Arsenal stars Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard have been nominated for the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award, and the duo are contending with Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane, formerly of Tottenham Hotspur, and Manchester City trio Kevin de Bruyne, John Stones and Erling Braut Haaland for the prize.
Saka is also in contention for the PFA Young Player of the Year award, with fellow Gunners Gabriel Martinelli, Haaland, Aston Villa attacker Jacob Ramsey, Brighton and Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson and Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo all in the running.
Players had to be aged 21 or under at the beginning of the season (July 1st 2022) to be nominated for the Young Player of the Year award.
While Saka was brilliant last term, weighing in with 14 goals and 11 assists in 38 Premier League games to help Arsenal finish second, he is not the favourite to win any of the awards despite emerging as the Young Player of the Year at the London Football Awards in May.
Man City star Haaland is likely to pick up both prizes after ending his debut campaign in the English top flight with 36 goals and eight assists in 35 league games to help his side win the Premier League title.
Martinelli was also in fine form last season with 15 goals and five assists in 36 league games, and the Brazilian will look to keep impressing going forward.
Odegaard was named the player of the year at the London Football Awards and also emerged as Arsenal Player of the Season, denying Saka the chance to win it for the third season running.
The Norwegian midfielder ended 2022-23 with 15 goals and seven assists in 37 league games.
The Arsenal skipper, Saka and Martinelli also made the eight-man shortlist for the Premier League Young Player of the Season award in May, with the prize eventually going to Haaland.
Saka and Odegaard were also part of the seven players that were shortlisted for the Premier League Player of the Season award, with the Man City striker also picking up the award.
While the Arsenal trio are unlikely to win any of the PFA awards, the fact that they made the nominees lists speaks volumes, and they will look to help their side go one better and win the league this term.
The North London club started the new season with a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday, with goals from Eddie Nketiah and Saka getting the job done, while Martinelli weighed in with an assist.
