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Arsenal Player of the Season

{{Short description|Award}}

{{Featured list}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}

{{Infobox sports award

| name = Arsenal Player of the Season

| image = 2021 - Centre Stage HM3 3974 (51649018266).jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = Thierry Henry has won the award four times, the most of any player

| sport = Association football

| league =

| competition =

| discipline =

| awardedfor = being the best performing Arsenal player over the course of a season

| english =

| localnames =

| nickname =

| sponsor =

| location =

| country =

| presenter = Arsenal F.C.

| first = {{start date and age|1967|df=yes}}

| number = 58 (as of 2024)

| last =

| firstwinner = {{fbaicon|SCO}} Frank McLintock

| mostwins = {{fbaicon|FRA}} Thierry Henry (4 times)

| mostrecent = {{fbaicon|NOR}} Martin Ødegaard
(2023–24)

| url =

}}

The Arsenal Player of the Season award is an official award given by Arsenal Football Club to the best performing player from the club over the course of the season. The award is given based on votes by Arsenal fans on the club's website,{{Cite news |date=4 May 2019 |title=Lacazette wins Arsenal Player of the Year award |publisher=Goal |url=https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/lacazette-wins-arsenal-player-of-the-year-award/16xtsz7g3k6df14gdkq0qvqiv0 |url-status=live |access-date=16 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016103534/https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/lacazette-wins-arsenal-player-of-the-year-award/16xtsz7g3k6df14gdkq0qvqiv0 |archive-date=16 October 2022 |quote=}}{{Cite news |date=8 June 2022 |title=Bukayo Saka named Arsenal player of the season |work= |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/c25n0qy9zjyo |url-status=live |access-date=16 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020092239/https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/c25n0qy9zjyo |archive-date=20 October 2022 |quote=}} it was previously based on votes by the Arsenal Supporters' Trust.{{Cite book |last=Maidment |first=Jem |url=https://archive.org/details/officialarsenale0000maid/page/n5/mode/2up |title=The Official Arsenal Encyclopedia |publisher=Hamlyn |year=2006 |isbn=9780600615491 |location=London |pages=148}}

The inaugural award was handed to Frank McLintock in 1967 and it has been presented every season since. The 2015–16 and 2016–17 awards were officially called the Vitality Arsenal Player of the Season Award for sponsorship purposes.{{cite news |date=26 May 2017 |title=Vitality Player of Season – the winner.. |publisher=Arsenal F.C. |url=https://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20170522/vitality-player-of-season-the-winner |url-status=live |access-date=10 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706013559/https://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20170522/vitality-player-of-season-the-winner |archive-date=6 July 2022}}{{Cite news |date=6 May 2016 |title=Vitality Player of the Season |publisher=Arsenal F.C. |url=https://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20160506/vitality-player-of-the-season-vote-now |url-status=live |access-date=16 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020025652/https://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20160506/vitality-player-of-the-season-vote-now |archive-date=20 October 2022}} The award has been given to 42 different players over the course of 58 seasons, with 12 players being awarded on more than one occasion. Of these players, only Thierry Henry has won the award four times, and he is also the only player to have won the award in three consecutive years. In 1976, Republic of Ireland international Liam Brady became the first Arsenal player from outside the United Kingdom to win the award and in 1997, Dutch international Dennis Bergkamp became the first player from outside the British Isles to receive it. Following the 2014−15 season, Chilean international Alexis Sánchez was voted to become the first player from outside of Europe to win the award.{{Cite news |last=James |first=Josh |date=31 May 2022 |title='I played for the club of my dreams' |publisher=Arsenal F.C. |url=https://www.arsenal.com/alexandre-lacazette-interview-premier-league-news-arsenal |url-status=live |access-date=12 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520051923/https://www.arsenal.com/alexandre-lacazette-interview-premier-league-news-arsenal |archive-date=20 May 2023}}

Martin Ødegaard is the most recent winner of the award, following the 2023–24 Arsenal season.

Award recipients

File:Frank McLintock (1970).png won the inaugural award in 1967.]]

File:Geordie Armstrong Fa Cup.jpg won the award in 1970.]]

File:Alan Smith 2014.jpg won the 1989 award, being the league's top scorer.{{Cite news |last=Miller |first=Nick |date=9 February 2017 |title=Golden Goal: Alan Smith for Arsenal v Liverpool (1989) |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/feb/09/golden-goal-alan-smith-for-arsenal-v-liverpool-1989 |url-status=live |access-date=16 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016135134/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/feb/09/golden-goal-alan-smith-for-arsenal-v-liverpool-1989 |archive-date=16 October 2022}} ]]

File:Jens Lehmann.jpg won the award in 2006.]]

