David Raya, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães, Jurriën Timber and Declan Rice were all selected for the 2025/26 PFA Premier League Team of the Year, giving Arsenal five representatives in the player-voted XI. The official PFA selection featured a Gunner in goal, three across the defence and Rice in midfield.
It was a fitting reflection of the team that brought the Premier League trophy back to north London after 22 years.
Arsenal finished seven points clear of Manchester City with 85 points, keeping a league-leading 19 clean sheets and conceding only 27 goals. They also allowed the fewest shots, shots on target and big chances in the division. Arsenal’s season analysis revealed that their defensive averages were the best across Europe’s five major leagues.
Raya: the final authority
Raya kept 19 Premier League clean sheets—four more than his closest challenger—and secured a third consecutive Golden Glove.
That total equalled David Seaman’s club record for clean sheets by an Arsenal goalkeeper in a Premier League season. Raya also recorded nine Champions League shutouts as Arsenal reached the final and finished second in the club’s Player of the Season vote. Arsenal’s review of Raya’s campaign highlights a goalkeeper whose composure and distribution were as important as his saves.
Saliba and Gabriel: control meets aggression
Saliba and Gabriel have developed into one of football’s most complete centre-back partnerships.
Saliba brings calmness, recovery speed and the ability to defend large spaces without appearing hurried. Gabriel supplies aggression, aerial authority and emotional intensity. Together, they helped Arsenal prevent six opponents from registering a single shot on target.
Gabriel also remained a major attacking threat. His goal at Bournemouth made him only the second Arsenal defender to reach 20 Premier League goals for the club.
Timber: an elite return
Timber’s selection is especially meaningful after the serious knee injury that disrupted the beginning of his Arsenal career.
His versatility allowed him to defend wide, move into midfield and contribute in attack without weakening Arsenal’s structure. Against Leeds, he produced two goals and an assist—only the second Arsenal defender to register at least three goal involvements in a Premier League match.
Gary Neville described Timber as “the best right-back in the league by a mile” when making his own Team of the Season selection. Premier League pundit selections showed just how highly his performances were rated.
Rice: the heartbeat
Rice connected every part of the champions.
He retained Arsenal’s Player of the Season award after leading the squad for chances created, possession recoveries and tackles. Across all competitions, he contributed five goals and nine assists while playing 4,456 minutes in 55 appearances. Arsenal’s Player of the Season announcement described him as the heartbeat of the midfield.
Earlier in the campaign, Rice explained the mentality behind his form: “Every season, I think to myself, ‘how can you level up again?’”
That desire for constant improvement came to represent the entire team.
Five awards, one achievement
The five individual trophies tell one collective story.
Raya provided assurance. Timber offered versatility. Saliba brought composure. Gabriel supplied fire. Rice gave Arsenal control.
These were not five unrelated standout seasons. They were complementary performances from the core of the Premier League champions.
The PFA honours belong to the players—but their selection is also recognition of the system, resilience and togetherness that returned Arsenal to the summit of English football.