Bukayo Saka has underlined his belief that Arsenal’s strengthened squad gives the club a genuine chance of ending a long title drought. Arsenal sit top of the Premier League after winning seven of their opening nine games, six points ahead of Manchester City and seven clear of Liverpool in seventh. The club’s summer transfer window brought Viktor Gyökeres, Eberechi Eze and Martín Zubimendi among others, adding depth to a young squad and addressing a need Mikel Arteta has long spoken about for quality reinforcements.

Saka, speaking to Sky Sports News, did not make a flat-out declaration but said his confidence is high. “I feel like, when you’re an Arsenal player, there’s just always constant talk about where you’re finishing and how you’re performing,” he said. “Sometimes I feel like it’s even over-analysed, but this year I feel we’re a very strong group and we’ve got a lot of quality.”

Injury disruption has already tested the squad. “We’ve suffered a lot of injuries already, but the players that have come in have shown that we can all keep the level at the highest, and that’s what it’s going to take for us to go all the way,” Saka said. “I think that’s where we’ve slipped off in a few seasons, but this season, we’ve got that and it’s making me really believe we can do it.

“I’ve been in the title race the last three years now and finished second in all of them. Just the understanding from that and what I’ve learnt is that now it’s not so important. It’s in April, that’s when you need to be there and that’s where you need to try and be top.

“Now it’s about standing around it, building your momentum and then going on a run of performances.”

Saka himself missed six games across all competitions with a hamstring problem, but the arrival of Noni Madueke from Chelsea helped cover that absence. The recruitment of Gyökeres has also helped compensate for the lack of Kai Havertz. “I think as a team last season we didn’t play with a striker like him, we played with Kai [Havertz], who’s a different player to him,” Saka mused about Gyökeres. “So, it’s about us trying to adapt to his game a bit and try and help him to create a few more chances but at the same time, I feel like he’s getting more and more settled each game and he’s playing well and the goals will come. I’m not worried. I don’t think anyone in the club is worried. He’s a top player.”

The 2025 FIFPRO World XI nominees were announced on Monday and the shortlist left a number of established performers off the list. Several omissions have prompted debate over which players deserved recognition.

Harry Kane was one of the most surprising names absent. He led the Bundesliga in scoring last season, finished with 41 goals in all competitions and won his first major trophy. Kane also finished fifth in the European Golden Boot race behind Kylian Mbappé, Viktor Gyökeres, Mohamed Salah and Robert Lewandowski. The shortlist included two of those names and excluded two, making his omission notable given his scoring numbers.

The exclusion of Gabriel also raised eyebrows. “It’s honestly preference comparing Gabriel and William Saliba, but for many who watched Arsenal closely the Brazilian was arguably the better of the two last season.” The piece highlights Gabriel’s role as a defensive leader who also poses a significant threat from set pieces and notes he is being spoken of as a potential player of the season for the current campaign.

Wojciech Szczęsny was another overlooked name. He returned from retirement midseason to join Barcelona in crisis and made his debut on Jan. 4. By the end of the campaign he had added three more trophies as Barcelona completed a first domestic treble. He subsequently earned a new contract extending his stay through 2027.

Liverpool’s midfield pairing also suffered from the voting. The article points to Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch being left out and argues both had strong claims. Mac Allister missed only three Premier League games last season, contributed 10 goal involvements and was an important part of the title-winning engine room.

Finally, Moisés Caicedo was highlighted as a major snub. Caicedo played every Premier League match last season as Chelsea secured a top-four finish under Enzo Maresca, scored in the UEFA Conference League final and played a major role in Chelsea’s FIFA Club World Cup victory over the summer.

These five absences underline the difficult choices in assembling a World XI and why the 2025 shortlist has drawn criticism.

The debate over individual awards never quiets. A frequent critique aimed at the Ballon d’Or is that it is determined by journalists rather than those inside the game, summed up by the sceptical refrain, “What do they know?”.

Voting based on the 2024–25 season is already under way and the initial list of 26 leading men’s and women’s players has been published. The longlist reflects last season’s major honours and high-profile performances, with the reigning European champions well represented among the nominees.

Paris Saint-Germain feature prominently. Seven members of Paris Saint-Germain’s starting XI for the men’s Champions League final received nomination, a showing that underlines the influence of that successful side on this stage. Arsenal Women also register strongly on the list, while England’s triumph at the summer’s European Championships has left a clear mark, giving the nominee pool a distinct Lionesses twang.

Those 26 names will not form the final teams. More votes will be compiled to produce two definitive XIs, one for men and one for women. Each final lineup will include a goalkeeper and at least three defenders, three midfielders and three forwards, ensuring balanced formations rather than arbitrary position counts.

The finished FIFPRO World XIs will be announced on Nov. 3, 2025. Until then the process will continue to attract scrutiny, both for who is included and for who decides. The shortlist offers a snapshot of the 2024–25 season’s standout performers, but the final selections will be decisive in shaping the year’s official best elevens.