File:Fabregas 4.jpg won the award in 2007 and 2010.]]

File:Robin Van Persie August 2007.jpg won the award in 2009 and 2012.]]

File:ARS-OM 1314 Ramsey free kick (cropped).jpg won the award in 2014 and 2018.]]

Players in bold are still playing for Arsenal{{Cite web |date=24 May 2023 |title=Icons that have won our Men's Player of the Season |url=https://www.arsenal.com/news/icons-have-won-our-mens-player-season |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525160019/https://www.arsenal.com/news/icons-have-won-our-mens-player-season |archive-date=25 May 2023 |access-date=28 May 2024 |publisher=Arsenal F.C.}}{{Cite web |last=Rogers |first=Jonathon |date=7 June 2024 |title=Odegaard retains men's Player of the Season award |url=https://www.arsenal.com/news/odegaard-retains-mens-player-season-award |access-date=8 June 2024 |publisher=Arsenal F.C.}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

|+ {{sronly|Award recipients}}

! scope="col" |Season

! scope="col" |Player

! scope="col" |Nationality

! scope="col" |Position

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1966–67

|{{Sortname|Frank|McLintock}}

|{{flagu|Scotland}}

|{{sort|2|Defender}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1967–68

|{{Sortname|John|Radford|John Radford (footballer)}}

|{{flagu|England}}

|{{sort|4|Forward}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1968–69

|{{Sortname|Peter|Simpson|Peter Simpson (footballer, born 1945)}}

|{{flagu|England}}

|{{sort|2|Defender}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1969–70

|{{Sortname|George|Armstrong|George Armstrong (footballer)}}

|{{flagu|England}}

|{{sort|4|Forward}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1970−71

|{{Sortname|Bob|Wilson|Bob Wilson (footballer, born 1941)}}

|{{flagu|Scotland}}

|{{sort|1|Goalkeeper}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1971–72

|{{Sortname|Pat|Rice}}

|{{flagu|Northern Ireland}}

|{{sort|2|Defender}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1972–73

|{{Sortname|John|Radford|John Radford (footballer)}} (2)

|{{flagu|England}}

|{{sort|4|Forward}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1973–74

|{{Sortname|Alan|Ball|Alan Ball Jr.}}

|{{flagu|England}}

|{{sort|3|Midfielder}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1974–75

|{{Sortname|Jimmy|Rimmer|Jimmy Rimmer}}

|{{flagu|England}}

|{{sort|1|Goalkeeper}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1975–76

|{{Sortname|Liam|Brady}}

|{{flagu|Republic of Ireland}}

|{{sort|3|Midfielder}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1976–77

|{{Sortname|Frank|Stapleton}}

|{{flagu|Republic of Ireland}}

|{{sort|4|Forward}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1977–78

|{{Sortname|Liam|Brady}} (2)

|{{flagu|Republic of Ireland}}

|{{sort|3|Midfielder}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1978–79

|{{Sortname|Liam|Brady}} (3)

|{{flagu|Republic of Ireland}}

|{{sort|3|Midfielder}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1979–80

|{{Sortname|Frank|Stapleton}} (2)

|{{flagu|Republic of Ireland}}

|{{sort|4|Forward}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1980–81

|{{Sortname|Kenny|Sansom}}

|{{flagu|England}}

|{{sort|2|Defender}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1981–82

|{{Sortname|John|Hollins}}

|{{flagu|England}}

|{{sort|2|Defender}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1982–83

|{{Sortname|Tony|Woodcock|Tony Woodcock (footballer)}}

|{{flagu|England}}

|{{sort|4|Forward}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1983–84

|{{Sortname|Charlie|Nicholas}}

|{{flagu|Scotland}}

|{{sort|4|Forward}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1984–85

|{{Sortname|Stewart|Robson}}

|{{flagu|England}}

|{{sort|3|Midfielder}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1985–86

|{{Sortname|David|Rocastle}}

|{{flagu|England}}

|{{sort|3|Midfielder}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1986–87

|{{Sortname|Tony|Adams}}

|{{flagu|England}}

|{{sort|2|Defender}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1987–88

|{{Sortname|Michael|Thomas|Michael Thomas (footballer, born 1967)}}

|{{flagu|England}}

|{{sort|3|Midfielder}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1988–89

