Three Gunners – David Raya, Gabriel and Declan Rice are among the six-man shortlist for the PFA Player of the Year award, nominated by fellow players after Arsenal’s title-winning season—one in which the team conceded just 27 Premier League goals. The PFA awards will be held
When the season started, David Raya’s calmness looked like a blueprint for everything that followed. In Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford on the opening weekend, he produced a series of fantastic saves—and from that point, the goalkeeper didn’t just settle in. He set the tone.
Now. three Arsenal players have been nominated by their colleagues for the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Player of the Year award after enjoying outstanding campaigns during the title-winning season. David Raya. Gabriel and Declan Rice have all made the six-man shortlist. joined by Manchester City pair Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland and Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes.
The case for the Gunners’ triple presence is hard to miss. All three players were central to Arsenal’s march to their first league title since 2004. in a campaign where they conceded a league-low 27 Premier League goals—eight fewer than any other side. They were also recognised across the season in a way that goes beyond one award shortlist: the same trio have been nominated for Premier League Player of the Season.
Raya’s contribution is written in clean sheets. He kept 19 clean sheets in the top flight, securing his third-straight Golden Glove in the competition. He also earned December’s Save of the Month award for an outstanding stop to deny Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh’s curling effort towards the top corner; that stop has since been nominated for the Premier League’s Save of the Season award.
Behind Raya, Gabriel’s presence became the kind of constant that teams build their confidence on. He is nominated having registered 23 interceptions and 34 blocks in another stellar season at the back. Gabriel’s defending wasn’t the only thing that mattered, though. He found the net in back-to-back wins over Aston Villa and Bournemouth. and his biggest moment came in the sharpest kind of pressure: a thumping header in the 97th minute at St. James’ Park to secure a last-gasp victory on Tyneside.
If Gabriel helped Arsenal keep opponents out, Declan Rice helped them win their battles everywhere else too. Throughout the season. Rice played as a defensive midfielder. central midfielder and even a right-back. but the position never seemed to change the impact. He made several key. goal-saving challenges and interceptions. and he also provided important attacking returns. including two crucial goals in Arsenal’s 3-2 win at Bournemouth in January.
There was another layer to Rice’s influence as well: his set-piece deliveries. That combination of defensive bite, versatility and end-product is part of why Arsenal’s No.41 has been nominated for this season’s PFA award.
The PFA awards are entering their 53rd edition this year. Current and former players are invited to cast their votes on the best players and young players in the men’s and women’s games over the course of the season. Arsenal’s history with the honour stretches back to the early years: since Leeds United’s Norman Hunter won the first edition in 1974. four Gunners have won the award. Liam Brady was our first recipient in 1979, before Dennis Bergkamp brought it back to N5 in 1998. Thierry Henry became the first player to win the award in successive seasons when he scooped the 2003 and 2004 awards. and Robin van Persie added his name to the list of winners in 2012.
For Arsenal fans, the focus now shifts to the final stage. The winners of the various PFA awards will be announced at a special ceremony in Manchester on Tuesday, August 25.
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PFA Player of the Year David Raya Gabriel Declan Rice Arsenal Premier League champions Golden Glove Save of the Month 27 Premier League goals 19 clean sheets PFA awards Manchester August 25