The 2022/23 Premier League season is in the books and the campaign's conclusion means it's time for immediate reflection.
This was a record-setting season in terms of goals in the English top flight since 1992 which not only means there's a greater selection when picking out the finest strikes of the campaign, but also when choosing the most delightful assists.
Kevin De Bruyne once again dominated the assist charts as he inevitably claimed his third Playmaker of the Season award in 2022/23. Two of the Belgian's 16 assists feature on our ten best of the season just gone, but who else made the cut? Let's take a look!
10. Ederson (MANCHESTER CITY vs Brighton)
We start in direct, agricultural fashion.
Ederson's assist against Brighton back in October depicted Man City's change in tack following the arrival of goalscoring machine Erling Haaland, with the Norwegian's capacity to run in behind defences encouraging City's defenders to extend their passing ranges.
We've grown used to seeing Ederson deliver such pinpoint passes over the years, and the ease at which Haaland finishes off this move perhaps doesn't do the goalkeeper's long ball enough justice.
Some shoddy Brighton defending and goalkeeping did make the striker's life much easier after he latched onto Ederson's laser-beam of a punt upfield.
9. Morgan Gibbs-White (NOTTINGHAM FOREST vs Southampton)
It may have taken some time for the club record-signing to get going, but Gibbs-White hushed any doubters with a season-saving run of form down the stretch.
The crafty midfielder came to life in front of the Forest faithful, and he was majestic in the crucial win over Southampton during the run-in.
A topsy-turvy contest was seemingly sealed by Danilo following the subtlest of Gibbs-White flicks in the box that displayed immense poise, awareness, and selflessness.
8. Kevin De Bruyne (MANCHESTER CITY vs Manchester United)
The signs were ominous from the very outset after De Bruyne and Haaland combined to devastating effect on Matchday 1 against West Ham. The Belgian ended the season teeing up City's new machine eight times in 2022/23, and this was certainly the most ludicrous of those combinations.
While Manchester United undoubtedly handed De Bruyne far too much space in his favourite zone, there was a feeling of helplessness once the Belgian's cross left his foot.
Who else in world football would've been able to latch onto that delivery and finish with such ease? A cheat code of a move.
7. Mathias Jensen (BRENTFORD vs Nottingham Forest)
An assist that certainly went under the radar, but Jensen's delightful first-time pass for Yoane Wissa to score is well worthy of making our top ten.
The silky Dane required just one check of his shoulder to be aware of the space that presented itself in behind the Forest defence upon reception of Mads Roerslev's innocuous infield pass, and the execution of his delivery was absolutely spot on.
Within the blink of an eye, safe Brentford possession had morphed into a 2-1 lead for the visitors.
6. Bruno Fernandes (MANCHESTER UNITED vs Arsenal)
Was this the start of Marcus Rashford's resurgence?
Arsenal had dominated large swathes of the contest at Old Trafford and deservedly levelled proceedings in the second half through Bukayo Saka.
However, the Gunners' swagger left them susceptible to the United counter, and Rashford finished off the swiftest of transitions after darting in behind William Saliba and running onto Bruno Fernandes' perfectly weighted outside-of-the-foot pass.
5. Sekou Mara (SOUTHAMPTON vs Leeds)
There were few bright moments in Southampton's turgid season, but this Mara sequence in the Saints' early-season contest against Leeds was certainly one of them.
The former Bordeaux starlet announced himself on the south coast with this divine assist for Kyle Walker-Peters that included a tidy swivel in midfield and a devastating driven pass in behind Jack Harrison.
Walker-Peters was left with no choice but to score.
4. Martin Odegaard (ARSENAL vs Brighton)
Odegaard's goalscoring prowess came to the fore in 2022/23 as he notched 15 Premier League goals, but the Arsenal skipper continued to sparkle from a creative perspective.
The subtle Norwegian typically shines over short distances, but his most impressive assist of the campaign was his extraordinary pass for Gabriel Martinelli on New Year's Eve at Brighton.
His swashbuckling first-time effort was played with such precision that it allowed Martinelli to burst onto it in stride before scoring.
3. Kevin De Bruyne (MANCHESTER CITY vs Newcastle)
The Playmaker of the Season bagged 16 assists in 2022/23 amid yet another sparkling campaign.
De Bruyne has evolved into an efficient robot, and some might argue a large proportion of his assists are actually quite similar, which inhibits their beauty.
On this occasion, however, there are no qualms about the aesthetics involved. The Belgian's decisive disguised pass befuddled the Newcastle defence and found Bernardo Silva in an optimal position to finish. De Bruyne's execution was perfect, but Haaland and Bernardo's counter-movements were also critical to unbalancing the Newcastle backline.
2. Joe Willock (NEWCASTLE vs Tottenham)
Imagine Bruno's pass against Arsenal, only ten times more difficult. That, in essence, is Willock's assist for Alexander Isak in Newcastle's 6-1 rout of Tottenham.
The Magpies were in a rampant mood against a vulnerable Lilywhites, and Willock's pass depicted the fervent atmosphere on Tyneside. Newcastle were playing with a style and flourish not seen in these parts since Keegan's Entertainers.
The midfielder's trivela took out the entire Spurs backline and found Isak, who clattered home the hosts' fourth inside 19 minutes.
1. Alexander Isak (NEWCASTLE vs Everton)
Those evil FPL b*stards didn't even give Isak the assist for his outright ridiculous sequence of majesty at Goodison Park which culminated in Jacob Murphy tapping home Newcastle's fourth on the night.
However, there's no such injustice here. We're giving it to him, and there wasn't a prettier assist in the top flight than this.
Isak accumulated an array of Everton bodies during his dazzling run, with a couple of defenders beaten twice over by the gangly Swede's imperious footwork and impressive balance. This was nothing short of balletic. Thierry Henry-esque.
READ ALL THE REACTION TO THE CONCLUSION OF THE 2022/23 PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON
This article was originally published on 90min as The best assists of the 2022/23 Premier League season - ranked.
