The most impressive talent is tucked in the wing. Unbelievable young talent mounts pressure on established superstars like Rashford and Salah, but there’s still plenty of new tactical genius to unpick. Quick thinking, fast footwork and technical prowess define the best of these players, and we’ve outlined five of this season’s superstar wingers below.
Best wingers in the 2023/24 Premier League: Our view
- Mo Salah
Since he joined Liverpool in 2017, Salah has been nothing short of inspirational. He’s arguably the best winger in the world, let alone the Premier League – and even his worst seasons show more success than those of other players at their best.
With unrivalled goal-scoring ability, Salah is one of the most influential players in the current generation. Eyes across the world follow his every move, with opposition teams often basing their entire gameplay strategy around stopping him in his tracks. This season, he’s working around getting marked with double cover every time he tries to attack – but even that’s not holding him back. There’s never been a better time to choose your Liverpool FC home kit for the next game.
- Bukayo Saka
This 21-year-old has defied the odds for a couple of years now and still seems to be getting better. Arsenal relies on Saka to keep the team playing at their best, and that’s in no small part due to his incredible awareness. His ability to make decisive split-second moves, reading every texture and possible tactic from his surroundings, has seen him move from strength to strength in the team.
All eyes are on Saka on the field too: he’s had to re-watch games to look for escape routes, with defenders frequently doubling up on him, which is the same issue faced by Salah. By November, he’d already scored four goals in the season – that’s one in every three appearances.
- Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford is highly respected both in and out of the game.
Along with being one of the world’s most promising players, his own childhood inspired a motivation to help others through activism and charity work. He’s now 26, so he’s not the youngest player on the pitch – but it’s pretty hard for the freshest talent to match his gameplay. His sterling mid-season performances, both for Manchester United and for the England team, reminded fans that he’s unstoppable either as a left-winger or centre-forward.
- Gabriel Martinelli
This Brazilian rising star is certainly an asset for Arsenal’s future. Heading into his fifth Premier League season, his standout performances show exceptional adaptability and positional strategy.
Martinelli has proven that his tactical awareness extends beyond his years, demonstrating superior techniques and vision as each game progresses. He’s certainly a player to turn heads, with his recent 86-minute goal pushing Arsenal to victory over Man City.
- Jack Grealish
After an uninspiring end to his 2022 season, you might be tempted to overlook the current form on Jack Grealish.
But, rarely on the bench, this controversial young talent follows Guardiola’s word to a tee. With an evident craving – and capacity – for possession, his popularity can in part be put down to his tendency to run the game. Touted as Manchester City’s most valuable player this season, it’s worth keeping an eye on the tactics and positioning used by Grealish as the season continues.
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