Alan Shearer has identified David Raya, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Declan Rice as Arsenal's 'key men' and 'outstanding' performers during the club's Premier League title-winning season. After three consecutive runner-up finishes, Mikel Arteta's squad finally secured the prestigious trophy, clinching it with a game to spare when Bournemouth held Manchester City to a 1-1 draw at the Vitality Stadium.
Jubilant Celebrations at the Emirates
Fans flocked to the Emirates Stadium to celebrate the club's first league title in 22 years, since Thierry Henry and company triumphed under Arsene Wenger in 2004. Arsenal's players and staff gathered at the training ground to watch City's slip-up, marking a historic moment six years after Arteta's only other major silverware—the FA Cup.
Arteta's Squad Prepares for Champions League Final
Arteta now has the luxury of resting key players for the final Premier League match against Crystal Palace on Sunday. Once celebrations subside, attention turns to the Champions League final against holders Paris Saint-Germain, with hopes of a historic double.
Former England and Newcastle striker Shearer praised Arsenal's efforts on 'The Rest Is Football' podcast, stating: 'They've been the best team, the most consistent team, and they found a way to win when not playing well—that's what champions do. It's been a long, hard, stressful road, but they deserve it.'
Shearer's Outstanding Trio
According to Shearer, Raya, Gabriel, and Rice stood out as Arsenal's 'go-to' players throughout the campaign. 'From back to front: David Raya, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Declan Rice. They delivered week after week, performance after performance, when it got tough,' Shearer said.
He added: 'There are periods where you must knuckle down and accept criticism, but these three were brilliant for most of the season—the outstanding, go-to players.' Shearer also named Raya as his pick for PFA Player of the Year, saying: 'I would have those three in one, two, three... David Raya is the player of the season for me.'
