Arsenal haven taken a huge step towards their first Premier League title success since the 2003-04 season after opening up a nine-point lead on closest rivals Manchester City. The Gunners have been on a two-decade drought after their remarkable 'Invincible' campaign under Arsene Wenger 22 years ago.
Now, Mikel Arteta looks set to become only the second man to have played in the Premier League before going on to win the division as a manager. The likes of Declan Rice, Gabriel Magalhaes and David Raya have been integral for the north Londoners in their pursuit of glory.
While those men, along with several others, have been key members of Arteta's starting XI whenever available, the same can't be said for everyone. There are a select few who have been involved with the first-team who may not be given a mandatory winners' medal.
Arsenal Players Not Guaranteed a Premier League Medal
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Two youngsters who have been involved for Arsenal in domestic cup competitions may not necessarily receive a medal if the Gunners win the Premier League. Defender Marli Salmon and goalkeeper Tommy Setford have both featured in the FA Cup this season, but are yet to be involved in the league.
As per current Premier League rules, the club that wins the title are only required to hand out medals to every player who played five or more games in the division. That would mean both young players could miss out.
One young player who has been stealing all the headlines in recent weeks is 16-year-old Max Dowman. The English gem even netted his first-ever Premier League goal against Everton recently, but that was only his third appearance in the competition.
There's every chance Dowman will be given an additional two games, especially if the Gunners secure the title with games to spare. The most senior member of Arteta's squad who may not receive a mandatory medal is Kepa Arrizabalaga.
The Spaniard has yet to play in the league since securing a summer transfer to the Emirates Stadium. He's been the first-choice goalkeeper in the cup competitions, but hasn't been able to sneak in ahead of the impressive Raya in the league.
Premier League Rule Means Arsenal Have the Power
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The saving grace for anyone who doesn't meet the five-game threshold is that the champions are given 40 medals in total to hand out to the manager, staff and players as they see fit. The only rule is that players with the minimum number of games are entitled to a medal.
However, any additional medals being awarded can only be presented with the consent of the Premier League Board. Any such request would only be granted if 39 or more players had featured more than five times, which isn't very likely at all.
Max Dowman of Arsenal Related
The 'Unbelievable' Reason Max Dowman is Not Allowed in Arsenal's Dressing Room
He might be one of the most talented teenagers on the planet, but the dressing room is off-limits for him.
So Dowman, Salmon, Telford and Kepa could all face a nervous wait to see if their efforts are rewarded, even without hitting the five-match benchmark. Arsenal have 22 first-team members who have already exceeded five Premier League outings.
Statistics and regulations are courtesy of the Premier League. Correct as of 17-03-26.