Jamie Carragher thinks one of Arsenal’s players is in contention for the Player of the Year award this season, but it’s not Bukayo Saka.

Arsenal's English midfielder #41 Declan Rice celebrates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Brentford at the Emirates Stadium in London on March 9, 2024. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s Declan Rice celebrates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Brentford at the Emirates Stadium in London on March 9, 2024. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes the Premier League Player of the Year award will be decided by which team wins the title, with one player up for the award from each of the three contenders.

Carragher writes for The Telegraph that Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool, Phil Foden of Manchester City, and Declan Rice of Arsenal are all in contention to win the Player of the Year award this year.

The former defender suggests that whichever team ends up on top in the title race will have their respective player to thank for that fact, and that player should be rewarded for it.

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 24: Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrate after their teammate Jakub Kiwior of Arsenal (not pictured) scores his team's fourth goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Newcastle United at Emirates Stadium on February 24, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrate after their teammate Jakub Kiwior of Arsenal (not pictured) scores his team’s fourth goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Newcastle United at Emirates Stadium on February 24, 2024. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

For Arsenal’s pick, Carragher argues that Rice is a complete midfielder and the most significant reason for the Gunners’ current title challenge.

The pundit claims Arsenal will travel to the Etihad Stadium feeling they have Rodri’s equal in midfield.

As for Bukayo Saka, Carragher does give some praise to the winger, writing that Saka must be in Gareth Southgate’s best team this summer, and that he can’t let either Saka or Foden sit on the bench.

But of the duo, it’s only Foden who Carragher feels is up for Player of the Year.

LUTON, ENGLAND: Phil Foden of Manchester City is challenged by Albert Sambi Lokonga of Luton Town during the Premier League match between Luton Town and Manchester City at Kenilworth Road on December 10, 2023. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LUTON, ENGLAND: Phil Foden of Manchester City is challenged by Albert Sambi Lokonga of Luton Town during the Premier League match between Luton Town and Manchester City at Kenilworth Road on December 10, 2023. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Saka has now hit 30 direct goal contributions in all competitions for Arsenal this season, but his exploits remain somewhat underappreciated.

We’ll see if he can change some minds in the final two and a half months of the campaign.