Premier League : Top ten frontrunners for the Player of the year award as season run-in kickstart

The Premier League season is slowly but surely coming to an end, with certain teams having ten games at most before calling time on their campaign.

There have been a lot of surprises right from the season kickoff in August that nothing seems so surprising again, less than two months before the curtain drawer.

The massive drop-off Liverpool have experienced all season is one thing that came as a surprise at the start but since the Reds have been unable to overcome this in months, it has become less of surprise.

Arsenal on the other hand became a team on the rise at the start and whilst many had thought it won't last, all have now come to terms that Mikel Arteta's minions are title contenders.

Even if not all is convinced of their credentials to get it over the line with their eight point gap lead, the sure thing is that all know that City have much more to do if they are to dethrone Arsenal from the league summit.

Manchester United have also experienced quick resurgence under Erik Ten Hag and finally ended their five year wait for a trophy by claiming the Carabao Cup in February, whilst they are also in promising position in the other Cup competitions, even if the league appears a lost cause right now.

Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, the two who joined Liverpool and Manchester City in the top four last season have also endured a tough season and the latter is now in an even more difficult situation.

The appointment of Antonio Conte midway through last campaign appeared the best thing to have happened to the club in recent times but now, it could be said as one of the worse setbacks they've gone through.

However, it is the individual performances of the players that is of more concern in this read and the focus will be on the top ten so far, whose eyes will be on the most prestigious individual award come the end of the season.

10. Gabriel Magalhães of Arsenal

The Brazilian is easily one of the most underrated players in the division since his arrival, but the form which Arsenal are this season is finally starting to earn him deserved recognition.

Since his arrival in the Premier League, no defender has scored more than Gabriel’s ten goals, while also making vital contributions at the back.

He has scored the winner for Arsenal against Chelsea, Fulham and the opener in a 3-0 win away to Fulham in the penultimate Gameweek before the international break.

Alongside William Saliba, Arsenal have the joint most number of clean sheets this season, and Gabriel has made 21 vital defensive blocks to deny opposition players, while his three last man tackle is also the most in the league.

Gabriel might not have a good chance since the attacking players are always favourites for such awards but if there's a Center Back in the league this season deserving of it, it'll be him.

A place in the team of the season could be more realistic for the former Lille man if himself and Arsenal are able to maintain their strong finish.

9. Thomas Partey of Arsenal

Thomas Partey remains the only player in the Premier League this season, whose team has not lose a game when he is on the pitch having played almost 2000 minutes.

Maybe Arsenal's advantage could have been much more bigger had the Ghanaian not missed games due to injuries this season but with that in the past, Mikel Arteta will hope to have him available for the remainder of the campaign.

His role in the Arsenal team is absolutely magnificent and he makes them so so good with the way he run things in the middle of the park.

It took him a couple of season to really settle down with the Arsenal play no thanks to his persistent injuries but Arsenal this season are starting to reap dividends of the £45 million release clause paid to LaLiga to sign him from Atletico.

Partey oozes class. His work rate and game reading makes him the perfect fit for Arteta setup while his diagonal passes also help Arsenal wingers isolate defenders in good areas.

Surely one of the best players the Premier League has seen so far this season. But that is always the case with Partey, when free from injuries.

8. Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City

Hasn't been one of his best seasons but Kevin De Bruyne’s class will always make him one of the favourites, moreso as he continues to deliver numbers, close or even better than those in the limelight.

The Belgian’s creativity has done a lot of help for Erling Haaland and Manchester City this season. His twelve assists is second to none so far while he also topples the charts for chances created and key passes.

De Bruyne helps Pep Guardiola get the best out of Erling Haaland and that has been one of the best highlights of their season so far, with the Norwegian threatening all goalscoring records yet in his debut season.

De Bruyne’s chances of winning is at this time is feeble but with City having eleven more games to go, he could still make a case for himself by helping the Citizens claim another League title at the expense of leaders, Arsenal.

7. Marcus Rashford of Manchester United

Rashford is having a remarkable season and is the major reason for United's success under Erik Ten Hag, most notably after the FIFA World Cup tournament.

The Mancunian has scored vital goals for the club, with 14 of them coming in the Premier League. He has won more points than any other player in the competition this season.

Though United's push for a three horse race for the league title seems over but getting well ahead of other top four candidates is something they have done well so far, considering their start to the season and the games in hand.

Rashford has been at the heart of everything good for them and has won the League’s player of the month three times this season, when no other player has done so twice.

But his case won't be so strong considering United will finish out of the top two, and goals, which are his only strength, he has been well outclassed by Erling Haaland, who already has double what the Englishman has at the moment.

But for Manchester United’s season, Rashford will most likely get a nomination, if he maintains a strong finish to the season.

6. Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur

As a striker, Kane is very unlucky to be in the same league, where someone like Erling Haaland is a striker for Manchester City. It was never going to be fair.

Despite his good form and turning up in important matches, even doing so consistently, he is seven goals shy of Haaland's total, who stands on 28 despite having periods of drought in the course of the season.