|{{Sortname|Alan|Smith|Alan Smith (footballer, born 1962)}}

|{{flagu|England}}

|{{sort|4|Forward}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1989–90

|{{Sortname|Tony|Adams}} (2)

|{{flagu|England}}

|{{sort|2|Defender}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1990–91

|{{Sortname|Steve|Bould}}

|{{flagu|England}}

|{{sort|2|Defender}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1991–92

|{{Sortname|Ian|Wright}}

|{{flagu|England}}

|{{sort|4|Forward}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1992–93

|{{Sortname|Ian|Wright}} (2)

|{{flagu|England}}

|{{sort|4|Forward}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1993–94

|{{Sortname|Tony|Adams}} (3)

|{{flagu|England}}

|{{sort|2|Defender}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1994–95

|{{Sortname|David|Seaman}}

|{{flagu|England}}

|{{sort|1|Goalkeeper}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1995–96

|{{Sortname|Martin|Keown}}

|{{flagu|England}}

|{{sort|2|Defender}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1996–97

|{{Sortname|Dennis|Bergkamp}}

|{{flagu|Netherlands}}

|{{sort|4|Forward}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1997–98

|{{Sortname|Ray|Parlour}}

|{{flagu|England}}

|{{sort|3|Midfielder}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1998–99

|{{Sortname|Nigel|Winterburn}}

|{{flagu|England}}

|{{sort|2|Defender}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |1999–2000

|{{Sortname|Thierry|Henry}}

|{{flagu|France|variant=1974}}

|{{sort|4|Forward}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |2000–01

|{{Sortname|Patrick|Vieira}}

|{{flagu|France|variant=1974}}

|{{sort|3|Midfielder}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |2001–02

|{{Sortname|Robert|Pires}}

|{{flagu|France|variant=1974}}

|{{sort|4|Forward}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |2002–03

|{{Sortname|Thierry|Henry}} (2)

|{{flagu|France|variant=1974}}

|{{sort|4|Forward}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |2003–04

|{{Sortname|Thierry|Henry}} (3)

|{{flagu|France|variant=1974}}

|{{sort|4|Forward}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |2004–05

|{{Sortname|Thierry|Henry}} (4)

|{{flagu|France|variant=1974}}

|{{sort|4|Forward}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |2005–06

|{{Sortname|Jens|Lehmann}}

|{{flagu|Germany}}

|{{sort|1|Goalkeeper}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |2006–07

|{{Sortname|Cesc|Fàbregas}}

|{{flagu|Spain}}

|{{sort|3|Midfielder}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |2007–08

|{{Sortname|Mathieu|Flamini}}

|{{flagu|France|variant=1974}}

|{{sort|3|Midfielder}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |2008–09

|{{Sortname|Robin|van Persie}}

|{{flagu|Netherlands}}

|{{sort|4|Forward}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |2009–10

|{{Sortname|Cesc|Fàbregas}} (2)

|{{flagu|Spain}}

|{{sort|3|Midfielder}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |2010–11

|{{Sortname|Jack|Wilshere}}

|{{flagu|England}}

|{{sort|3|Midfielder}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |2011–12

|{{Sortname|Robin|van Persie}} (2)

|{{flagu|Netherlands}}

|{{sort|4|Forward}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |2012–13

|{{Sortname|Santi|Cazorla}}

|{{flagu|Spain}}

|{{sort|3|Midfielder}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |2013–14

|{{Sortname|Aaron|Ramsey}}

|{{flagu|Wales}}

|{{sort|3|Midfielder}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |2014–15

|{{Sortname|Alexis|Sánchez}}

|{{flagu|Chile}}

|{{sort|4|Forward}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |2015–16

|{{Sortname|Mesut|Özil}}

|{{flagu|Germany}}

|{{sort|3|Midfielder}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |2016–17

|{{Sortname|Alexis|Sánchez}} (2)

|{{flagu|Chile}}

|{{sort|4|Forward}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |2017–18

|{{Sortname|Aaron|Ramsey}} (2)

|{{flagu|Wales}}

|{{sort|3|Midfielder}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |2018–19

|{{Sortname|Alexandre|Lacazette}}

|{{flagu|France|variant=1974}}

|{{sort|4|Forward}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |2019–20

|{{Sortname|Pierre-Emerick|Aubameyang}}

|{{flagu|Gabon}}

|{{sort|4|Forward}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |2020–21

|{{Sortname|Bukayo|Saka}}

|{{flagu|England}}

|{{sort|3|Midfielder}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |2021–22

|{{Sortname|Bukayo|Saka}} (2)

|{{flagu|England}}

|{{sort|3|Midfielder}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |2022–23

|{{Sortname|Martin|Ødegaard}}

|{{flagu|Norway}}

|{{sort|3|Midfielder}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |2023–24

|{{Sortname|Martin|Ødegaard}} (2)

|{{flagu|Norway}}

|{{sort|3|Midfielder}}

=Multiple wins=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+ {{sronly|Players with multiple wins}}

