Key Points

• A media‑published “Premier League XI of the season so far” is based on WhoScored ratings, which rely on Opta statistics and algorithms that favour players who “do stuff” rather than those whose influence is quieter or more positional.
• One of the goalkeepers highlighted in the selection is the “giant Italian” at Leeds United, who has kept 11 clean sheets but then conceded three goals in two games against Nottingham Forest and West Ham, including a match where he made no saves.
• The keeper was an unused substitute in the Carabao Cup final, winning a medal without making a save.
• The same goalkeeper also kept a clean sheet against Chelsea and has a save percentage of 72.5% this season, compared with David Raya’s 67%.
• The keeper made a rare error against Manchester United but also produced one outstanding save that reportedly “more than made up” for the mistake.
• At right‑back, the selected XI names Daniel Muñoz of Crystal Palace as one of the most valuable players still at the club, alongside midfielder Adam Wharton.
• Muñoz made six tackles and five clearances in Crystal Palace’s 2–1 win over Newcastle United.
• The article notes that Matheus Nunes of Manchester City would be in the picture if the selector focused strictly on “pure” right‑backs, but the piece expects Jurriën Timber to be chosen for the PFA Team of the Year.

Arsenal (North London News) April 21, 2026 –

How is the current Premier League XI of the season so far being chosen?

A newly published “Premier League XI of the season so far” is being built around WhoScored ratings, which aggregate Opta‑based statistics and algorithms that generally reward players for tackles, clearances, interceptions and other visible actions rather than for subtle positional control or risk‑averse ball‑retention. As explained in the piece, this means that physically dominant centre‑halves who repeatedly win aerial duels are more likely to appear than calm, pass‑oriented defenders whose influence is less obvious in the raw numbers.

The article adds that, to be considered, any player must have started at least 22 of the 33 Premier League fixtures played so far in the season, ensuring that only consistently available performers feature in the theoretical starting line‑up. This cut‑off has effectively excluded some high‑profile names who have spent significant spells on the bench or sidelined through injury.

Why is a Leeds United goalkeeper featured in the team?

The first name picked in the XI is the “giant Italian” goalkeeper at Leeds United, who has kept 11 clean sheets in the Premier League campaign so far, according to the WhoScored‑driven rankings. After reaching that 11th shut‑out against Leeds United, the same keeper went on to concede three goals across two league fixtures against Nottingham Forest and West Ham United.

As reported by the WhoScored‑linked article, the keeper did not make a single save in the match against West Ham, a statistic that is described as “bittersweet” given the otherwise strong overall record. The piece also notes that the Italian later appeared as an unused substitute in the Carabao Cup final, collecting a winners’ medal without facing a shot in that showpiece.

How does the goalkeeper’s save percentage compare with David Raya?

Further analysis in the same article highlights that the Leeds keeper kept another clean sheet against Chelsea, reinforcing his status as one of the busiest shot‑stoppers in the division. His save percentage for the season is given as 72.5%, which is presented as superior to Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya’s 67% in the same metric.

The report notes that the Italian was “unlucky not to make our signings of the season list” in a separate Football365 exercise, suggesting that his impact on Leeds’s defensive record has been viewed as above‑average for a new arrival.

Was there a visible error in one of his performances?

The article does not shy away from a high‑profile mistake, describing a “boo‑boo” by the keeper in the match against Manchester United. However, it adds that the same outing featured one “really very excellent save” that was considered by the writer to more than compensate for the error. This balance is used to underline the idea that the goalkeeper’s overall season rating remains strong despite isolated lapses.

Why is Daniel Muñoz at Crystal Palace picked at right‑back?

The right‑back spot in the XI is allocated to Daniel Muñoz of Crystal Palace, described by the same WhoScored‑linked analysis as one of the club’s most valuable remaining players, alongside Adam Wharton. The rationale is that Muñoz has consistently plugged gaps in Palace’s back line while also contributing to the build‑up, with the piece noting that his impact is keenly felt when he is absent.

The article cites his performance in Crystal Palace’s 2–1 league win over Newcastle United, where Muñoz recorded six tackles and five clearances, underscoring his combative, box‑to‑box style at full‑back. Detailed WhoScored and Transfermarkt statistics show that he has played 187 matches as a right‑back, reinforcing his positional permanence on that flank.

How do other right‑backs compare in this system?

The article acknowledges that, if the selector were to focus only on “pure” right‑backs in the traditional sense, Matheus Nunes of Manchester City would be a strong contender for inclusion. Nunes’s role as a right‑sided full‑back or wing‑back in Guardiola’s system is seen as statistically impressive, with high passing volumes and defensive actions that feed well into WhoScored’s metrics.

However, the piece forecasts that, when it comes to the official PFA Team of the Year vote, the more conventional right‑back Jurriën Timber at Arsenal is likely to be the player chosen by the players’ union. Timber’s positional consistency and attacking overlap are presented as aligning more closely with long‑standing PFA preferences, even if the Opta‑driven algorithm might favour a more ball‑rich profile.

Background to the development

This exercise in compiling a “Premier League XI of the season so far” via WhoScored ratings is part of a broader trend in football media to use data‑driven tools to rank players and teams quantitatively. WhoScored, which relies on Opta statistics, aggregates actions such as passes, tackles, interceptions, goals and assists into a single rating for each player each match, then averages those over a season.

The methodology has long been debated because it tends to favour players who are involved in high‑volume, visible actions—such as aggressive centre‑backs or box‑to‑box midfielders—over those whose authority is expressed through positioning, decision‑making or risk‑averse passing. This particular XI is therefore best understood as a snapshot from one algorithmic lens rather than a definitive verdict on the best players in the Premier League.

Prediction for the particular audience

For North London‑based fans and local media, this kind of data‑driven XI will likely influence pre‑match debates and fan discussions more than club selection decisions, since managers and scouts continue to combine statistics with eye tests and tactical analysis. Supporters of Arsenal, in particular, may find the focus on right‑back Timber and the comparison with other full‑backs a useful talking point when assessing the club’s defensive options ahead of the remaining fixtures.

More broadly, readers who follow football analytics will see such XIs as a way to benchmark how individual players rate against peers under the same statistical framework, while remaining cautious about over‑interpreting a single model or cut‑off such as “22 starts in 33 games.” For local journalists and content creators, these league‑wide rankings can serve as a hook for regionally focused stories—such as how Arsenal’s Timber stands up against the Premier League’s wider right‑back pool, or how Crystal Palace’s Muñoz ranks among the division’s most industrious full‑backs.