Premier League 2022-23 review: players of the season
The Guardian Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
There arent many players ridiculous enough to mooch through their careers secure in the knowledge that any team in the world will take them any time theyre benevolent enough to deem them worthy. But Erling Haaland is one, a lab-created goalmonster sent from the future to destroy the present. Obviously there are the numbers 36 goals, four hat-tricks those alone tell us plenty. But football is about feelings not figures, and whats special about Haaland is the fear he inspires in otherwise aggressive defenders and the joyful abandon that gives him, somehow apologetic and vicious at the same time he knows its not fair but hes glad its not fair, smile scrunching and expanding like a viking Les Dawson. Haaland isnt the best at everything there have been and still are defter and more imaginative centre-forwards. But the overall package of power and timing, of ravenousness and composure, are like nothing the game has ever seen and hes still getting better.
Erling Haaland celebrates with Jack Grealish after City beat Arsenal 3-1 at the Emirates in February. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
