Three Arsenal stars have earned spots in the BBC's Team of the Week following a hard-fought victory over West Ham United, with one player also receiving a nomination for the Premier League's Player of the Matchweek award.
Former striker Troy Deeney selected goalkeeper David Raya, defender Gabriel Magalhães, and versatile youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly for his weekly lineup. Deeney heaped particular praise on Raya, calling his save from Mateus Fernandes the "save of the season" and boldly suggesting it could be the moment that "wins Arsenal the title."
Gabriel earned his place for delivering "massive blocks" at "massive moments," showcasing the defensive steel that has become a hallmark of Arsenal's campaign. Meanwhile, Lewis-Skelly impressed Deeney with his adaptability, seamlessly transitioning from a midfield role to left-back mid-game without missing a beat.
"He started in midfield, then Arsenal changed mid-game and moved him to left-back, and he didn't put a foot wrong," Deeney wrote. "He was fantastic. One of the players in the last three to four weeks that has really stepped up."
The Premier League clearly recognized the significance of Raya's performance, nominating him for Player of the Matchweek alongside Brighton's Maxim De Cuyper, Manchester City's Jeremy Doku, Tottenham's Antonin Kinsky, and Everton's James Tarkowski. Voting remains open until Wednesday, May 13th at 12:00 BST, with the winner announced later that day.
While individual accolades are always welcome, the Arsenal squad has bigger priorities in their sights. With both the Premier League title and Champions League glory within reach over the next two-and-a-half weeks, these team of the week nods serve as a nice reminder of the depth and quality running through Mikel Arteta's squad—qualities that could prove decisive in the season's defining moments.
