Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has been crowned as the Premier League's top player in the inaugural BBC Sport award after helping the club win a first domestic title since 2004
Declan Rice kisses the Premier League trophy
Declan Rice has won a big prize in the BBC Sport awards(Image: Visionhaus)
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Declan Rice has been named as the BBC's Premier League Player of the Year for the role he played in helping Arsenal clinch a first domestic title in more than 20 years.
The Gunners were crowned Premier League champions for the first time since 2004 in the penultimate round of fixtures after Manchester City were beaten by Bournemouth. And after three consecutive years of finishing second in the league, Rice was a major player in their long-awaited title triumph - a feat which has been recognised.
Rice beat Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes to the inaugural award, which was decided by votes from journalists, pundits and experts from the BBC.
The England midfielder's marked a double triumph for Arsenal, with Mikel Arteta being voted Premier League Manager of the Year.
Chris Sutton, Danny Murphy, Dion Dublin, Glenn Murray, Pat Nevin, Nedum Onuoha, Shay Given, Theo Walcott, Ellen White and Fara Williams were among those who voted.
Igor Thiago finished in third place after a stellar season for Brentford, while Manchester City's Nico O'Reilly was named Young Player of the Year.