The season is drawing to a close, which can only mean one thing, the Premier League end of season awards are just around the corner. Nominations for the major honours have already been revealed, and Arsenal are represented in both key categories. Declan Rice has been nominated for Premier League Player of the Season, while William Saliba is shortlisted for the Hublot Young Player of the Season award. These honours recognise the standout performers over the course of the campaign and will be awarded once the season concludes.
Rice nominated after influential midfield season
Declan Rice is one of eight nominees for the Premier League Player of the Season award. The England international will be competing against the likes of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alexander Isak, along with several other top performers. Rice has enjoyed an excellent season and has been a crucial figure in Arsenal’s midfield throughout the campaign. His impact has been felt not only in the Premier League but also in the Champions League, where he has put in some fantastic performances, particularly against Real Madrid.
Rice earned his nomination after registering 10 goal contributions in a league season that started slowly for him. In addition to his attacking output, he has won 112 duels and made 52 tackles. Offensively, he has created 56 chances, ranking second in the Arsenal squad behind Martin Ødegaard, who has created 59. These numbers highlight Rice’s effectiveness as a box-to-box midfielder and explain why he has been such an influential figure. Whether these efforts will be enough to earn him the award remains to be seen.
Saliba shortlisted again after commanding campaign
For the second consecutive season, William Saliba has been nominated for the Hublot Young Player of the Season award. The French centre-back joins a strong shortlist that includes Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch, alongside four additional nominees. Saliba has become the cornerstone of Arsenal’s defence and has played a key role in their league-best defensive record, as well as the Champions League – where praise was heaped on him by the Spanish media.
The Gunners have conceded just 33 goals this season and have collected 12 clean sheets. In possession, Saliba has completed the second most passes of any player in the league, while also boasting the best passing accuracy at 95 percent. He will be hoping to go one better this time after missing out on the award to Cole Palmer last season.
Gooners, who do you think is more likely to win — Rice or Saliba?
BENJAMIN KENNETH
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Neither deserve individual EPL awards imo – Salah will, I’m sure, win the main award by miles, and imo saliba *should* be too old to win young player of the year (saying, that, he’s probably been most impressive of those shortlisted, so maybe he will win it)
I was a bit surprised at Saliba being nominated as he’s 24. When do you stop being young in these situations? Hope he wins it though.
Gravenberch is another one Jax. Turned 23 today. In my opinion it should be up to the age of 21.
Yeah HD, 21 seems about right. I suppose the cut off point for these polls is 25, which is approaching middle age for a footballer.
In my opinion it should be 18 or 19 if they have to stretch it to the maximum.
The only issue there might be that there’s not that many teenagers playing regularly in the Premier League.
To my utter astonishment, Sterling’s not in the running. A total travesty if you ask me. Has no one been watching him pounding along those warm-up lines while being a substitute. No one doe’s it better in my opinion. 🤣😂👍😉
I can’t believe that MLS isn’t on the list for Young Player ofthe Season 😲
Because mate he’s only started in the Prem since December unlike the other candidates
When you then look at how few games we have won since then it’s not surprising.
This is starting to remind me of the Maitland Niles situation
Are you judging a player on how many times the team he’s playing for have won Dan, or said players contribution?
You fail to mention his contribution during our CL exploits either.
Yeah I have written many have times , even made an article about the amount of mistakes he has made at left back .
Hence why he should be in midfield.
But compared to the other players on the list yes the fact he’s only started since December would be a factor
I would question if he was as good as you think in the CL
As good as he was against Madrid he wasn’t against PSG and had a disaster against PSV.
Certainly not enough to make him a candidate for young player of the year
Neville & Carragher also thought it should have been MLS, which is really something coming from those two.
Yeah it’s opinions mate
Mikel Arteta also said when asked why he thinks he’s been not shortlisted that he’s only done it in a sample (December -May ) so now has to prove he can do it for a longer term
He’s rank fourth in the Golden boy award rating….. That might interest you 🙄🙄
Different criteria mate
Just trying to lesson you that the lad is rated and not getting mention in the PFA award doesn’t discredit him.
As you can no 18 years old player was nominated or won it b4…
Never said it did ?
If your going to use the lack of games won, then Liam Delap shouldn’t be anywhere near the nomination.
I didn’t just use that though mate
I used the window of December – May
Also Ipswich and Arsenal carry different expectation?
I think in 2025 we won something like 7 in like 16 League games ( have to check )
In that time Skelley made lots of errors
No you didn’t just use it, but you did mention it.
You can’t just blame MLS for the lack of wins, there’s at least 10 other players involved in them games.
I didn’t just blame him
But we are talking about him not being nominated.
If you said why isn’t Martinelli nominated ( and I love Martinelli) for an award I would say he doesn’t warrent it
Unless your an Arsenal player it seems.
I honestly believe Dan’s got this anti Arsenal mind set that says he has to see the negative every time!!
As he says, HD, it’s all about opinions, but I’m sure he’ll find something wrong with the new kit!!
Name another player nominated who’s only played December – May as League form regressed ?
The irony is Ken your only positive about him because he plays for Arsenal
Gave shirt 7 out of 10 lol
Away one looks good though ( although leaked )
All I did was question why you were judging him on the games he played in, versus his personal contribution Dan…. I didn’t say whether or not I thought he should be nominated, so your dig about me wanting him to be just because he’s a Arsenal player is false.
I note you only gave 7 out of 10, so what’s wrong with the shirt?
7 is good lol