Premier League Teams of the season are of course always open to debate but this Team of the Season So Far from WhoScored might not spring too much of surprise that 9 of the players come from just 3 teams:
GK Robin Roefs (Sunderland); RB Jurrien Timber (Arsenal); CB Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal); CB Nordi Mukiele (Sunderland); LB Nico OâReilly (Man City); RW Mohammed Kudus (Tottenham); CM Granit Xhaka (Sunderland); CM Declan Rice (Arsenal); LW Jérémy Doku (Man City); CF João Pedro (Chelsea); CF Erling Haaland (Man City)
While it is tough to admit, Arsenal have made an impressive start, particularly defensively. The three Man City players have also been very consistent as they have moved into second. Sunderland have been the welcome surprise so far and it is good to see that recognized.
I would agree Roefs has been the best keeper in the league and Granit Xhaka has been a critical signing for them to help start so well. As good as Pedro has been for Chelsea, I could also argue a fourth Sunderland player, Wilson Isidor, could have featured alongside Haaland in attack.
Did anyone else belong from Tottenham?
Mohammed Kudus is Tottenhamâs only player to make the team, and he is deservedly in there. Up until the last two games, I would have put Micky van de Ven in there, too, and Iâm sure he will be in the Premier League final team of the season.
Kudus, though, has been great since he moved from West Ham. It was a transfer that was concluded more quickly than most of Tottenhamâs signings and a very welcome one. Even though we are among the top scorers in the league, it feels like a stat that is a little misleading. Our attack has struggled, not just with goals but with keeping pressure on and with breaking quickly when the midfield or defenders have won the ball. Kudus has been the exception to that.
He has shown an excellent first touch to bring the ball under control and often it sticks to him so well when dribbling. A couple of times this season, he has brought down long balls almost reminiscent of Dimitar Berbatovâs amazing control during his (too short) spell at Spurs. He also shows a willingness to attack defenders, dribbling directly at that them with great effect. Due to Frankâs tactical decisions, substitutions, or recent injury, we havenât seen Kudus and Xavi Simons together enough yet, but Simons will benefit from having another creative player on the wing.
Tottenham have a history of wingers who can take people on, and while Kudus brings much more than that, also being effective centrally for example, there is much to be impressed with the way he has started for us. Like the rest of the team, there is more to come from Kudus but, on both the Premier League and Champions League stage, Spurs fans should look forward to seeing his development under Thomas Frank.