Meta Description: Five Arsenal stars make the 2026 PFA Premier League Team of the Year after helping the Gunners win their first league title in 22 years.
David Raya, Jurriën Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães and Declan Rice were included in the prestigious eleven, chosen by votes from fellow professional players.
The selections underline Arsenal’s strength as Mikel Arteta’s side won the Premier League for the first time in 22 years. No club supplied more players.
Arsenal finished with 85 points, seven ahead of Manchester City, after winning 26 times across 38 matches in the championship.
According to Arsenal’s official announcement, the five stars were rewarded for consistency, defensive excellence and their influence throughout the championship campaign.
David Raya Claims His Place
Raya returned to the PFA Team of the Year after previously featuring in 2023/24. The goalkeeper secured his third consecutive Premier League Golden Glove as Arsenal recorded 19 clean sheets, four more than the next-best side.
His composure, distribution and shot-stopping provided security behind the league’s strongest defence.
Saliba, Gabriel and Timber Dominate Defence
Three of the four selected defenders were Arsenal players, reflecting the organisation behind their success.
Saliba made the PFA Team of the Year for a fourth consecutive time. He became the first Arsenal player since Thierry Henry to do so four times. Henry made six consecutive teams between 2000/01 and 2005/06.
Gabriel was selected for the third season running after helping Arsenal concede only 27 league goals. The Brazilian combined physical authority and aerial strength with a threat from attacking set pieces.
Timber received his first selection after making 30 Premier League appearances. The versatile Dutch defender scored twice against Leeds United and netted the winning goal against Chelsea in March 2026.
Declan Rice Earns Third Consecutive Selection
Rice completed Arsenal’s five-player group and appeared in the PFA eleven for a third straight season.
The midfielder missed only two Premier League matches and was voted Arsenal’s Player of the Season for the second consecutive campaign. His defensive coverage, passing and set-piece delivery made him central to Arteta’s system.
Rice provided balance between defence and attack while producing decisive contributions in difficult fixtures. His selection confirms his standing among the Premier League’s most respected midfielders.
Full 2025/26 PFA Premier League Team of the Year
The Professional Footballers’ Association confirmed the complete eleven:
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: Erling Haaland — Manchester City; Antoine Semenyo — Manchester City; Igor Thiago — Brentford.
Manchester City supplied four representatives: O’Reilly, Cherki, Haaland and Semenyo. Manchester United captain Fernandes and Brentford striker Thiago completed the side. The PFA also named Fernandes as the men’s Players’ Player of the Year and O’Reilly as Young Player of the Year, reinforcing the breadth of recognition across the league.
What It Means for Ugandan Arsenal Supporters
For Arsenal supporters in Kampala, Jinja, Gulu, Mbarara and elsewhere in Uganda, the selections offer another reason to celebrate. Recognition for five Gunners from fellow professionals collectively reinforces Arsenal’s long-awaited championship and the quality behind it.
Across matchday gatherings, their selection will fuel discussions about whether Arsenal can sustain these standards while defending the Premier League crown successfully during the new campaign.
The list also shows that Arsenal’s success was built on structure rather than one superstar. Raya protected the goal, Saliba and Gabriel controlled central defence, Timber supplied versatility, and Rice connected every phase.
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Verdict
Five Arsenal selections provide fitting recognition for England’s champions. Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel and Rice formed the dependable core of a balanced team that combined defensive resilience with control and consistency.
The PFA vote carries extra importance because it reflects the judgement of fellow professionals. For Arsenal and their Ugandan supporters, the announcement celebrates a historic title-winning season and confirms that the club’s leading performers earned admiration across the league.
