Stats prove Southgate was right to oust Rashford from Euros squad
After running through the top 10 most improved players in the Premier League this season over on our X page, we’ve now taken a look at the players whose ratings have declined the most compared to those of 2022/23. To be considered, players must have made 20 or more appearances in the Premier League in both 2022/23 and 2023/24.
10. Antony (Manchester United) - 0.29 rating decrease
Manchester United winger Antony takes 10th place, having netted just one Premier League goal in 29 appearances in 2023/24. For context, the Brazilian, who reportedly cost in excess of £85m, managed four goals and two assists in his debut campaign in Manchester.
9. Miguel Almiron (Newcastle) - 0.31 rating decrease
After a scintillating season, Newcastle’s Miguel Almiron has struggled to reach the lofty standards set by himself this time around. The Paraguay international mustered just four goal involvements in 2023/24, compared with 13 (11 goals, two assists) in 2022/23.
8. Kieran Trippier (Newcastle) - 0.33 rating decrease
Almiron is joined by Newcastle teammate Kieran Trippier, whose 2023/24 campaign was disrupted by injury. The England international actually registered more assists this term, but also committed a number of crucial defensive errors, and that led to a 0.33 rating decrease.
7. Christian Eriksen (Manchester United) - 0.34 rating decrease
After joining Manchester United as a free agent in the summer of 2022, Christian Eriksen enjoyed a fairly productive season under new boss Erik ten Hag, registering a goal and eight assists in the Premier League. This season, though, the Denmark international has struggled to nail down his place in the starting XI, and returned just three goal involvements.
6. Philip Billing (Bournemouth) - 0.34 rating decrease
Philip Billing’s game time under new Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola took a steep dive in 2023/24, with the 27-year-old midfielder starting just 13 league games compared with 34 the season prior. In his 1393 minutes of action, Billing managed to contribute two goals and two assists, but could not prevent his rating from decreasing by 0.34.
5. Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) - 0.36 rating decrease
Arsenal may have gone close in the title race again this season, but winger Gabriel Martinelli’s decline in attacking output could be a slight cause for concern for Mikel Arteta. After a hugely impressive 2022/23 campaign, in which he returned 15 goals and five assists from the left of the Gunners’ front three, Martinelli managed just six goals and four assists this time around, while he also lost his place to Leandro Trossard in the final weeks of the season.
4. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) - 0.39 rating decrease
Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford enjoyed the joint-best scoring season of his career in 2022/23, but has struggled to continue in that vein of form this season, registering just seven goals and two assists. The 26-year-old’s drop in form saw him omitted from Gareth Southgate’s provisional squad ahead of the summer’s European Championships.
3. David Raya (Arsenal/Brentford) - 0.41 rating decrease
Arsenal summer signing David Raya may have won the Premier League’s Golden Glove in his debut campaign in north London, but on an individual level, his performances were down compared with his 2022/23 season with Brentford. The Spanish stopper’s save success rate dropped from 75.1% in 2022/23, which was among the best in division, to 64.8% in 2023/24.
2. Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal) - 0.52 rating decrease
Brazil striker Gabriel Jesus is the third Arsenal player to be included in this top 10, with his rating dropping by 0.52 compared against 2022/23. The former Manchester City man hit the ground running in his first campaign at the Emirates, returning 11 goals and six assists, but has struggled in front of goal this term, mustering just four goals and five assists.
1. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Tottenham) - 0.69 rating decrease
With a rating decrease of 0.69, Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s performance level has declined more than any other Premier League player over the last two seasons. The Spurs man’s decrease can largely be attributed to a distinct drop off in game time; Hojbjerg made just eight starts in 2023/24, compared with 35 in 2022/23. After contributing with nine goal involvements under Antonio Conte last term, the Dane failed to contribute anything in front of goal this time around.
