Which Premier League players will make their breakthrough this season?

Pre-season is over, the real business of the Premier League is about to get under way — and players who have vied for their position throughout the summer now have a point to prove.

Underneath those established first-team players there is a Premier League underclass ready and waiting to take the place of any star that slips up. It’s the academy graduates, the youth signings, the loanees and the reserve team players who are on the cusp of making it to the big time on a weekly basis. It’s even the players who are already first-team stars who are ready to set the entire division alight.

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But who is ready to make that step up? Who could be the player at your club that cracks the glass ceiling and becomes a genuine member of their manager’s first-choice team this coming season? And who can make the entire league sit back and watch in envy?

The Athletic’s experts have taken a look below.

After last season, ‘breakthroughs’ may not be as frequent at Arsenal with many established players.

The first instinct is to mention Emile Smith Rowe as he returns from a difficult 2022-23 campaign as an Under-21 European champion. Considering his 11-goal season in 2021-22, a fresher face may be better.

Jurrien Timber’s name may not evoke the same excitement as that of Declan Rice and Kai Havertz, but he has looked assured in each of his pre-season outings. The 22-year-old arrived to primarily play right-back where he can roam infield, but excelled at left-back against Barcelona with clever forward passes. Arsenal’s back line was settled last season, but Timber could provide yet another dimension to their play when called upon — which is exciting.

Art de Roché

While it is important to err on the side of caution when it comes to the young