In a recent turn of events, former England and Barcelona striker, Gary Lineker, has overlooked Arsenal's key player Declan Rice when selecting his Premier League Player of the Season. This comes as a surprise to many sports fans and pundits alike given Rice's influential role in Arsenal's current season.
Declan Rice has emerged as one of the most important players for Arsenal this season. His performance was instrumental in securing a vital 2-1 win over Chelsea that restored Arsenal’s five-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table.
Rice showcased his skills by providing an assist for Jurrien Timber’s winning goal while also successfully thwarting multiple Chelsea attacks. His contributions have been consistent throughout this season with four goals and 11 assists recorded in 39 matches across all competitions. Many sports enthusiasts believe that if Arsenal manages to clinch the Premier League title, it would be largely due to Rice’s exceptional performance on-field which could potentially earn him the coveted Player of The Season title.
Lineker's unexpected choice
Despite these impressive statistics and widespread acclaim, Gary Lineker chose to snub Declan Rice during his recent appearance on The Rest Is Football podcast. Instead, he picked out Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes as someone who deserves this accolade.
Gary Lineker, Premier League legend, said:
"When Bruno Fernandes gets a grip of that game… You talk about spaces, and where he goes, he’s so clever. When he crosses, he goes sort of inside-left channel. He doesn’t just go in the middle, he sees where everyone is, he always uses his full-back or his winger and then they play back to him where he’s got that time to cross.
"If you actually look at his positioning, he’s always scanning about, where the best places are to be, where he can affect the game. You see him on the left wing, you see him on the right wing… what a brain! I think he’s the player of the season for me. I know they’ll probably give it to someone that’s going to win something."
Lineker did acknowledge that if Arsenal becomes champions, there is a possibility for Rice to win Player Of The Season award. He also mentioned Erling Haaland from Manchester City as another potential candidate should he inspire his team towards victory.
Gary Lineker added:
"For me, it’s probably him or maybe Declan Rice if Arsenal go on and manage to clinch the title. I suppose the only other one, if he came back and started banging in all the goals and won City the title, it might be Erling Haaland again.
"But at the moment, for me, to do what he’s (Bruno Fernandes) done this season… and he was still the standout player even when they were going through a rotten spell when they were really struggling under Ruben Amorim. I think he’s got such a great footballing brain and technique. What a player, what a player!"
The race for Premier League Player Of The Season is heating up with several deserving candidates making their mark on English football this year. While many fans might feel disappointed by Lineker’s snubbing of Declan Rice despite his stellar performance, it's important to remember that the final decision will be influenced by the team’s overall success in the league. As we approach the end of this thrilling season, all eyes will be on these top players and their respective teams. Whether it's Rice, Fernandes or Haaland who ultimately takes home the accolade, one thing is for sure - they have all left an indelible mark on this season of Premier League football.
