Arsenal dominate Robbie Savage's Premier League team of the season with surprise inclusion

As PFA Team of the Year voting slips start to arrive in players' mailboxes, many will be casting their votes before the major trophies are awarded, sometimes leading to surprising results.

Sir Alex Ferguson was left puzzled when Tottenham's David Ginola scooped the Player of the Year award in 1999 - a year when Manchester United clinched the Treble. However, Robbie Savage is jumping the gun and has assembled his Premier League Team of 2023-24 with a month of the campaign remaining.

He's opted for a 4-3-3 formation and football.london takes a look at Savage's his line-up:

David Raya (Arsenal)

Nailed down the Gunners’ No.1 spot ahead of Aaron Ramsdale when the pressure was immense to justify manager Mikel Arteta ’s biggest call. All the vital stats suggest Arteta got it right. Big shout-out to Guglielmo Vicario, who has had a good first season at Tottenham, and Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez.

Kyle Walker (Manchester City)

Still the best in the country with a few signs of his pace waning. Until he got injured a few weeks ago, Kieran Trippier was having another excellent season at Newcastle.

William Saliba (Arsenal)

Sorely tempted to pick both of the Gunners’ centre-backs as a pair, but they missed Saliba when he was injured on the run-in last season and he has been immense in big games against City and Liverpool this year.

Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

It takes a special player to keep Gabriel out of my team as Saliba’s partner, but Van Dijk has been so consistent - despite injuries disrupting Liverpool’s back four so often. He was colossal in the Carabao Cup final, shepherding the Kop kids to a trophy against the odds.

Destiny Udogie (Tottenham)

In the cult of Ange Postecoglou’s revamp at Spurs, Udogie’s performances at left-back have been one of the biggest revelations. I’ve really enjoyed his sense of adventure from left-back, often supplementing Big Ange’s front four and helping Tottenham to camp around the opposition box.

Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)

A class act, chipping in 10 goals and seven assists from midfield and often dictating the tempo of games. That left foot is like a wand, and his chemistry with Bukayo Saka on the Gunners’ right flank is something you can’t manufacture in a laboratory.‌

Declan Rice (Arsenal)

At £105 million, he’s had to live up to a huge price tag - and Rice has looked worth every penny. At West Ham, the only criticism of him was a relatively low strike rate in terms of goals, but he’s contributed six to Arsenal’s title charge.‌

Phil Foden (Manchester City)

Not just a contender for Player of the Year in the Premier League - he’s one of the most exciting players in the world. His 22 goals include two hat-tricks, against Brentford and Aston Villa, and if England are going to win Euro 2024 surely he’ll have a big part to play.

Cole Palmer (Chelsea)

Where on earth would Chelsea be this season without Palmer’s output? At a club who have spent £1 billion on players in two years, at £42.5 million he has been an absolute steal, with 21 goals and 13 assists in all competitions.‌

Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

Forced his way into England’s Euro 2024 plans with his pace, directness and 25 goals. Few players have blossomed at Villa more than Watkins on Unai Emery ’s watch. Seven years ago, he was in League Two with Exeter.

Mo Salah (Liverpool)

A season which began with intense speculation that he might leave Liverpool for Saudi Arabia, Salah has scored 23 goals, contributed 13 assists and when Jurgen Klopp bows out at Anfield next month, he will have a massive say in whether it’s laden with more trophies than near-misses.

SUBS: Vicario (Tottenham), Haaland, Rodri (Manchester City), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Gabriel (Arsenal), Mainoo (Manchester United), Solanke ( Bournemouth).

Player of the Year - Phil Foden

It takes something exceptional to trump Martin Odegaard’s leadership and style, but Foden has been sensational. Manchester City have not been firing on all cylinders, but he has been at the top of his game.

Young Player of the Year - Kobbie Mainoo

‌He’s only been in the Manchester United side for half a season. But what an impact, what a prospect.

Manager of the Year - Mikel Arteta

As things stand, Arsenal are top of the Premier League and are 50-50 to reach the Champions League semi-finals. After last season’s heartache on the title run-in, the Gunners are right there - highest scorers and the meanest defence.