For me Matt le Tissier takes the cake, managing to score 25 goals from midfield in the 1993/94 season for a Southampton team that finished 18th. Other strong contenders:
- Luis Suarez 13/14, honestly maybe the best individual season a player’s ever had in the league. 31 goals and 11 assists in 33 games in a Liverpool team that was largely Europa League level aside from Gerrard and Sturridge.
- Kevin Phillips 99/00, scoring 30 goals and winning the European Golden Shoe for newly promoted Sunderland.
Who’ve you got?
Dennis Bergkamp for Arsenal’s 97/98 season takes the cake for me!
It was Wenger’s first season at the club and Bergkamp was a crucial piece in the squad as they went on to win the double. Bergkamp himself scored 16 goals and assisted 11 in 28 games that season.
Honestly almost his entire career at Arsenal, Dennis was a huge part of whatever squad he was in if not outright carrying them at times. A lot of players credit his ability when talking about the team or even their own success, including Henry.
Also says a lot that after he left the club in 2006. It took close to 10 years for Arsenal to win another major trophy.
In 1997 I think he was pretty much the best European player but I wouldn’t say he carried us that season, it was probably peak of Parlour for me and Overmars also comfortably into double figures in the league. Good keeper, solid defense and Vieira establishing himself.
The final paragraph I would point at Vieira more than Bergkamp. Arsenal simply didnt replace his ball winning ability until they signed Torreira.
Don’t get me wrong he’s a terrific player. I went to an event with Paul Merson last week and he said Bergkamp was easily the best player he played with “I didn’t think anyone could be that good at football”. I just don’t think he carried Arsenal that season to the extent eg Suarez did in 2013(?) Or Le Tissier in 1993.