The 2022-23 Premier League season is almost over and it certainly hasn’t disappointed. Arsenal have had one hand on the trophy for much of the season, but after a disappointing April they have succumbed to the consistent pressure of Manchester City and Pep Guardiola’s men are now the heavy favourites in the online football betting to retain the title for a third-straight year.
The race for the European spots has been just as exciting, with Tottenham Hotspur’s poor form seeing them drop down the table at a rate of knots and Liverpool coming into contention for Champions League football after six successive wins.
At the other end of the table, the relegation dogfight has never been closer than ever either — with any number of teams still mathematically able to fall through the trap door to the Championship as just three points separate 19th Leeds United from 16th Nottingham Forest.
As we watch the closing stages with much anticipation and intrigue, let’s give credit where it is due to three teams who have exceeded the bar of expectation this season.
Arsenal
Even when Arsenal had their best ever start to a Premier League campaign and led at the top of the table going into the World Cup break, not many pundits and punters expected Mikel Arteta’s side to keep up the title challenge for much longer after Christmas.
However, the Gunners have pushed Manchester City almost all the way to the end. Pep Guardiola’s men might be back at the fore of the standings and expected to hold on to the top spot to see another success, but credit must be given to Arsenal for what has been a fantastic season.
The North Londoners were 40/1 to lift the Premier League title before the start of the season and weren’t even tipped for a top four spot. It might be a bitter pill to swallow that they couldn’t hold on for the title, but at least they will be back playing Champions League football at the Emirates for the first time since 2017.
Brighton
Brighton have crept up the Premier League table over the last couple of seasons, improving from 16th in 2020-21 to ninth last year and now they are dreaming of a European tour on the sunny south coast as they currently sit seventh in the standings.
The Seagulls have fought in the face of adversity for much of the campaign too, losing key players Marc Cucurella and Yves Bissouma to Chelsea and Tottenham before head coach Graham Potter and five of his coaching staff followed the former to Stamford Bridge in September.
Enock Mwepu was then forced to retire due to a heart condition and Leonardo Trossard was sold to Arsenal in January. But none of those things have had a knock-on effect on Brighton and Roberto Di Zerbi has managed to keep the Seagulls flying high. Brighton are guaranteed to set a new club record points tally and have a great chance of playing European football for the first time.
Newcastle United
While Newcastle United’s success this season isn’t a fairy tale or a fight against adversity, more one that is financially driven, the job Eddie Howe has done at St. James’ Park since taking over in the north east still deserves recognition.
Indeed, the Magpies are now funded by a Saudi-led consortium that has unlimited funds, but the fact Newcastle are third in the Premier League is down to footballing merit just as much as the new owner’s purse strings — just look at Chelsea, where Todd Boehly has spent over £500 million only to sit 11th.
Newcastle have the best defensive record in the league and have a three-point cushion in the top four at the time writing. The aim was to get the club up there and challenging, but very few expected the Magpies to be as high as third at this point of the project.
Unai Emery’s fantastic work at Aston Villa, taking them from the pits of the table under Steven Gerrard to eighth, also deserves a mention, while Brentford and Fulham have also done incredibly well to feature in the top 10 at this stage of the campaign.
