Players Pick Their Best: Arsenal Dominate PFA Premier League Team of the Year for 2025/26

 

The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) has officially unveiled its Premier League Team of the Year for the 2025/26 season, with Arsenal emerging as the biggest winners after securing five places in the prestigious XI voted for by fellow players.

The annual selection, regarded as one of the highest individual honors in English football, reflects the opinions of players who compete against each other throughout the season. This year's team highlights the dominance of Arsenal and Manchester City, whose stars accounted for nine of the eleven positions.

Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya was selected between the sticks after another impressive campaign, while defenders Jurriën Timber, William Saliba, and Gabriel Magalhães completed a formidable Gunners defensive unit. Manchester City's Nico O'Reilly secured the remaining spot in defense.

In midfield, Arsenal's influential Declan Rice was joined by Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes and Manchester City's creative sensation Rayan Cherki, whose performances earned widespread admiration across the league.

The attacking trio features Bournemouth's Ghanaian forward Antoine Semenyo, Manchester City's prolific striker Erling Haaland, and Brentford's Brazilian star Igor Thiago, all of whom enjoyed remarkable seasons in front of goal.

PFA Premier League Team of the Year 2025/26

Goalkeeper

• David Raya (Arsenal)

Defenders

• Jurriën Timber (Arsenal)
• William Saliba (Arsenal)
• Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal)
• Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City)

Midfielders

• Declan Rice (Arsenal)
• Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
• Rayan Cherki (Manchester City)

Forwards

• Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth)
• Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
• Igor Thiago (Brentford)

The selection underlines Arsenal's continued rise as a dominant force in English football, while Manchester City's strong representation reflects another successful campaign under Pep Guardiola. The inclusion of Bruno Fernandes, Antoine Semenyo, and Igor Thiago also highlights the outstanding individual performances that captured the attention of their peers throughout the season.

With the team chosen by players themselves, the debate is already underway among football fans over who deserved inclusion and who was unfortunate to miss out.

Do you agree with the players' choices, or are there stars who should have made the cut?

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