Premier League 2022-23: The Most Impactful Role Transformations
Tactical evolution is at the heart of modern football, and there are few aspects more intriguing than the creative ways managers redefine player roles. Whether combating the unique strengths of an opponent, maximizing the ability of a squad, or simply plugging a gap, positional innovations consistently shape the narrative of each Premier League season. In this deep dive, we spotlight the most influential role switches from the 2022-23 campaign and explore how managerial ingenuity unlocked the full potential of these players.
Understanding What Makes a Role Change Stand Out
Not every adjustment on the pitch qualifies as a significant role change. The true measure lies in a player’s sustained adaptation to an entirely new primary position or function within their club—typically without changing teams. These changes become even more meaningful when they display tactical shrewdness or reveal untapped qualities in a player. While some clubs, notably under managers like Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp, constantly weave tactical novelties, only a select few athletes undergo role changes that are both dramatic and enduring.
While the focus here is firmly on the Premier League, notable switches in other leagues—such as Jules Koundé’s move from center-back to right-back for Barcelona or Eduardo Camavinga’s deployment as an inverted fullback at Real Madrid—show that tactical reinvention is a global phenomenon.
Top Premier League Role Transformations of 2022-23
The following players exemplified how strategic role assignments can define both their individual performance and their team’s season. Each made a switch that became central to their play, dramatically altering their impact.
Leandro Trossard: From Wide Attacker to Creative Linchpin
Leandro Trossard began the season as one of Brighton’s most dynamic wide players, frequently deployed on the flank or as a wing-back. When Brighton needed options up front, Trossard confidently shifted into a central role, increasing his goal threat. However, it was his midseason transfer to Arsenal that truly showcased the breadth of his skills.
At the Emirates, Trossard was given the freedom to operate between the lines, drifting deeper into midfield and linking play rather than holding the front line. This shift transformed his statistical profile: he concluded his Brighton tenure with seven goals and two assists but switched to providing one goal and an impressive eight assists for Arsenal. His ability to float across the attacking zones, exploit space, and create scoring chances highlighted his natural vision and technical flair—qualities that were amplified by Mikel Arteta’s tactical setup.
Trossard’s positional versatility even allowed for fluid rotations among Arsenal’s forward line, increasing unpredictability for defenses. His two-footedness further facilitated this seamless movement, solidifying his status as one of the league’s most adaptive attackers.
Bruno Guimarães: Emerging as Newcastle’s Deep-Lying Maestro
On joining Newcastle, Bruno Guimarães initially slotted into a more advanced midfield role, making powerful forward runs and finishing the season as one of the club’s top scorers. However, as the Magpies evolved, Eddie Howe repositioned Guimarães to the deep-lying playmaker position, allowing him to dictate the team’s tempo from a deeper starting point.
In this role, Guimarães’ spatial awareness and passing prowess shone brighter than ever. Progressive passes per 90 minutes jumped from 4.7 in his initial Newcastle spell to 7.1, a testament to how the new responsibilities amplified his influence. Beyond orchestrating attacks, he enhanced Newcastle’s defensive transitions, excelling in recoveries and interceptions thanks to his anticipation and reading of play. Howe’s decision proved pivotal, making Guimarães the central hub of Newcastle’s newfound consistency and ball dominance.
Trent Alexander-Arnold: Revolutionizing the Inverted Fullback
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool faced challenges in their pursuit of a top-four finish until a subtle but significant change revitalized their play: shifting Trent Alexander-Arnold into a central, inverted fullback role. Previously lauded primarily for his overlapping runs and pinpoint crosses from the right flank, Alexander-Arnold was now tasked with tucking inside to support the midfield during build-up.
This positional tweak allowed him greater visibility of the field and the ability to dictate play with his passing range. Under this new system, Alexander-Arnold swiftly regained his creative spark, notching six assists in seven matches as Liverpool surged back into contention. The tactical shift also played to his strengths—excellent passing, vision, and the capacity to exploit half-spaces—while reducing defensive vulnerabilities. Klopp’s trust in Alexander-Arnold’s technical intelligence paid immediate dividends, underlining the value of assigning playmakers roles where their distribution can dictate matches.
Ben White: From Centre-Back to Arsenal’s Inverted Right-Back
Ben White’s transition from central defense to right-back for Arsenal was a quietly revolutionary move that underpinned the club’s best campaign in years. Mikel Arteta’s faith in White’s adaptability saw him start almost every match in his new position, where his defensive solidity and comfort in possession became assets out wide.
What truly set White apart this season was his attacking contribution. His sense of space enabled both underlapping and overlapping runs in concert with Bukayo Saka, creating tactical dilemmas for opponents and boosting Arsenal’s attacking unpredictability. The use of inverted fullbacks, wherein White drifted into midfield to bolster passing lanes and rest defense, mirrored approaches popularized at Manchester City and further improved Arsenal’s structural security when transitioning from attack to defense.
White’s ability to balance defensive responsibilities with intelligent forward movement epitomized the modern fullback—equally capable in both halves of the field.
Alexis Mac Allister: The Engine at Brighton’s Base
Alexis Mac Allister’s journey from a sporadically used attacking midfielder to Brighton’s deep-lying playmaker was one of the most critical tactical stories of the season. Following the departure of Yves Bissouma, Brighton’s midfield required someone with both technical ability and tactical understanding. Graham Potter, and later Roberto De Zerbi, entrusted Mac Allister to orchestrate the team from deep.
In this role, Mac Allister’s passing accuracy and composure in possession catalyzed Brighton’s dominance in build-up and ball retention. He also improved defensively, combining tenacity with intelligence to break up play and commence transitions. The move paid off handsomely: Mac Allister became integral in both offensive phases and rearguard actions, helping Brighton push for a historic top-six finish and even asserting himself as a key figure in Argentina’s World Cup-winning campaign.
John Stones: Reimagining the Inverted Fullback for Manchester City
Perhaps the most influential role experiment of the season came from Pep Guardiola and John Stones at Manchester City. Guardiola shifted from a conventional 2+3 buildup to a 3+2 structure, with Stones taking on the unique responsibility of stepping from defense into midfield as an inverted fullback—despite starting most games as a centre-back.
Stones’ comfort on the ball, composure under pressure, and ability to drive forward allowed City to control games more effectively and plug gaps in transition. Even when positioned as a central defender, Stones took on midfield duties in City’s possession phases, offering an extra numerical advantage and improving link play with both wings and the frontline.
This evolution provided City with exceptional defensive balance: Stones’ partnership with Rodri created a formidable barrier that underpinned another title-winning campaign. Guardiola’s innovation turned Stones into an illustrative example of tactical flexibility—cementing the Englishman as a template for future hybrid defenders.
Conclusion: The Value of Tactical Flexibility in Modern Football
The 2022-23 Premier League season was defined by strategic experimentation—managers identifying new roles to maximize individual and collective output. The featured players above not only rose to the challenge but, in many cases, changed the very dynamics of their teams and the league as a whole.
Their stories reaffirm an important modern lesson: the best tactical shifts reveal hidden strengths and shape team identity at the highest level of football. As clubs continue to evolve, expect more players to redefine the traditional boundaries of their positions—and, in the process, transform the way the game is played.
