This 2022/23 season has been pretty remarkable, hasn't it?
A winter World Cup, games being chucked at us with relentless consistency, a certain Norwegian smashing up every goal record to ever exist, you could go on...
The current Premier League campaign has been many things, and it'll go down as the season for quick-fire starts. Ten goals have been scored in the first minute of games this term, more than any other campaign in Premier League history.
The likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Jack Grealish, Gabriel Martinelli, Wilfried Gnonto, and Kelechi Iheanacho have all scored in the opening 60 seconds this season, but their strikes were not quick enough to make the top five fastest in the division.
5. Bobby Decordova Reid - 45 seconds vs Brentford
This August west London Derby got off to a scintillating start thanks to Fulham wide man Bobby Decordova-Reid.
It was hardly a pretty finish, but Decordova-Reid was in the right place at the right time following a scramble in the Brentford box. The Fulham star just about scrambled his effort home from close range after Harrison Reed's shot had deflected onto the crossbar.
After racing into an early lead, the Cottagers then struck at the death through Aleksandar Mitrovic to secure a 3-2 win.
4. Dwight McNeil - 36 seconds vs Brentford
McNeil's strike after just 36 seconds was enough to earn Everton a priceless victory over poor Brentford - once again victims of an early strike - in March.
While Decordova-Reid's first-minute goal against the Bees was scrappy at best, this was a fine goal from the Everton winger. After picking up the ball in an inside left position, McNeil unleashed a pinpoint effort across David Raya to thrust a buoyant Goodison Park into a state of delirium.
3. Abdoulaye Doucoure - 34 seconds vs Brighton
Doucoure, who teed up McNeil's goal against Brentford, joined his teammate in the top five on Monday evening as he kick-started Everton's stunning 5-1 victory over Brighton at the Amex.
An efficient Everton break led by Dominic Calvert-Lewin was rounded off by the Frenchman, who has returned to prominence under Sean Dyche. Doucoure made no mistake with his first-time finish from close range.
The Toffees took a giant leap towards safety with their thumping victory.
2. Carlos Alcaraz - 27 seconds vs Arsenal
Arsenal were seemingly hungover from throwing away back-to-back 2-0 leads in their two previous outings when they faced Southampton in a Friday night encounter.
Aaron Ramsdale, who's usually so reliable with his feet, ensured the Gunners got off to the worse possible start when his tame pass into Oleksandr Zinchenko was picked off by Carlos Alcaraz, who finished with aplomb after just 27 seconds.
The Gunners were always playing catch-up thereafter before eventually rescuing a 3-3 draw - a result that further crippled their title hopes.
1. Philip Billing - 9 seconds vs Arsenal
Remarkably, though, Alcaraz's goal wasn't the earliest Arsenal have conceded at the Emirates this season.
The Gunners were caught out by a slick Bournemouth kick-off routine back in March which culminated in Philip Billing ghosting into the box before tapping home after just nine seconds. It's the second-fastest goal in Premier League history.
Mikel Arteta's side were forced to play catch-up once more, with their 3-2 victory thanks to Reiss Nelson's last-gasp effort being regarded by many Arsenal supporters as the best moment of a majestic 2022/23 season.
This article was originally published on 90min as Quickest goals of the 2022/23 Premier League season.
