- Man Utd’s Bruno Fernandes wins Premier League award
- Arsenal fans argue against the decision
- Some feel Declan Rice should have won
Bruno Fernandes has won the Premier League’s Player of the Season award and it’s fair to say it’s caused a stir. The Manchester United captain has enjoyed a spectacular campaign, making history along the way.
The 31-year-old provided his 20th assist in the league in last weekend’s 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest. He now jointly holds the record for the most assists in a single campaign alongside Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry.
Fernandes will end the season trophyless and there are some, especially Arsenal fans, who feel that means he doesn’t deserve to be winning awards. He picked up the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year award last week.
Another Fernandes award infuriates Arsenal
Fernandes has now been crowned the Premier League’s Player of the Year, in recognition of his incredible exploits. He sits top of the rankings for the most chances created (124), most chances created from open-play (88), most big chances created (30) and most through balls-completed (14).
This didn’t go down too well with Arsenal supporters who argue that one of their players deserves such awards. The Gunners have been crowned champions with one game to spare following Manchester City’s midweek draw against Bournemouth.
Piers Morgan, a fan of the North London club, responded on X: “Ridiculous… (Declan Rice) should have won this. Absolute travesty that someone whose team never once competed for the Title wins over a guy whose brilliance all season led us to the Title.”
Another fan responded: “Rice is currently 3rd in Ballon’Dor ranking, will move even higher when he wins the champions league but the English media have decided a man who started playing well 4 months ago ( with 12 set piece assists) is worthy of this? Haaland, Igor Thiago have better G/A than him.”
One wrote: “Now the PR has started for bruno to win the PFA.. this is absurd, the best player should be the league winner as it has always been.”
Another added: “This biased No trophy, just spamming crosses. 8 open assists and he’s the player of the season. You guys just hate Arsenal.”
Fernandes is also the favourite to win the PFA Player of the Year award, which is the most prestigious award in English football. He could even make history before then should he grab an assist against Brighton & Hove Albion in the final game of the season on Sunday.
Bitter Gunners
It’s quite humorous seeing the backlash from Arsenal fans over Fernandes being named the Player of the Year. The argument that the award must go to a title-winner is nonsense.
Even their own club legend, Henry, won the award back in 2005-06 despite not getting his hands on the Premier League. Wayne Rooney also bagged the honour in 2009-10 without the title and so too did Gareth Bale in 2012-13.
If it were an award for a team performance this season then you’d undoubtedly be giving it to Arsenal. But this award is focused solely on an individual’s contribution throughout the campaign and Fernandes has been the best player in the league.
