At a Glance:
Patrick Vieira believes Arsenal star has outperformed Bruno Fernandes.
Vieira’s vote for Premier League Player of The Season award.
Fernandes could win the award.
Bruno Fernandes has arguably been the best player in the Premier League this season but several Arsenal players are right up there with the midfielder according to many.
Fernandes beat Declan Rice to the FWA Award for Football of The Year but the Portuguese international being picked divided opinion.
Others generally feel that the Manchester United captain has been tremendous but not better than some Arsenal players, with Ian Wright claiming Rice has outperformed Fernandes.
Gary Neville opted for Fernandes as his Premier League Player of The Season when discussing the potetial winner of the award but Patrick Vieira opted for the in-form David Raya.
Patrick Vieira claims David Raya has been better than Bruno Fernandes this season
On Sky Sports, Neville claimed Fernandes has been outstanding for United and deserves such an accolade for being a part of a struggling side under Ruben Amorim for the first half of the season.
“I could look like a fool in the next few weeks if Declan Rice could end up with and Gabriel with a Premier League and the Champions League double. But at the point where I was asked a week or so ago, I just thought Bruno deserved it for playing and persisting in a struggling team for half a season and then just excelling the way he has.”
However, Patrick Vieira disagreed, replying: “Not at all. Sorry, Gary!”
"Raya has to be player of the season" 👏
Patrick Vieira on David Raya's performance for Arsenal this season. pic.twitter.com/DB2Gv0Dvx3
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 18, 2026
Vieira, who praised Raya by claiming he would start for his ‘Invincibles’ side picked the goalkeeper over Fernandes.
“I will go with, of course, one of the Arsenal players and David Raya has to be the Player of The Season. I think he was outstanding from the first game until the end of the season. I think he was really impressive. He made some really important saves, he won points for Arsenal.
“So, for me, I don’t see any other players quite outstanding, I will say it. We’re always going for those forwards or creative players. Why not a defender and why not a goalkeeper and I think David will have my vote.”
David Raya’s chances of winning Premier League Player of The Season award
Despite Vieira’s explanation, history suggests that creative players like Fernandes win such awards over a goalkeeper like Raya.
So much so that aside from Peter Schmeichel in 1996, no goalkeeper has ever won the Premier League Player of The Season award. Two shotstoppers have taken home the PFA Players’ Player of the Year accolade.
Pat Jennings- Tottenham Hotspur, 1975/1976 season
Peter Shilton- Nottingham Forest, 1977/1978 season
The names in question are Pat Jennings and Peter Shilton in the 1970s.
However, no goalkeeper has won the award since the Premier League’s inception in 1992.
Srinivas Sadhanand
Srinivas Sadhanand is a writer for Read Arsenal and Read Man City, with over eight years of experience as a sports journalist. He has worked for established companies such as GRV Media, The Economic Times, Urban Pitch and Sportskeeda among several others. From interview athletes to writing detailed tactical pieces and covering the impact streetwear and music in football, he has many strings to his bow as a journalist. Being a lifelong Manchester City fan, he specialises in writing about them and the Premier League in particular. Away from the desk, he loves watching European football, cricket, films, listening to music and exploring new foods.
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