An Alternate Premier League Team Of The Year
The Professional Footballers Association (PFA) Team of The Year for the Premier League 2016-17 season was announced on Thursday.
The line-up was largely dominated by the top two teams of the league, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur. The London clubs had four representatives each in the Team of the Year.
Chelsea were represented by PFA Player of the Year Nominees Eden Hazard and N’Golo Kante, along with centre-half duo David Luiz and Gary Cahill, while full-backs Danny Rose, Kyle Walker, midfield prodigy Dele Alli and striker Harry Kane made it from Tottenham.
The other three spots were taken up by David De Gea of Manchester United, Sadio Mane of Liverpool and fellow Merseysider Romelu Lukaku of Everton.
While the team does consist of some of the best players in the league this season, there are several players who have been surprisingly overlooked – Toby Alderweireld of Tottenham, Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal being the most notable ones.
Here we bring you an alternate Team of the Year with the players who were equally deserving of a spot in the team elected by the PFA, but did not make it:
Alternate Team Of The Year
Hugo Lloris (GK)
The Tottenham Hotspur captain has been a wall in the goal this term. May have made a couple of errors, but has been extremely consistent and has just conceded 20 times in the league– the fewest by any keeper in the league (minimum 20 appearances). His 13 clean sheets are the joint best in the league with Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois. Deserving of the spot between the sticks.
Antonio Valencia (RB)
Arguably the second-best right-back in the league next to Kyle Walker. The Ecuadorian has come into his own under Jose Mourinho this season. Having scored once and set up three, Valencia has been a huge threat on the right-hand side throughout the season, while remaining solid at the back as well.
Cesar Azpilicueta (CB)
Has been Chelsea’s best defender by some distance, so it was a surprise not seeing him make it to the Team of the Year. The Spanish international has found himself at home in a new centre-back role under Antonio Conte. Excellent defensive awareness, equally adept at carrying the ball out or spraying passes from the back, Azpilicueta has played a huge hand in the Blues’ excellent season.
Toby Alderweireld (CB)
How did he not make it to the team of the year is really baffling! The Belgian international has been the proverbial rock at the back for Tottenham this season and has been the primary reason for the North Londoners holding the best defensive record in the league. His distribution from the back has been a big feature of Tottenham’s play this season. A definite inclusion.
Marcos Alonso (LB)
The 26-year old was laughed off as a panic buy by many, but Alonso has silenced everyone with his brilliance. He has really thrived in the 3-4-3 system under Conte that has allowed him to make a huge impact in attack while remaining stable at the back. 5 goals and 2 assists for a wing-back are excellent returns.
Ander Herrera (CM)
Arguably the next best midfielder in the league next to N’Golo Kante. The Spaniard is another who has really thrived under Mourinho this season and has come a long way after a couple of disappointing seasons. Has scored once and has assisted 5 from his 25 league appearances, but it has been his work off the ball that has been highly impressive. His display against Chelsea last week summed up his brilliance this term.
Mousa Dembele (CM)
The 29-year old is playing some of his best football and is by far, enjoying his best season in Tottenham colours. Dembele may have scored and assisted just one goal each, but he has developed into the engine-room of the Tottenham midfield that keeps them running. His pass accuracy of 92% (1221 successful passes) is the best in the league for any player to have played a minimum of 20 games this season.
Alexis Sanchez (RW)
31 games, 19 Goals, 9 Assists. Need one say more? Probably not. The Arsenal talisman has been by far one of the best attackers of the season. Having played in multiple positions over the course of the campaign, Sanchez has shown his class and has been the Gunners’ best player by some distance. He has been nominated for the PFA Player of The Year award as well, and deservedly so.
Christian Eriksen (CAM)
The Danish international often goes off the radar when compared to the likes of Dele Alli and Harry Kane. But Eriksen remains equally vital to Tottenham’s cause, just like the two English stars. The 25-year old started the season slowly, but has come into his own. Eriksen has created 92 chances this term – best by any player in the league, has set up 12 goals – only behind Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne; and has netted on 7 occasions. Clearly one of the best attacking midfielders in the league.
Gylfi Sigurdsson (LW)
Might feel like a left-field choice for some, but the Icelandic international has been nothing short of exceptional for the struggling Swansea City this season. Sigurdsson had almost single-handedly kept them afloat until now, but it increasingly looks like they will be relegated. But take nothing away from the 27-year old who has scored 8 goals this season and has 11 assists – the third best tally in the Premier League, despite being played out of position on the left-flank.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (ST)
There were plenty who were too quick to write off the 35-year old when he arrived at Old Trafford in the summer. Too old, they said. Will struggle to adapt to the English football, they said. But Zlatan did what he does best, proving every detractor wrong and did so in an emphatic manner. 17 goals and 5 assists in his debut campaign in England along with a nomination for the PFA Player of the Year award, at this point of his career, just goes on to exemplify his legendary status in the game of football.
Arsenal Women host Manchester United on Saturday in a crucial six pointer for Champions League qualification. The Gunners sit just one point above United in the WSL table and victory at Emirates Stadium would give them a strong buffer, while defeat leaves them playing catch up in the race for Europe.
The match marks Arsenal’s return from the winter break following a busy week that saw Renee Slegers sign a new contract and Jodie Taylor promoted to Technical Director. However, the immediate focus is on securing three points against Marc Skinner’s side in what promises to be a tense encounter.
