Manchester City are currently top of the Premier League, but none of their stars are in Mark Goldbridge’s squad of the season.
With just one month of high-level action remaining, clubs and players will give their final push to achieve their respective goals.
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A number of stars have always been at the top of their game, others have also emerged as surprises during what has been a most enjoyable season.
talkSPORT’s Goldbridge has named his team of the season and it’s Arsenal who dominate his selections, with no Manchester City player making the cut despite being at the top.
He said: “I want to do it a little bit differently to a combined Premier League title XI, because I want to give it to players who I think have exceeded expectations and been really, really good .”
Starting with his goalkeeper, he declared: “I am tempted to say [Guglielmo] Vicario in goal actually. Alisson is very obvious but he is injured and he is the best goalkeeper in the world, while I think Vicario deserves it.
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“Yes, he was a bit shaky on the crosses, but Spurs are fifth in the league and will probably finish fourth, which is incredible. He made some big saves and he came out of nowhere, so Vicario for me. “
At full-back, Goldbridge said: “I would put Ben White at right-back. I think Trent [Alexander-Arnold] a better right-back but throughout the season I think he’s gone unnoticed by a lot of people, Ben White, he’s been absolutely incredible.
“I think so [left-back] should be, for me, [Destiny] Udogie at Spurs. When I saw him against Chelsea and he got the second yellow, I said to myself: “Here we go, Spurs have bought another undisciplined and inconsistent player.” But in reality, he has been very consistent and has played a major role in Spurs’ success this season. »
“I think because it’s a partnership, I wanted a partnership so I’m going to go there Gabriel and [William] Saliba,” he said of his central defender choices.
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“Saliba obviously gets a lot of praise as a fantastic world-class European central defender, he’s growing in that area.
“Gabriel, I think if you talk to Arsenal fans they will say in a way he’s had a better season. He’s a goal threat, he’s making the most of his abilities. I think that he deserves to play next to Saliba.”
When selecting his midfielder, Goldbridge said: “I would start with Declan Rice as a midfielder. Although I think Rodri is better, I think having been bought for £100million and at what Arsenal have been good, you have to recognize that in a team of the season.
“So Declan Rice would be the kind of No. 6, No. 8 that I would use [Alexis] Mac Allister, although I think he fits a little deeper, he can play that role. He scored big goals, I think he signed the season.
“And then I would probably give up No. 10, it wouldn’t be [Kevin] De Bruyne because he’s been out for a long time, so it would be Foden or Cole Palmer for me for that spot.
“I think Palmer from Man City to Chelsea has been brilliant. In a terrible Chelsea team he has been incredible. At such a young age, to come from Man City to London and deliver the way he always has, mentality on young shoulders.”
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And for his first three, Goldbridge said: “I think [Bukayo] Saka, [Mohamed] Salah and [Erling] Haaland are the Premier League’s top three, but do they deserve to be in the team of the season?
“I don’t think that’s the case. So I’m going to go with Anthony Gordon on the left, I think he’s had an incredible season for Newcastle and really justified that price tag which I thought was over the top. In a mediocre Newcastle team , I think his numbers have been fantastic.
“I think Ollie Watkins needs to be there, scoring and assisting all season for Aston Villa and they are in a race for Champions League football. He can score and also provide, I think he He’s only second to Salah in that regard, so I put Watkins there.
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“And then the right is probably the hardest of the bunch because you could defend Jarrod Bowen. You could definitely defend someone like someone like [Alejandro] Garnacho but I still think it must be Saka in this place.
“I’m just going to put Saka in there because people still think he hasn’t had a good season for Arsenal… He’s had some lows but I still think he’s had a really good season for Arsenal.”
Arsenal therefore have five players in the XI and Spurs take up two of the places, with the others all coming from Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle and Aston Villa.
The selections will be widely debated, but there is no doubt that the Goldbridge squad is brimming with talent.
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