The Premier League has revealed the eight nominees for the Player of the Season award. Arsenal and Manchester City each have two players in contention, with Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice representing the Gunners, while Phil Foden and Erling Haaland represent the Citizens.
Completing the shortlist are Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins.
Notably absent from the list is Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, despite the 22-year-old being the club’s top scorer with 16 league goals. However, he is among the nominees for Young Player of the Year.
Fans can vote for their preferred player until noon on May 13.
Battle for Premier League Supremacy: Haaland and Foden Shine as Odegaard and Rice Excel
City and Arsenal are locked in a fierce battle for the top spot in the league, with less than two weeks remaining in the season. Phil Foden is having his best season ever in front of goal for City, while Erling Haaland leads the scoring charts after netting four against Wolves to keep the reigning champions’ title hopes alive.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice are also among the nominees. Rice, who captained West Ham to Europa Conference League glory before joining the Gunners, has excelled since his £105m transfer.
The other nominees have also been prolific in front of goal, with Alexander Isak, Cole Palmer, and Ollie Watkins shining for their respective clubs. Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk is the only centre-back on the list, helping his team challenge on multiple fronts for much of the season.
“The pair are in contention to scoop the division’s top individual accolade after enjoying fantastic seasons in our midfield, fueling our championship challenge with their superb displays throughout the campaign,” Arsenal said in a statement about their nominees. “Martin has been included in the list of nominees for the second season in a row after another excellent year skippering our young side.”
City striker Erling Haaland is aiming to win the award for a second consecutive season. After a record-breaking debut campaign, he remains among the goals this term despite injuries limiting his involvement.
