Premier League: Players making an impression in their first season

• The most watched league in football is in English Premier League, and during the current season fans throughout the world have been treated to some excellent football.
• We look into the best players who made their debut this season.

The most watched league in football is in English Premier League, and during the current season fans throughout the world have been treated to some excellent football.

We look into the best players who made their debut this season.

William Saliba

Saliba. |PHOTO: Sky Sports|

William Saliba has been on loan with numerous teams since moving to Arsenal from Saint-Etienne in 2019. As a result, Arsenal supporters have had to wait what seems like an eternity to see Saliba make his debut.

The defender, who was crowned Ligue 1’s Young Player of the Season while on loan with Marseille last season, has played for Saint-Etienne, Nice, and Marseille, among other teams. The Frenchman, who was just added to the Arsenal squad, has quickly made a name for himself as one of the continent’s top young defenders.

Since making his debut for France last year, the 22-year-old, who has earned eight caps, has embodied the qualities sought after in a contemporary defender. Saliba has been an essential component for Arsenal in both creating its own attacks and putting an end to the opposition. He is proactive, calm in possession, and at ease moving forward with the ball at his feet.

As Arsenal’s title challenge has begun to fall apart, his impact has been felt the most during his absence. Prior to suffering a back injury against Sporting Lisbon last month, Saliba had started every Premier League game. Since then, Arsenal has failed to record a clean sheet.

Kaoru Mitoma

Mitoma celebrates scoring the deciding goal.|PHOTO: Sky Sports|

Kaoru Mitoma is one of the most recent diamonds that Brighton’s recruitment team has found, raising the heads of the Premier League’s wealthiest teams. The Japanese international made his Seagulls debut this season after spending the previous campaign on loan with Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium while he sought a work permit.

Under Graham Potter, Mitoma had to wait his turn, but under Roberto De Zerbi’s leadership at the Amex Stadium, he has been a revelation. With his ability to leave defenders in his wake, the 25-year-old has been a must-watch this season. He is exhilarating when playing one-on-one with full-backs.

He has seven goals this season—a Premier League season record for a Japanese player—and four assists. This summer, there may be a queue outside Brighton’s doors for his services.

Manuel Akanji

Manchester City’s critics frequently point to the club’s spending as the primary cause of their current success, but the reigning Premier League champions have recently displayed an eye for a deal.

On deadline day last summer, Manuel Akanji, a surprising addition considering the availability of Ruben Dias, John Stones, Nathan Ake, and Aymeric Laporte among Pep Guardiola’s defensive options, arrived in a low-key £15 million transfer from Borussia Dortmund.

The international from Switzerland was a clever acquisition who can play practically anywhere in the backline. His qualities are ideal for Guardiola’s new defensive strategy, which depends on the centre defenders’ confidence in roaming into wide areas.

Erling Haaland

Haaland has now scored 49 goals in all competitions, shattering records during his record-breaking first season at Manchester City. With Pep Guardiola’s team in excellent form and pursuing an unprecedented treble this season, the acquisition intended to lead City to Champions League success may well deliver that and more.

Lisandro Martinez

Martinez is one of the best United’s defenders.|PHOTO: Sky Sports|

Lisandro Martinez’s preparedness for the Premier League was questioned at one point, but that feels like a very long time ago.

After a challenging start to the season at Manchester United, the centre-back faced criticism. There were widespread doubts about the diminutive defender’s ability to compete in English football. Since then, the Argentine has gained prominence and established himself as an Old Trafford fan favourite thanks to his warrior-like demeanour.

Martinez is a popular player on his new team thanks to his ability to win aerial duels with precise leaps, set himself up defensively, and rally those around him.

The £57 million acquisition from Ajax, who last year won the World Cup with Argentina, has made a significant impact when combined with great passing and a genuine determination to defend.