In the 2023–24 PFA Team of the Year competition, Arsenal defeated Manchester City, a challenger for the Premier League crown.
Despite losing to City in painful fashion on the final day of the previous season, the Gunners had five representatives overall in the final lineup that was unveiled at the glitzy annual PFA Awards presentation on Tuesday night at the Opera House in Manchester.
After an incredible Golden Glove-winning season on loan from Brentford, which was later made permanent for a cost of £27 million, David Raya was chosen as the starting goalkeeper. William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, Arsenal’s first-choice center-back duo, were also selected, along with midfielders Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard, the captain of the Gunners.
The starting lineup for City included England’s Phil Foden, who won the men’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year title on Tuesday, ahead of Haaland, Odegaard, Rodri, Cole Palmer, and Ollie Watkins, along with Kyle Walker in defense, Phil Foden, Rodri, and goal machine Erling Haaland.
Virgil van Dijk, the captain of Liverpool, completed the defense, while England striker Watkins and Aston Villa’s players made up the attack.
Palmer was a major omission from the PFA Team of the Year after winning the PFA Young Player of the Year award for men earlier on Tuesday. Saka, the winner of last year’s award, was also a major omission from the Team of the Year after he played a key role in Arsenal’s latest title bid with 20 goals and 14 assists. Palmer had a dream debut season at Chelsea, including 27 goals and 15 assists across all competitions.
