The European Team of the Season has been announced.
Two Arsenal players made the cut.
David Raya and Gabriel were included after a campaign built on defensive control, but the wider selection has already sparked debate. Not because of who made it, but because of who did not.
Declan Rice and William Saliba are both absent.
That decision feels difficult to justify when placed against Arsenal’s title-winning season and the roles both players carried across it.
It also comes at a time when attention around the squad remains high, particularly following recent Arsenal updates around selection and availability heading into the final fixtures.
Declan Rice snubbed despite defining Arsenal’s title-winning midfield
Declan Rice was not just part of Arsenal’s midfield.
He defined it.
Rice led Arsenal for ball recoveries across the Premier League season, while also ranking highly for progressive carries and duels won. That balance allowed Arsenal to control transitions without sacrificing forward momentum.
Very few midfielders offer both.
The selected trio of Vitinha, João Neves and Federico Valverde all operate within strong systems. However, their roles are more specialised. Vitinha dictates tempo. Neves reads play from deep. Valverde drives forward with intensity.
Rice combines those responsibilities.
That difference matters.
Arsenal’s structure relies on Rice covering space behind attacks, stepping into duels early, and progressing possession when required. Without him, the balance between defence and attack becomes far harder to maintain.
That is why his omission stands out.
It suggests that influence across phases has been valued less than stylistic clarity within a single role.
William Saliba overlooked despite Arsenal’s defensive numbers
William Saliba’s exclusion raises similar concerns.
Arsenal conceded among the lowest number of goals in Europe this season. That defensive record was not built on volume defending, but on control, positioning and structure.
Saliba sits at the centre of that system.
He allows Arsenal to hold a high line consistently, managing space in behind while also progressing the ball cleanly into midfield. That combination reduces pressure on the rest of the team.
The selected defence includes Marquinhos and Gabriel.
Marquinhos has been part of a dominant PSG side, but his role differs. PSG control possession for long stretches, which limits defensive exposure and reduces the frequency of recovery situations.
Saliba operates under more pressure.
Arsenal’s system requires defenders to manage transitions more actively, particularly in high-risk phases. That places greater emphasis on decision-making, positioning and recovery speed.
Those factors are harder to measure.
But they are central to defensive performance.
Midfield selections highlight a wider issue in how impact is judged
The midfield selections reveal a broader pattern.
Players included tend to operate within dominant possession structures where roles are clearly defined. That makes performance easier to evaluate through both data and visual impact.
Rice does not benefit from that clarity.
His role is fluid by necessity. He shifts between defensive cover, ball progression and structural balance depending on the phase of play.
That makes his contribution harder to isolate.
However, difficulty in measurement should not reduce value. In many cases, it increases it.
This is especially relevant when considering how Arsenal have evolved this season, with players adapting roles depending on availability and tactical demands, as seen in Arsenal’s recent squad decisions across the final stretch.
𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻
◾️ David Raya
◾️ Achraf Hakimi
◾️ Marquinhos
◾️ Gabriel
◾️ Nuno Mendes
◾️ Federico Valverde
◾️ Vitinha
◾️ Joao Neves
◾️ Michael Olise
◾️ Lamine Yamal
◾️ Harry Kane
Five Paris Saint-Germain players, two Arsenal… pic.twitter.com/yCTjDSHJJV
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) May 22, 2026
Why these omissions matter ahead of Arsenal’s next phase
Selections like this do not change outcomes.
Arsenal are Premier League champions regardless.
However, they do shape perception.
Rice and Saliba were central to how Arsenal controlled matches, particularly in high-pressure moments across both domestic and European competition. Leaving them out suggests that certain types of influence are still undervalued.
That matters moving forward.
Because as Arsenal prepare for what comes next, including major fixtures such as Arsenal vs PSG, the importance of players who control structure rather than simply stand out individually will only increase.
Final thought
There is a difference between visibility and importance.
Some players attract attention through moments.
Others define how a team functions.
Declan Rice and William Saliba fall into the second category.
Their absence from this team does not change their impact.
But it does highlight how that impact is still not always judged correctly.