With the 2025–26 Premier League campaign approaching its final act, the Player of the Season conversation is sharpening. The prize has been awarded since the 1994–95 campaign and is most often claimed by a member of the title-winning team, though exceptions have emerged in recent years.

Gabriel: If Arsenal prevail in a tightly contested title race, their defensive unit will take much of the credit and Gabriel stands out. The Brazilian has marshalled what is the best defence in the division, currently leading the way for goals conceded and clean sheets. He has also been a major threat at set pieces, contributing three goals and four assists in the Premier League. Defenders rarely attract Player of the Season honours; Rúben Dias and Virgil van Dijk are two of just five past winners at centre back. Gabriel’s case therefore depends heavily on Arsenal winning the title.

Antoine Semenyo: The 26-year-old has delivered an exceptional campaign across two clubs. He scored 10 goals for Bournemouth in the first half of the season before joining Manchester City in January. Like Marc Guéhi, Semenyo has been a transformative winter addition as City climbed back into the title picture. He has been an immediate and consistent starter under Pep Guardiola. While Semenyo may lack some of the glamour of other contenders, his individual form has been impressive. For his candidacy to gain traction in the voting, City would realistically need to win the title, and one of his teammates appears better placed to claim the prize if they do.

Erling Haaland: The Norwegian striker is leading the league for strikes and remains City’s primary goal threat. He won the award in 2022–23 and became the first player in Premier League history to win the Young Player of the Season award alongside the Player of the Season prize in the same season. His numbers this term are not as frightening as in past years, but they remain substantial. City would be nowhere near the title without his steady stream of strikes, and a third Golden Boot looks probable. If City win the title, Haaland is the most likely winner.

Tyler Adams, captain of the U.S. men’s national team, said the atmosphere at the Emirates stood out during Bournemouth’s Premier League victory. On the Men in Blazers podcast he recalled the moment plainly: “Why’s it so quiet in here?”

“At certain moments in the game I heard our fans celebrating or cheering and it was like: ‘Why’s it so quiet in here?’” Adams said, underlining how subdued support for the home side felt during that lunchtime kickoff.

Arsenal have long carried a reputation for a restrained crowd, a stigma that dated back to their Highbury days when opponents dubbed the ground “the Library.” That tag migrated with the club to the Emirates, and Mikel Arteta has worked to improve the matchday atmosphere. Ahead of the fixture Arteta urged supporters to “have an early breakfast, bring your lunch [and] bring your dinner.” The noise, however, was not always evident on the day.

Adams reflected on how those conditions influenced the game: “They’re trying to chase a title, we’re trying to chase potentially finishing in a European position, but it feels like we’re playing for a little bit more in the circumstances,” Adams damningly reflected. “I think it can be really difficult when you’re in an environment like that.”

“We told ourselves before the game we had to put ourselves in their shoes,” Adams explained. “They have a whole lot to play for. We have a lot to play for but it’s a different circumstance when you’re chasing a title.

“We knew it was probably going to be a little bit nervy, and if one things goes wrong, and the fans start getting a little bit anxious, and I think we played into that occasion.”

Early on the crowd’s nerves were obvious: every Ben White throw-in was not taken quickly enough, backwards passes drew groans and Bournemouth’s forward moves prompted audible gasps. Adams added: “You can tell early on, when they’re trying to play out from the back, that there was a sense of nervousness,” the USMNT captain explained.

“The thing was, the team was playing well. Arsenal in the first five, 10 minutes played some of the best football they did in that game, and you saw they were confident.

“But it just takes one little error, one little mistake, and the fans get a little bit nervy. That’s a difficult atmosphere to play in and thrive in when you’re trying to chase a championship. Because we talk about them like they’re not sitting first in the table still.

“As an opposition it’s the best thing too hear. When you’re playing an away game and all of a sudden it feels like the momentum is swinging and it feels like a home game.”

Gameweek 33 brings both headaches and opportunities for FPL managers as several teams play twice. The double fixtures make prioritising players from the right squads crucial, with Bournemouth, Brighton & Hove Albion, Burnley, Chelsea, Leeds United and Manchester City all on double duty.

Goalkeepers
Karl Darlow (£3.9m) stands out because of his low price and fixtures against Wolverhampton Wanderers (H) and Bournemouth (A). He has scored 16 points across his last three fixtures and looks nailed on for the remainder of the season. Gianluigi Donnarumma (£5.6m) also offers two fixtures, Arsenal (H) and Burnley (A), but his inclusion uses one of three Man City slots managers may prefer to spend on midfield and forward assets. Đorđe Petrović (£4.6m) is a Bournemouth alternative after three clean sheets in his last six outings versus Newcastle United (A) and Leeds (H).

Defenders
Bournemouth defenders Marcos Senesi (£5.2m) and James Hill (£4.2m) present clean sheet potential and solid defensive contribution totals, while Adrien Truffert (£4.7m) provides more attacking upside via assists. Leeds options Pascal Struijk (£4.3m), Jayden Bogle (£4.4m) and Gabriel Gudmundsson (£3.8m) offer differing mixes of defensive reliability and attacking threat. Marc Cucurella (£6.0m) is the main Chelsea defender to consider despite matches with Manchester United (H) and Brighton (A) being tough for clean sheets. Nico O’Reilly (£5.0m) would be an obvious pick after a 14-point weekend and 52 points in six gameweeks, but he is an injury concern; Marc Guéhi (£5.1m) is a viable alternative if O’Reilly is ruled out.

Midfield and attack
Antoine Semenyo (£8.2m) remains an attractive midfield option despite high ownership. Rayan Cherki (£6.3m) offers a differential and Jérémy Doku (£6.4m) provides explosive potential. Cole Palmer (£10.5m) will start both Chelsea games and is on spot kicks. Bournemouth’s Marcus Tavernier (£5.4m) is notable for set-piece and penalty responsibility versus Rayan (£5.5m) and Alex Scott (£5.0m). Pascal Groß (£5.5m) and Yankuba Minteh (£5.5m) could be short-term Brighton values.

Forwards
Erling Haaland (£14.4m) is the obvious captaincy candidate across two fixtures, with particular promise in the Burnley match. João Pedro (£7.7m) is a reliable pick given Chelsea’s double and his 82 points since Liam Rosenior took charge; he faces little competition for his starting role.