling Haaland or Kevin De Bruyne as Arsenal earn twice as many nods as Manchester City

David Raya has already won this season’s Golden Glove, having kept 16 clean sheets thus far, but Jordan Pickford managing just three shut-outs fewer is an even more impressive achievement, given Everton were locked in a relegation battle up until a few weeks ago.

The England international has had a couple of dodgy games (which keeper hasn’t this season?!) and has been helped out by the sterling efforts of James Tarkowski and Jarrad Brantwaithe in front of him, but Pickford continually came to his team’s rescue when they needed him most.

Is Ben White’s fine form down to his decision to make himself unavailable for international duty? Hard to say. All we know for sure is that the versatile defender has played a pivotal role in Arsenal’s title challenge, scoring four goals, and registering as many assists.

It’s a real shame for England’s Euro 2024 campaign that Gareth Southgate won’t have the option of pairing him on the right flank with Bukayo Saka this summer.

Anyone else get the feeling that Arsenal might have won the league last season had they not lost their fantastic Frenchman to injury?!

William Saliba has been utterly integral to the Gunners maintaining this year’s title challenge. No other player in the Premier League has been involved in as many clean sheets (16), while the ridiculously composed centre-back also ranks second among defenders for possession won. In short, a class act.

The Dutchman’s reign as Liverpool captain didn’t get off to the best of starts, with Van Dijk dismissed for a clumsy foul in the come-from-behind win over Newcastle back in August. However, the veteran centre-back recovered wonderfully well from that setback and dismissed all suggestions that he was past his best by producing a string of almost-flawless displays for Liverpool that earned him a deserved nomination for Player of the Season.

The Reds’ backline still has plenty of problems but Van Dijk, as it turns out, is far from “finished”.

Hardly a vintage year for Premier League left-backs, but Robinson has had a cracking campaign that has only boosted his chances of securing a summer transfer to one of England’s elite. The 26-year-old has certainly developed into one of the most complete full-backs in the top tier.

As well as contributing six assists to Fulham’s cause, the United States international has also been outstanding defensively. No player has won possession more times (225) or made more interceptions (78).

A complete footballer whose innovation is only matched by his industry, the Norwegian has done a magnificent job leading Arsenal’s title challenge. Odegaard ranks third for chances created in this season’s Premier League (95), while he’s also been directly involved in 16 of his team’s goals.

It might have taken longer than expected, but the former prodigy has proven himself one of the best midfielders in the game.

Shockingly overlooked for the Premier League Player of the Year shortlist, but a shoo-in for our combined XI. Rodri was involved in 16 goals, scoring seven himself from the defensive midfield role he has mastered.

Put quite simply, Rodri is Manchester City’s best and most important player – as underlined by the fact that Pep Guardiola’s side lost the only three of the four league games the 27-year-old missed this season.

Arsenal paid an extortionate amount of money to sign England international Declan Rice from West Ham, but they’ll feel he’s proven himself worth every penny by helping Mikel Arteta’s men sustain a Premier League title challenge.

Rice has done an immense job helping the Gunners control games with his ability to both win and retain possession, while also weighing in with seven goals and eight assists. The incredible thing is, he could be even better next season!

We’ve known for years that ‘The Stockport Iniesta’ is a special talent. Guardiola even compared him favourably to a young Lionel Messi, for crying out loud! But the Catalan carefully managed Phil Foden’s game time for years and his patient approach has paid off.

Foden is most people’s Player of the Season, with the fleet-footed England international contributing 17 goals and eight assists to the City’s championship charge.

Erling Haaland may have scored more goals, but he’s not played anywhere near the same level as Ollie Watkins, whose awesome all-round game is one of the main reasons why Aston Villa have qualified for the Champions League for the first time in over 40 years.

The England international has netted 19 times and also racked up 13 assists – no other Premier League player has been directly involved in more goals. A fantastic forward and the perfect understudy for Harry Kane in Germany.

Manchester City don’t make a lot of mistakes in the transfer market, but allowing Cole Palmer to join Chelsea was certainly one of them. The 22-year-old has proven himself a top-class talent at Stamford Bridge, where he has regularly carried those around him.

With an amazing 32 league goal involvements, the £40 million ($50m) signing has not only made his fee look like an absolute steal, he’s also propelled himself into contention to make the England squad for Euro 2024.