The 2022-23 Premier League season has had no shortage of surprises. From the sudden rise of Arsenal, Newcastle, and Brighton, to the precipitous fall of Chelsea.
And the rise of those three clubs have been fueled by plenty of surprise performers who have greatly exceeded pre-season expectations.
SBOTOP sheds light on the five of the top surprise packages who have taken the Premier League by storm during the 2022-23 season.
Manuel Akanji, Manchester City
While Erling Haaland has taken the Premier League by storm, Manchester City’s other summer acquisition from Borussia Dortmund – Manuel Akanji – has been a hit as well, to the surprise of many.
Few would have expected Akanji to be a major part of Manchester City’s plans in his first season with the team. After all, the Cityzens were already well-stocked with capable centre-backs in Ruben Dias, John Stones, Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake. Moreover, Akanji was not the most reliable defender during his time at Borussia Dortmund as he was prone to making costly errors.
But Akanji filled in well while Laporte and Ake were out injured. And with Pep Guardiola’s change in formation to a back three later in the season, the Swiss international has fully cemented himself as a fixture in City’s starting lineup.
Akanji has started 22 of City’s 34 Premier League matches to date, which is the most among all defenders. That is a testament to his consistency and his ability to implement Pep’s gameplan.
William Saliba, Arsenal
Arsenal’s emergence as legitimate title contenders this season caught many people by surprise. There are many factors for their success – Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard’s continued growth as superstars, Gabriel Martinelli’s emergence as a goalscorer, Gabriel Jesus’ addition in attack – but no one could have seen how vital William Saliba would be to the team.
The French defender, who was bought in 2019, was infamously sent out on loan for several seasons as he wasn’t deemed to be ready for the Premier League. But the 22-year-old finally got his shot this season after impressive performances in Ligue 1, and he has proven to be an absolute rock at the heart of the Gunners’ defence.
In fact, Saliba’s back injury arguably swung this Premier League season’s title race. The Gunners struggled to cope with his absence as they conceded 14 goals in nine games – and dropped crucial points as a result – without him.
While Arsenal fans might be left to wonder what might have been had Saliba not gotten hurt, his surprise emergence this season has at least shown that their future is quite bright.
Joelinton, Newcastle United
There are plenty of surprise performers to pick from at Newcastle United, who have been one of the surprise teams of the season. From Callum Wilson to Miguel Almiron to Joe Willock, several players have stepped up to exceed expectations.
But it’s Joelinton’s rise that has likely caught many people off guard. The Brazilian enjoyed a bit of a renaissance last season under Eddie Howe, who moved him to midfield. And that has continued to the point where Joelinton, once considered a massive bust (just like these players), has become one of the team’s most consistent performers.
What makes Joelinton’s performances even more impressive is that he has played at a high level in different positions – in midfield and out on the wing, where he has filled in for nearly half the season. And the Brazilian has also scored six goals, which is the most he’s had in four seasons in the Premier League.
It is as impressive as it is surprising to see just how vital Joelinton has become to this Newcastle side. He is a massive reason why the Magpies are bound for the Champions League next season, where they could yet deliver more big surprises.
Kaoru Mitoma/Solly March, Brighton
As impressive as Newcastle’s season has been, Brighton’s has been undoubtedly better. The Seagulls successfully transitioned from the Graham Potter era to Roberto De Zerbi, who has kept the side challenging for a place in Europe. And they couldn’t have done it without the massive contributions of Kaori Mitoma and Solly March.
Mitoma, who was out on loan last year, has been a revelation in his first season in the Premier League. The Japanese international has scored seven goals with four assists in 27 appearances, while providing several other Premier League 2023 highlights.
But as good as Mitoma has been, Solly March has been the bigger surprise for Brighton. After recording 14 goals and 15 assists in his first 10 seasons with the Seagulls, March has seven goals and seven assists this season alone, which are truly sensational numbers.
March’s magical season is emblematic of just how much Brighton have defied the Premier League 2023 odds with their unbelievable play. In a time where the Premier League’s spending power is unmatched in Europe, it’s refreshing to see a team like the Seagulls still able to spring a surprise.
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