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

Bukayo Saka, 21 (Arsenal)

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.

Evan Ferguson, 18 (Brighton)

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.

Evan Ferguson scores against Southampton. The striker was signed to Brighton’s under-23 squad from Bohemians in 2021. Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty ImagesRico Lewis, 18 (Manchester City)

Is it too much to suggest that Rico Lewis transformed Manchester City’s season? There was a brief period at the turn of the year where, after the departure of João Cancelo but before the morphing of John Stones into prime Franz Beckenbauer, the champions were struggling. With Bernardo Silva filling in at left-back and Kyle Walker underperforming, Pep Guardiola was struggling to implement his revolving full-back system. Lewis, promoted from the under-18s at the start of the season, slotted effortlessly into the starting XI, showing composure, intelligence and maturity beyond his years. “Without Rico this season, the step we made as a team would have been more difficult,” Guardiola said recently. “The movement he does makes many things fluid. After that Kyle realises, and John playing in that position has been exceptional.” A valuable member of a treble-chasing squad, Lewis is surely an England international in the making.

Jacob Ramsey, 21 (Aston Villa)

Unai Emery, since his appointment in October, has transformed Aston Villa from relegation candidates to European qualification. Central to Villa’s resurgence has been Jacob Ramsey, who has started every game but one (a home defeat to Arsenal) since 13 January. Many consider the 21-year-old midfielder unlucky to have missed out on a first senior England call-up last week, such has been the dynamism of the Villa academy graduate, who is a combative presence and goal threat in a roving No 8 role. Ramsey marked his 100th appearance for Villa at Anfield last weekend with a goal in a 1-1 draw to take him to six goals and five assists for the season. The future is bright in B6, with Ramsey at the heart of things.

Jacob Ramsey has excelled in a roving No 8 role for Aston Villa this season. Photograph: James Williamson/AMA/Getty ImagesWilliam Saliba, 22 (Arsenal)

Arguably the biggest factor to derail Arsenal’s title challenge was William Saliba’s injury in mid-March. Arsenal were five points clear of City when the Frenchman limped off against Sporting in the Europa League. After that, the Gunners’ form fell off a cliff, the team accruing the same number of points in the next 10 games (15) as Bournemouth. Without Saliba’s pace and physicality, Arsenal have been forced to drop their defensive line, derailing their press and defensive shape. Rob Holding and Jakub Kiwior should not be vilified for failing to live up to Saliba’s standards. Very few centre-backs could do so, and one gets the feeling Saliba has not reached the peak of his powers. Arsenal need to make sure a new long-term contract is finalised before the summer transfer circus begins.