Arsenal’s Premier League title win is the central thread of this season review, with David Raya and Declan Rice emerging as major names in the debate over the campaign’s standout performers. Raya’s third straight Golden Glove, earned with 19 clean sheets, underlines how much Arsenal’s defensive control mattered.
The Guardian’s contributors did not settle on one clear best player. Raya received strong backing, Rice was repeatedly framed as central to Arsenal’s push, and Bruno Fernandes was praised as one of the league’s most compelling outfield players despite Manchester United’s wider turbulence.
The manager discussion followed a similar pattern. Mikel Arteta’s role in ending Arsenal’s wait for the title drew repeated support, while Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth season, Régis Le Bris’s work at Sunderland and Daniel Farke’s turnaround at Leeds were also treated as notable achievements.
For editors, the useful angle is not a definitive awards list but what the spread of opinions says about the season: Arsenal’s success was built on structure and margins, while several clubs outside the title race produced stories strong enough to challenge the champions for attention.


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