Gabby Agbonlahor left out Declan Rice, Kevin De Bruyne and Virgil van Dijk from his top ten Premier League players.
This is despite the trio being standouts in Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool’s top-flight title quest.
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The former Aston Villa striker outlined his best players of the 2023/24 season on the talkSPORT Breakfast show, with Jarrod Bowen sneaking into tenth place ahead of Van Dijk.
He said: “He’s that guy at West Ham, he’s scored 15 goals in the Premier League in a team that you could say doesn’t play as offensively as the other teams.
“I think because there are 26 people in the squad, he will also play in the Euros with England.”
Surprisingly, Erling Haaland, the league’s co-top scorer, is in ninth place.
Explaining his reasoning, Agbonlahor said: “The standards he set last season, this season he missed a lot of chances.”
Rice’s Gunners teammate William Saliba sits eighth, while Villans striker Emi Martinez sits seventh.
Commenting on the World Cup winner, he said: “There is a reason why for me he is the best goalkeeper in the world.”
De Bruye’s midfield partner Rodri – nicknamed ‘Mr Reliable by Agbonlahor’ – was then chosen at number six, with Bukayo Saka named fifth.
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As for number four, Agbonlahor said: “Ollie Watkins, I wanted to put him higher because he’s been outstanding.
“What he’s done for Aston Villa this season – 19 Premier League goals, 12 assists, zero penalties – he’s been outstanding, definitely going to the Euros, and you can argue he deserves to be part of the starting team.”
Chelsea star Cole Palmer was named in third place, with Agbonlahor saying: “He’s been outstanding, and when you watch him he’s better in every game.
“No Palmer against Arsenal, no Chelsea. They are really counting on Cole Palmer.”
Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard was then selected in second place, with the Norwegian maestro totaling 16 Premier League goals this season.
“When you look at Odegaard, his first touch, his smart balls, he is an exceptional player and one that Arsenal absolutely must keep for the rest of his career,” commented Agbonlahor.
And as for his best player this campaign, few would object to his choice of City striker Phil Foden.
Agbonlahor said of the Three Lions wizard: “He’s a player who, not many Premier League players are world class, Phil Foden is world class.
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“16 goals in the Premier League, he’s the main man now, in previous seasons it was De Bruyne.
“He has been exceptional, he can play anywhere on the front line, even as a false nine.
“We need to build a group and a team for the Euros around Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham.”
