The gruelling 2022-23 Premier League season has finally come to an end. It has been a season to remember as Manchester City won their third successive Premier League title snuffing out a surprise Arsenal title-challenge in the process.
From the crazy transfer business executed by the clubs last summer and in January, to managerial changes that were highly unexpected to the players who pulled up trees and sprung a surprise, this was certainly a year to remember if you are a fan of Premier League football.
That said, here we look at the 10 biggest surprise packages of the 2022-23 campaign.
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Dan Burn (Newcastle United)
Newcastle United enjoyed a terrific campaign and Eddie Howe has done a spectacular job getting the club into the Champions League. There are so many players who enjoyed an outstanding year in a Newcastle shirt. One of them was Dan Burn.
Burn was a mainstay in the Newcastle backline, excelling at left-back while appearing occasionally in central defence as well. He was crucial in helping Eddie Howe’s team boast of the joint-best defensive record (33 goals) in the division. The lanky defender had a season to remember as he helped his boyhood club achieve Champions League qualification.
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Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton)
To say Brighton enjoyed an excellent 2022-23 campaign would be an understatement, and the fact that they finished sixth on the table after losing many key players and a mid-season managerial change makes the year even more special for the fans.
From being an unknown commodity to becoming one of the English top flight’s exciting wingers, Kaoru Mitoma was a revelation under Roberto de Zerbi last season. He was outstanding on the left wing, terrorising defences with his pace, direct running and dribbling skills. The Japanese ended the season with seven goals and five assists in 33 appearances, which has caught the attention of the Premier League big boys.
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Pervis Estupinan (Brighton)
Signed as a replacement for Marc Cucurella in the summer, Pervis Estupinan had a stellar season with Brighton. He played a key role in the Seagulls’ Europa League qualification, registering a goal and five assists in 35 appearances.
Coming to Brighton from La Liga and replacing one of their standout players of last season was no mean feat, but Estupinan did it with aplomb and is now one of the highly regarded fullbacks in the English top-tier.
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Ben White (Arsenal)
Arsenal came ever so close to winning the Premier League title this past season, and Ben White was definitely one of their best performers.
A centre-back by trade, White played the majority of the campaign at right-back and performed at the highest level. As well as being defensively sound, the Englishman showed his attacking nous by registering two goals and five assists in 38 games thus shunting Takehiro Tomiyasu out of the team.
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Andreas Pereira (Fulham)
Andreas Pereira never really fit in at Manchester United but for a bargain fee has been excellent for Fulham. He was the creative glue for Marco Silva’s side, racking up six assists and four goals in 33 appearances.
Unfortunately, the Brazilian midfielder’s season came to a premature end after he suffered a broken ankle against Manchester City in May. Without Pereira, Fulham were not the same side and lost their impetus at the back end of the season.
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Ben Mee (Brentford)
Thomas Frank led Brentford to their highest-ever league finish in the top flight while playing some exciting football in the process. Among Brentford’s best players was Ben Mee, who has proven to be a bargain acquisition following his move from Burnley on a free transfer last year.
Mee was a rock in a three-man backline and also chipped in with important goals. His leadership and volumes of experience proved invaluable in a wonderful campaign for the Bees and their supporters.
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Solly March (Brighton)
At 28 and after 175 Premier League appearances under his banner, Solly March finally exploded into life and became just one of the many standout performers for Brighton.
March enjoyed the most productive season of his career with seven goals and seven assists in 33 appearances. He was influential in the final third, and by adding the end product to his game, he proved a real handful for Premier League defences.
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Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest)
There were concerns over his ability to lead the Nottingham Forest attack and score goals at a consistent rate after arriving from Bundesliga outfit Union Berlin, but Taiwo Awoniyi has been excellent.
Built as an ox (!) and blessed with a frightening pace, Awoniyi caused a lot of problems to the opposition defences. He was among Forest’s best players, and despite enduring an injury-hit season, his 10 goals in 27 games proved crucial in helping Steve Cooper’s side avoid the drop.
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William Saliba (Arsenal)
Not many people expected the French defender to have such an amazing season at the Emirates Stadium, but by the first international break, William Saliba was getting praise from every corner.
Saliba was a key part of Mikel Arteta’s side who mounted a serious title challenge. He was immense in his debut Premier League season, forming a formidable partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes at centre-back.
However, the youngster’s season was cut short in March after he sustained a back injury against Sporting CP in the Europa League, and from there on Arsenal collapsed.
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Moises Caicedo (Brighton)
Over a year ago, few Premier League fans knew about Ecuador international Moises Caicedo. Now, he is one of the best young midfielders in the Premier League.
Caicedo has garnered a lot of attention from Premier League’s top clubs for his consistent displays at the heart of Brighton’s midfield. He also has impressed with his versatility, operating as a makeshift right-back at the fag end of the season.
De Zerbi and Brighton would hope the Ecuadorian midfielder stays put at the club, but considering the interest from Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United in the player, it looks somewhat unlikely.
