It has been an eventful year for London’s Premier League clubs.
Chelsea were taken over, West Ham reached the semi-finals of the Europa League, Tottenham returned to the Champions League and Arsenal embarked on a title challenge.
Brentford finished 13th in their first season in the Premier League, Crystal Palace continued their revolution under Patrick Vieira and Fulham returned to the top-flight.
And there have been plenty of standout performers in the capital. Bukayo Saka has established himself as a superstar, Declan Rice has taken his game to a new level and Aleksandar Mitrovic has been in red-hot goalscoring form.
But who makes the team of the year? Here, our writers have chosen their best London-based XIs of 2022…
Dan Kilpatrick
(4-2-3-1): Ramsdale; James, White, Silva, Mitchell; Rice, Bentancur; Kulusevski, Kane, Saka; Mitrovic.
I've gone for a bold 4-2-3-1 formation, with Harry Kane as a No10. Mitrovic deserves a spot up front for his remarkable start to Fulham's Premier League campaign and record-breaking season in the Championship.
Saka and Dejan Kulusevski, who are so important for their clubs, make up the front four. Granit Xhaka was unlucky to miss out but Rodrigo Benatancur and Rice just edged ahead of the Swiss in midfield.
Ben White has been outstanding for Arsenal, albeit mainly at right-back, but plays centrally here with Thiago Silva. Full-back was tricky but Reece James, when fit, and Tyrick Mitchell have impressed. Aaron Ramsdale deserves his spot between the sticks.
Nizaar Kinsella
(3-4-1-2): Ramsdale; White, Silva, Guehi; James, Xhaka, Bentancur, Saka; Kulusevski; Kane, Mitrovic.
Mitrovic just pips Ivan Toney after his record-breaking season in the Championship and then his form this season in the Premier League.
Chelsea players are thin on the ground, with no real stars emerging in their squad, but James is included. Marc Guehi has been a revelation for Crystal Palace and takes his spot.
Saka is shuffled out to wing-back with few in that position excelling. Spurs' January signings Bentancur and Kulusevski come in after their amazing impact.
Simon Collings
(4-3-3): Ramsdale; White, Andersen, Silva, Mitchell; Bentancur, Rice, Xhaka; Saka, Kane, Zaha.
Ramsdale was an easy pick in goal given his rise, but the defence was harder to call. James was a contender at right-back, however injuries hindered his chances.
In the heart of defence Gabriel, Kurt Zouma and William Saliba, who only started playing for Arsenal this summer, deserve honourable mentions. There were a lack of options at left-back and Tyrick Mitchell was the standout.
In midfield, Rice and Xhaka had to be in there - but the other slot was tough to call. Martin Odegaard has a right to feel aggrieved and could easily have made it in.
In attack, Kane leads the line but was pushed by Mitrovic and Toney. Saka starts on the right. Dejan Kulusevski or Son Heung-min could have got the nod on the left, but Zaha gets the nod for scoring 15 Premier League goals this year.
Malik Ouzia
(3-4-3): Raya; White, Silva, Andersen; Saka, Rice, Odegaard, Kulusevski; Zaha, Mitrovic, Son.
First up, I’ve self-imposed a requirement of having one player from each of London’s seven top-flight men’s clubs. I’ve ended up with a slightly shoe-horned formation because it’s not been a great year for full-backs and has been for wide forwards, hence Saka and Kulusevski at wing-back.
I’ve only considered players involved for most of the 12 months, hence no William Saliba. Up front, Harry Kane is the obvious absentee but I can’t ignore Aleksandar Mitrovic’s contribution for Fulham. Reece James, Ivan Toney and Rodrigo Bentancur are the unluckiest omissions otherwise.