Kane is the main reason Tottenham are battling for a top four spot despite the shambles they're in this season, directly involved in 44 per cent of their 52 league goals.

As per consistency, Kane has been active, scoring in 18 different fixtures compared to Haaland's 17. This has always been the case for the England captain though, and has seen him scored 20 or more league goals in six different seasons.

But the closer he gets in the race for the golden boot this season, Haaland only needs a good City display in front of goal he and could get a handful, which will see him again establish a handsome lead.

Nonetheless, with or without the top scorer award, nothing can alter the fact that Kane has been one of the best players in the Premier League this season.

5. Kieran Trippier of Newcastle United

Trippier has been more than just a right-back for Newcastle United, not only this season but since his return to the Premier League midway through last campaign.

He is for them a leader, creator in chief and so much more. One of the signings that turned around the club's fortune and is pushing them to a top four finished for the first time since 2002/03 season.

Second and third most chances and big chances created respectively this season in the competition, too much for a defender, who is also one of the top rated players, overall, so far.

Trippier might not be fancied by many to clinch the award but a nomination looks likely, while a place in the team of the season is also almost secured.

No team had more than Newcastle United’s 12 clean sheets in the league this season, and these are some of the numbers that makes his case very strong. The club also has the best defensive record with 19 goals conceded.

4. Rodri of Manchester City

One of the few players in the world that rarely has a bad game, Rodri, just like in past seasons has been instrumental for Manchester City.

An underrated part of his game has to be his fitness. The Spaniard has played all but one of City's league games this season. He has been everpresent since joining from Atletico.

In seasons past, it had been difficult to single out a Manchester City player as the best amongst the rest but Rodri this season is worth the shout, and to think he is a defensive Midfielder makes it ridiculous.

Such has been his class all season and even if he has been overlooked for this kind of awards in the past, and will probably not get it this time too, it is worthy of acknowledgement, his brilliance for Pep Guardiola.

The battle for who features in the team of the season will be close between him and Areenal’s Thomas Partey, but at this time, Rodri is still ahead, albeit Partey is top of the league and invincible.

3. Martin Ødegaard of Arsenal

The most exciting player to watch in the Premier League this season. Martin Ødegaard does his things differently and in manners that leaves you in awe.

Has been one of the major reason of Arsenal's super season and his game has vastly improve compared to past season, even adding end products by reaching double figures for goals in the competition for the first time.

Ødegaard’s workrate has been superb and his 40 possession won in the attacking third is the most in the league so far, at least ten more than any other player.

His playmaking, vision and combination with Bukayo Saka on the right has been secret to unlocking defences, and that has seen Arsenal to the second best attacking record so far.

His dribbling, ability to neatly maneuver his way in tight spaces is second to none in the division. Has missed just a game for the club too and his availability has been one of the key for Mikel Arteta.

It will be close, even so if Arsenal managed to pull off the surprise and win the league. Ødegaard, who already won the Player of the year in the London Awards will be hopeful of beating countryman, Haaland and his Arsenal teammate, Bukayo Saka to the award.

2. Erling Haaland of Manchester City

Haaland only score goals, yes, but the fashion in which he is doing so is ridiculous.

Four hat-trick in the league season already, and 28 goals after playing 26 games so far, he is already setting new scoring record in the league and in City history, yet in his first season.

Running away with the top scorer award and pushing City towards defending their league title, Haaland is without a doubt one of the best in the division, and it will be interesting to see if he claims the award.

No one comes close to him at what he does and that is why the top scorer award is looking more likely for him but the best player award will be more evenly contested, and he is one of the frontrunners.

1. Bukayo Saka of Arsenal

What a season this young man is having. Came through when the club was struggling and has now become an integral part of the setup at only 21.

Ten more games to the end of their season and this is the closest Arsenal have come to winning the league since the Invincibles, and Saka, has been at the heart of it all.

The club's best player in the last season when they narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification. So far this campaign, alongside his teammates have put their hearts at everything in the league and surprisingly, they find themselves in this position.

Saka has played his role expertly to ensure Arsenal sustained the pressure needed to keep hold of their position as league leaders.

He is the only player in the division to have reached double figures for goals (12) and assists (10), while Kevin De Bruyne (12) is the only player with more than his ten assists.

Playmaking, he has been a beast and a threat to the opposition defenders. Saka has completed the most dribbles in the league so far and topples the chart for most one-on-one.

One of the most fouled player and in the top six for chances created. The way he balanced the numbers highlights his contributions, which is not only limited to one end of the pitch.

He his a great athlete and able to fall to defensive formation when needed in defence and quickly make his way upfield during transition, just like his teammate on the opposite flank, Gabriel Martinelli.

Highly rated franchise player and his chances will be massive if Manchester City is dethroned of the league title come May.

Either way, Bukayo Saka has made himself one of the strong contenders for the Premier League player of the year award this term, and is now being talked about as one of the best in the world.

Author : Kehinde Hassan Afolabi