Leicester and Spurs and dominate Arsenal and Man Utd in PFA team of the year
Eight players from Tottenham and the Foxes make the team - but there's no place for Mesut Ozil
Mesut Ozil was the most glaring omission from the PFA team of the year, released yesterday, which was dominated by the Premier League's two best teams, Leicester and Tottenham Hotspur.
The pair provided eight of the 11 players, with Arsenal, Manchester United and West Ham stars filling the gaps.
The PFA was forced to announce the team early after a copy of the programme for its annual awards ceremony, which takes place on Sunday, was leaked.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Unsurprisingly, English strikers Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy provide the firepower after scoring 46 league goals between them this season and propelling their teams to the top two places in the table.
In midfield, the Foxes' duo of N'Golo Kante and Riyad Mahrez are joined by Spurs youngster Dele Alli and West Ham playmaker Dimitri Payet.
And Spurs and Leicester combine yet again in the centre of defence, with Wes Morgan and Toby Alderweireld picked alongside Tottenham full-back Danny Rose and Hector Bellerin of Arsenal. They line up in front of Man United keeper David de Gea.
Criticism of the team was muted, with most observers accepting that the XI have all had outstanding seasons.
However, several players were unlucky not to get the nod.
"Ozil's exclusion is a surprising one with the Germany international among the six nominees for this year's PFA Player of the Year Award," says the Daily Mail.
Sergio Aguero of Manchester City, who has never been selected for the team, and Romelu Lukaku of Everton also missed out.
The choice of Arsenal full-back Bellerin prompted the most discussion, with yet more candidates from Spurs and Leicester - Kyle Walker and Danny Simpson - put forward to replace him.
PFA team of the year
David de Gea (Man Utd), Hector Bellerín (Arsenal), Wes Morgan (Leicester), Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham), Danny Rose (Tottenham), Riyad Mahrez (Leicester), Dele Alli (Tottenham), N'Golo Kante (Leicester), Dimitri Payet (West Ham), Jamie Vardy (Leicester), Harry Kane (Tottenham).
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'Elevating Earth Day into a national holiday is not radical — it's practical'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
UAW scores historic win in South at VW plant
Speed Read Volkswagen workers in Tennessee have voted to join the United Auto Workers union
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 22, 2024
Cartoons Monday's cartoons - dystopian laughs, WNBA salaries, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Is a new English football regulator an own goal for the game?
Talking Point PM hails 'historic moment for football fans' but West Ham owner warns it could 'ruin' Premier League
By The Week UK Published
-
2023-2024 Premier League predictions: champions, relegation and golden boot
feature A look at the top flight talking points and pundit picks for the new season
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City: can ‘one of the best sides in history’ win the treble?
feature Guardiola’s Premier League champions have two more trophies in their sights
By The Week Staff Published
-
Premier League: Man City vs. Arsenal predictions
feature What the pundits say about tonight’s title race showdown at the Etihad
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Antonio Conte leaves Tottenham after ‘extraordinary’ rant at players
feature After another year without a trophy, Spurs are now searching for a new manager
By The Week Staff Published
-
‘Captain fantastic’: Harry Kane’s most memorable England goals
feature Kane has overtaken Wayne Rooney as the Three Lions’s all-time leading goalscorer
By Mike Starling Published
-
Liverpool 7 Man Utd 0: ‘welcome to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0’
feature Anfield’s ‘new front three’ were on fire in the humbling of their bitter rivals
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City’s financial charges: what next for the Premier League champions?
feature The club is alleged to have breached financial rules around 100 times over a nine-year period
By Mike Starling Published