David Raya, William Saliba, Gabriel, Declan Rice, and Martin Odegaard have been named to the 2023/24 PFA Premier League Team of the Year.
The five Gunners were named to the annual XI by their peers based on their outstanding achievements throughout the previous year, during which we concluded with 89 points and 28 victories.
William and Martin have played for the PFA for the second year in a running, while David, Gabriel, and Declan are all making their debuts. Only the 2003/04 team, which featured six Gunners after our Invincibles season, had more Arsenal presence.
Raya had an excellent debut season at the Emirates Stadium, keeping 16 clean sheets to earn the Golden Glove trophy. The Spaniard made a slew of outstanding saves, and his distribution transformed defense into attack with lightening speed.
William Saliba and Gabriel maintained their rock-solid centre-back partnership that began in the 2022/23 season. The Frenchman was one of only two Premier League outfield players to play every minute in 2023/24, and he scored twice. Brazilian Gabriel was once again in commanding form, as part of a defensive line that allowed only 29 Premier League goals, the fewest of any team in the competition.
Declan Rice’s season in the middle of the park could not have gone better. Our number 41 was a rock after signing from West Ham United, appearing in all 38 league games and scoring memorable goals against Manchester United and Luton Town.
The England international also added assists to his game, assisting on nine goals this season, five of which came directly from set-pieces, as we finished second in back-to-back seasons.
Our skipper completes our lineup following another spectacular campaign. Odegaard was named our club’s Player of the Season after assisting on 10 league goals and scoring eight himself. No player in the league created more opportunities than our captain (88), and his form earned him a nomination for the PFA Player of the Year award.
Champions Manchester City included four players: Golden Boot winner Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Rodri, and Kyle Walker. Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk makes his fourth appearance in the XI, while Ollie Watkins completes the lineup after scoring 19 goals and assisting 13 times to help Aston Villa qualify for the Champions League.
23-24 PFA Premier League Team of the Year
David Raya (Arsenal), Kyle Walker (Man City), William Saliba (Arsenal), Gabriel (Arsenal), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Rodri (Man City), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Martin Odegaard (Arsenal), Phil Foden (Man City), Erling Haaland (Man City), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).