Kick-off: 12:30 GMT, Saturday, January 11, 2026
Venue: Emirates Stadium, London
TV: Sky Sports (UK)
Cooney Cross Absent For Personal Reasons
Arsenal will be without Kyra Cooney Cross who has returned to Australia for personal reasons. Daphne van Domselaar is not quite ready to return from a quad injury while Chloe Kelly remains out with a knee problem. Jenna Nighswonger will not be in the matchday squad as she negotiates a loan move.
New signing Smilla Holmberg from Hammarby will be in the squad alongside recalled goalkeeper Naomi Williams. Manu Zinsberger and Katie Reid are out with ACL injuries. The absence of Cooney Cross means Mariona will likely drop into the deeper midfield role she has occupied for much of the last year.
United Strengthened in January
Manchester United have been busy in the transfer window, adding full back Hanna Lundkvist from San Diego Wave and centre forward Lea Schuller from Bayern Munich. Skinner was dealt a poor hand over the summer with a very small squad handling Champions League qualifiers and the group phase.
Predicted Lineup:
Arsenal (4-3-3): Borbe; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Little, Mariona, Maanum; Mead, Russo, Smith
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): Tullis Joyce; Lundkvist, Le Tissier, Janssen, Sandberg; Miyazawa, Zigiotti; Park, Malard, Awujo; Schuller
Also read: Arsenal Women disable social media comments after sexist backlash to new signing
Arsenal confirmed on January 9, 2026 that Jodie Taylor has been appointed as the club’s first ever Technical Director.
The 39-year-old former England striker moves up from her existing role as Technical Services Manager, a position she has held since September 2023 following her retirement from professional football.
Taylor’s promotion comes on the same day Arsenal announced Renee Slegers’ new contract extension through 2029, creating a strategic restructuring of the women’s football department.
A Decade Long Arsenal Connection
Taylor’s relationship with Arsenal spans ten years since first joining as a player in 2016. She scored 10 goals in 17 appearances during her initial spell before returning on a short-term deal in March 2023. Taylor earned 50 plus England caps during her international career and won the Golden Boot at Euro 2017.
She represented her country at the 2015 Women’s World Cup finishing third and played for multiple elite clubs including Lyon, Orlando Pride, Portland Thorns and San Diego Wave throughout her career.
Strategic Structural Development
Taylor’s new role bridges critical areas of football operations including recruitment, analysis, coaching and performance support. She will work closely with Renee Slegers on a daily basis as the Technical Director, providing structural support for coaching decisions and squad development.
Director of Women’s Football Clare Wheatley praised Taylor’s appointment as integral to continued development of the program as Arsenal challenges for major trophies consistently. Wheatley will now focus on upward management across UEFA, FIFA and domestic boards while Taylor handles day to day operations.
Building a High Performance Environment
Taylor expressed immense pride stepping into her new position, emphasizing Arsenal’s remarkable growth over the past decade. She committed to nurturing a high-performance environment where players, coaching staff and support teams have the right tools to deliver at the highest level.
Her appointment represents investment in female leadership within Arsenal’s technical infrastructure, aligning with the club’s commitment to developing their women’s program systematically and strategically moving forward into their next phase.
Also read: Arsenal Women disable social media comments after sexist backlash to new signing
Arsenal confirmed on January 9, 2026 that head coach Renee Slegers has signed a new long-term contract extending through the summer of 2029.
The 36-year-old Dutch coach was previously due to exit at the end of the 2025-26 season but now commits three and a half additional years to the club. Her extension rewards an extraordinary debut season where she guided Arsenal to historic UEFA Women’s Champions League victory after beating Barcelona 1-0 in the Lisbon final.
From Academy Player to Champions League Winner
Renee Slegers’ connection to Arsenal dates back decades. She played in the club’s academy as a teenager and watched Arsenal claim their previous Champions League trophy in 2007 from the stands. Her return to the club came in summer 2023 as assistant coach following two years leading Swedish club Rosengard where she won back-to-back Damallsvenskan titles.
She stepped into the interim role in October 2024 when Jonas Eidevall departed and impressed immediately with an 11-match unbeaten run. That performance earned her permanent appointment in January 2025, and by May 2025 she had delivered historic Champions League glory.
Arsenal’s Long-Term Vision
Slegers told club media that her journey from academy player to Champions League winning head coach represents immense pride. She stated the club has much to achieve together in the coming seasons. Arsenal Director of Women’s Football Clare Wheatley described Slegers as an elite coach with capabilities to lead continued title challenges.
Chief Executive Richard Garlick praised her impact driving standards and progress toward consistent top-level competition.
Jodie Taylor Joins as Technical Director
The announcement accompanied confirmation that former England international Jodie Taylor has been appointed Arsenal’s first ever women’s technical director. Taylor, who retired in 2023 after two Arsenal playing spells, will work closely with Slegers on recruitment, analysis and specialisation. Her role bridges previously disconnected recruitment and technical departments creating stronger operational cohesion.
Arsenal continues their title defence facing Manchester United on January 11 with five trophies remaining in play this season.
Also read: Arsenal star Kyra Cooney-Cross returns to Australia after mother’s terminal cancer diagnosis
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