Bruno Fernandes

Picture a timeline this season where Bruno Fernandes departed Manchester United last summer. In December, he admitted, "The club wanted me to leave." United supporters can breathe a sigh of relief that he stayed put, adapting to Ruben Amorim's tactical experiments and steering the side toward Champions League qualification.

Fernandes remains the driving force behind United's brightest moments. With 19 assists - just one shy of the 20 recorded by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne in their PFA Player of the Year campaigns - he has generated 124 chances, outpacing Dominik Szoboszlai's 68 in second place.

His resilience amid club chaos stands out, delivering elite displays consistently. This term brought extra challenges, including a stint as a deep-lying midfielder under Amorim before the manager's exit. Even misplaced, the captain notched five goals and eight assists, then thrived back at No. 10 under Michael Carrick. United's surge followed: 15 victories, three draws, and two losses in 20 matches, fueled by Fernandes' 11 assists and three goals.

Declan Rice

Mikel Arteta likened Declan Rice to a lighthouse: a source of focus, clarity, and guidance for the team. This unconventional image fits perfectly amid Arsenal's push for their first title since 2004, just two wins away. Rice anchors nearly every strength in their season, excelling as a defensive shield, a dynamic box-to-box force, or an attacking No. 8.

Central to Arsenal's build-up, Rice advances the ball, converting possession into threats. He sits second in the squad for forward passes, leads in carries (second league-wide) and progressive carries (sixth overall).

Beyond attack, his creativity shines with 63 chances created - tops at Arsenal - plus strong shot volume (fifth), final-third passes, and entries (both leading). With Martín Zubimendi handling more defense, Rice pushes forward, slicing lines with precise passing.

Defensively dominant, he tops team ball recoveries and ranks second in interceptions. His game-reading preempts danger, duel-winning strength bolsters the backline. Arsenal's league-best defense - 26 goals conceded in 36 games - owes much to him.

Erling Haaland

Scoring 26 Premier League goals is a fantasy for most forwards; for Haaland, it's standard. He netted 13 in his first 10 games, eyeing the 36-goal record he set in 2022-23 en route to Player of the Year honors.

Recent output dipped, with five non-penalty league goals post-New Year despite hitting 100 Premier League strikes in a record 111 games. City's shift after losing Kevin De Bruyne, Ederson, Ilkay Gündogan, and Kyle Walker emphasizes direct play via Rayan Cherki, Antoine Semenyo, and Jérémy Doku's speed.

Haaland now orchestrates as well as scores, pulling defenders and opening lanes. His eight assists match his 2022-23 peak and rank third league-wide for open-play, underscoring his evolution. With title hopes intact and a third Golden Boot looming, another award beckons.

David Raya

Goalkeepers seldom steal title-race spotlight, yet David Raya's stats and heroics demand attention. He has secured clean sheets in 18 of Arsenal's 36 games, clinching a third straight Golden Glove - a feat shared only by Pepe Reina, Joe Hart, and Ederson.

Raya delivers in clutch spots: a fingertip denial vs. Brighton kept Arsenal top in December; late claws against Chelsea's near-equalizer in March; point-blank stop on Mateus Fernandes at West Ham. These saves tip title balances.

Titles hinge on margins, and Raya's interventions separate Arsenal's potential triumph from frustration.

Rayan Cherki

In an era bemoaning players' rigidity - as Gary Neville called Manchester derby's stalemate "robotic" - Rayan Cherki refreshes like Barclays Premier League heyday flair: bold, instinctive, expressive.

Cherki brings City's first sharp unpredictability, defying Guardiola's control. The manager confessed: "I crave control. Watching him is tough - heart-pounding. He dribbles, tricks; I yell 'simple!' But curbing him kills his genius."

Filling De Bruyne's void, Cherki unlocks defenses with turns, threaded passes, daring runs. Highlights: 83rd-minute Forest winner, Chelsea double-assist, Arsenal solo weave. His 16 goal involvements rank high league-wide, though peers love his rabonas more than Pep.

Article by WhoScored