The top six in the Premier League have squads filled with talent and star players. Some of those players are incredibly key to the way the team plays, but who is the most important player in each team?
We look at the most important man in each of the top six teams
Arsenal – Martin Odegaard
Martin Odegaard is the player who keeps things ticking for Arsenal. The league leaders acquired the Norwegian in 2021 from Real Madrid for a fee of £30 million. He has already surpassed 100 Premier League appearances, and has scored 30 goals in that time, assisting 19 times. Occupying a position in midfield, Odegaard’s role is to drive the ball forward, break lines and set up opportunities for the forward line. He is usually positioned on the edge of the box when Arsenal break, and is also encouraged to get into the box when crosses come in from wide areas. He is at the heart of what Arsenal do, and he is a consistent performer under Mikel Arteta.
Manchester City – Rodri
When Manchester City lost the Champions League final against Chelsea in 2021, Rodri was a huge miss for Pep Guardiola’s side. With no holding midfielder, City were far more exposed. Three years later, Rodri scored the winner in the Champions League final to win the trophy. He is the metronome in City’s midfield, protecting the back four, and occasionally posing as a threat going forward. Rodri has 25 goals for City, assisting 26 times. His presence is vital, and he is one of Guardiola’s most trusted players.
Liverpool – Virgil van Dijk
The foundations of Jurgen Klopp’s success at Liverpool started with the signing of Virgil van Dijk in 2018. The Dutchman cost £75M, which at the time raised a few eyebrows, but now looks like a bargain. The composure he shows at the back spreads across the whole team, and he has an almost telepathic relationship with his centre-back partners. Van Dijk barely puts a foot wrong, and has only lost one Premier League game at Anfield in front of a crowd, since joining the club. Van Dijk is not shy to chip in with the odd goal too, scoring the winner in the EFL Cup against Chelsea in February. He is widely regarded as one of the great Premier League centre-backs.
Tottenham – Son Heung-min
Now Harry Kane has departed, Son Heung-min is seen as Spurs’ most important player. His lightning pace and deadly finishing is what puts fear into opposition defences. Son is approaching 300 Premier League appearances for Tottenham, and has scored 118 goals in that time. His goal tally for this season is 15 with eight assists, as Spurs look to squeeze into the top four. Out of the fabulous attack Spurs had under Mauricio Pochettino, Son is the only player that remains, and at 31 years of age continues to produce at the highest level.
Manchester United – Bruno Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes is the most important player in the Manchester United team. His quality on the ball and vision of play is what separates him from the rest of the team. Since joining in January 2021 he has started almost every Premier League game, and has scored 67 goals in all competitions. Fernandes has also assisted 61 goals throughout his United career. When Manchester United have needed him, the Portuguese has regularly stepped up. There are still questions over his discipline, and body language on the pitch, but he seems to always produce good numbers, and is well thought of by United fans.
Chelsea – Cole Palmer
Chelsea’s dip in form in the last couple of years has seen a lot of reliance on younger players stepping up, and Cole Palmer has done that. Joining from Manchester City in the summer, the English midfielder has taken the Premier League by storm, and has become the first name on the team sheet for Pochettino’s side. He has scored 13 league goals, assisting eight times. He has three goals and four assists in domestic cups this campaign. He has put himself in contention of being in the Euro 2024 squad, due to his excellent form. He has been one of the few saving graces for Chelsea this season.
