Arsenal players and fans are celebrating a first Premier League title in 22 years with pundits Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker having their say
Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker agree on Arsenal’s three best players this season after their Premier League title win. The Gunners are top-flight champions for the first time since 2004.
Mikel Arteta’s side have ended 22 years of hurt after three successive runners-up finishes – and could make it a double with the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain to come. Arteta’s men will lift the Premier League trophy at Crystal Palace on Sunday, with the Gunners likely to rest several stars ahead of their European final against PSG on May 30.
And both Shearer and Lineker have had their say on Arsenal’s title win, with both agreeing that David Raya, Gabriel Magalhaes and Declan Rice have been the standout players.
Speaking on the latest Rest is Football podcast, Shearer said: “I think the three outstanding players for Arsenal have been this season, from back to front, David Raya, the goalkeeper, Gabriel, and Declan Rice.
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“I just think those three for me have been the outstanding players, week after week after week, delivering performance after performance, when it got tough, and there are periods during the season where you have to knuckle down, and you have to accept the criticism.
“You have to understand you’re not playing well, but I just think those three, for most of the season, I should say, have been the brilliant players, the outstanding players, the go-to players.
“I would have those three, one, two and three. Probably Raya player of the season for me.”
Lineker added: “All three of them would be worthy. The only other player I’d add in there, outside of them, for what he’s achieved on an individual basis, would be Bruno Fernandes.
“But I think it’ll probably go for an Arsenal player now.”
Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith, a two-time title-winner, was among those to heap praise on the current Gunners squad.
Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: “Brilliant, brilliant, fully deserved. Obviously, they’ve had their moments in the last few seasons where they’ve come second, but you deserve to win it if you finish top.
“They’ve had the best defence. They haven’t had the best attack — you’d probably say City have got the best attack — but, as an overall unit, Mikel Arteta’s done brilliantly well. I’m really pleased for my old club.”
