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Ex-Arsenal player who could 'never imagine leaving' joins Arteta among The Best FIFA nominees

Several current and former Arsenal figures feature among the 2025 The Best FIFA nominees.

The 2025 nominations have been confirmed by FIFA on Thursday evening.

There are few surprises when looking at who has been nominated for The Best FIFA Men’s Player, with the likes of Raphinha and Ousmane Dembele up for the prestigious award.

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Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah are the only Premier League players nominated, but Arsenal do have a number of key personnel nominated for other prizes.

⭐ Your nominees for #TheBest FIFA Men's Player 2025.

🗳️ Cast your vote now!

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 6, 2025

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Mikel Arteta and William Saliba among Arsenal’s The Best FIFA nominees

Mikel Arteta has been nominated for The Best FIFA Men’s Coach alongside the likes of Liverpool’s Arne Slot and Enzo Maresca.

Elsewhere, a number of Gunners players could earn a place in The Best FIFA Men’s 11.

Summer signing Viktor Gyokeres features among the attacker nominees this year on the back of a prolific spell with Sporting and a promising start to life at Arsenal.

Bukayo Saka did not make the cut, while Declan Rice is included in the list of midfielders.

In defence, the starring centre-back duo of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba have earned nominations.

Meanwhile, Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya and their ex-shot-stopper, Wojciech Szczesny, are included in the goalkeeper list.

👕 Your nominees for #TheBest FIFA Men's 11.

Who's getting your vote?

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 6, 2025

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What Wojciech Szczesny said about leaving Arsenal

Szczesny began his senior career with Arsenal on the back of a move from Legia Warsaw’s youth ranks in 2006.

The now 35-year-old made 181 appearances in North London, keeping 72 clean sheets and conceding 194 goals.

After a loan spell with AS Roma, he left the Emirates permanently in 2017 to sign for Juventus.

On the back of his exit, Szczesny admitted that he never thought he would leave the Gunners.

As per the Independent, he said: “Accepting that my time with Arsenal was over was difficult because I never imagined leaving. I supported them as a kid and I got to play for the club of my dreams, but life goes on.

“It was the right thing for me and both clubs and, while one side of me found it difficult to say it was over, the other said let’s just get it done.”

After several years in Turin and a short career break, the Polish international joined FC Barcelona in October 2024.

He has so far made 38 appearances for Barcelona, kept 14 clean sheets, and played a key role in their La Liga, Copa del Rey and Supercopa de Espana success last season.

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