! scope="col" |Rank

! scope="col" |Winner

! scope="col" |Total wins

! scope="col" |Years won

style="text-align:center;" |1

! scope="row" |{{Flag athlete|Thierry Henry|FRA}}

| style="text-align:center;" |4

|2000, 2003, 2004, 2005

rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |2

! scope="row" |{{Flag athlete|Liam Brady|IRL}}

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |3

|1976, 1978, 1979

scope="row" |{{Flag athlete|Tony Adams|ENG}}

|1987, 1990, 1994

rowspan="9" style="text-align:center;" |3

! scope="row" |{{Flag athlete|John Radford|ENG}}

| rowspan="9" style="text-align:center;" |2

|1968, 1973

scope="row" |{{Flag athlete|Frank Stapleton|IRL}}

|1977, 1980

scope="row" |{{Flag athlete|Ian Wright|ENG}}

|1992, 1993

scope="row" |{{Flag athlete|Cesc Fàbregas|ESP}}

|2007, 2010

scope="row" |{{Flag athlete|Robin van Persie|NED}}

|2009, 2012

scope="row" |{{Flag athlete|Alexis Sánchez|CHI}}

|2015, 2017

scope="row" |{{Flag athlete|Aaron Ramsey|WAL}}

|2014, 2018

scope="row" |{{Flag athlete|Bukayo Saka|ENG}}

|2021, 2022

scope="row" |{{Flag athlete|Martin Ødegaard|NOR}}

|2023, 2024

=Wins by nationality=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+ {{sronly|Wins by nationality}}

! scope="col" |Nationality

! scope="col" |{{Abbr|Wins|number of wins}}

scope="row" |{{Flagu|England}}

|style="text-align:center" |26

scope="row" |{{Flagu|France}}

|style="text-align:center" |8

scope="row" |{{Flagu|Republic of Ireland}}

|style="text-align:center" |5

scope="row" |{{Flagu|Netherlands}}

|style="text-align:center" |3

scope="row" |{{Flagu|Scotland}}

|style="text-align:center" |3

scope="row" |{{Flagu|Spain}}

|style="text-align:center" |3

scope="row" |{{Flagu|Chile}}

|style="text-align:center" |2

scope="row" |{{Flagu|Germany}}

|style="text-align:center" |2

scope="row" |{{Flagu|Norway}}

|style="text-align:center" |2

scope="row" |{{Flagu|Wales}}

|style="text-align:center" |2

scope="row" |{{Flagu|Gabon}}

|style="text-align:center" |1

scope="row" |{{Flagu|Northern Ireland}}

|style="text-align:center" |1

=Wins by playing position=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+ {{sronly|Wins by playing position}}

! scope="col" |Position

! scope="col" |{{Abbr|Wins|number of wins}}

scope="row" |Goalkeeper

|style="text-align:center" |4

scope="row" |Defender

|style="text-align:center" |11

scope="row" |Midfielder

|style="text-align:center" |20

scope="row" |Forward

|style="text-align:center" |22

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

Further reading

{{refbegin}}

  • {{Cite book |last=Brennan |first=Dan |url=https://archive.org/details/officialarsenalm0000bren/page/90/mode/2up |title=The official Arsenal miscellany |publisher=Hamlyn |year=2004 |isbn=9780600612599 |location=London |pages=91 |language=en}}
  • {{Cite book |last=Seager |first=Dave |title=Geordie Armstrong: On the Wing |date=20 November 2014 |publisher=Legends Publishing |isbn=9781906796549 |pages=16–17 |language=en}}

{{refend}}

{{Arsenal F.C. Player of the Season}}

{{Arsenal F.C.}}

{{Lists of football players in England}}

{{Portal bar|English football|England|London|||}}

Category:Arsenal F.C.-related lists

Category:Football player of the year awards in England by club

Category:Association football player non-biographical articles

Category:Awards established in 1967