No Bukayo Saka as Crystal Palace pair makes cut: Our London clubs Premier League team of the year | OneFootball

Standard Sport runs the rule over the capital’s brightest lights from the 2025/26 season

Arsenal and Crystal Palace may have ended their seasons on a high, but for the rest of London’s Premier League clubs, there has not been much to cheer about.

West Ham, meanwhile, were relegated to end their 14-year stay in the top-flight, and Chelsea fell short of Europe after winning just one of their final nine league games.

Arsenal were, of course, the standout team from the capital as they lifted their first Premier League title in 22 years.

Palace put a disappointing domestic season behind them to win the Conference League with a 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano.

Here, Standard Sport names a combined Premier League London XI for the 2025/26 season…

Defence

Arsenal were always going to dominate in defence. The Gunners’ title charge was built on their solidity at the back, and they kept clean sheets in half of their 38 league games.

David Raya was awarded the Golden Glove for the second season running and came to the fore with a number of crucial saves in the run-in.

Gabriel and William Saliba, meanwhile, have continued to cement their reputation as the most fearsome centre-back partnership in the league.

William Saliba and Gabriel were key to Arsenal’s title charge

Getty

Despite struggling with injuries towards the end of the season, Jurrien Timber was the standout right-back in the division.

It is not an Arsenal clean sweep in defence, though, with Crystal Palace’s Tyrick Mitchell coming in at left-back.

No outfield player has played more league minutes for Palace this season than Mitchell, and his attacking output has improved considerably.

Midfield

Declan Rice has, without question, been Arsenal’s best player this season, so his inclusion in midfield was straightforward.

So too was the decision to bring Martin Zubimendi into the team. Despite struggling with fatigue in the final weeks of the season, his impact since signing last summer from Real Sociedad has been transformative.

The Spaniard has helped free up Rice, while also proving a valuable source of goals - only Viktor Gyokeres, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Leandro Trossard have scored more league goals this season.

Engine room: Declan Rice partners Enzo Fernandez in midfield for our team of the year

AFP via Getty Images

Enzo Fernandez’s off-pitch antics may have contributed to another season of turmoil for Chelsea. But when called upon, he has continued to pop up with important goals and is rightly considered to be one of the Premier League’s best midfielders.

Adam Wharton can count himself unlucky not to have been called up to England’s World Cup squad, but his late-season form is not enough to warrant a place in this team, especially considering Palace finished 15th.

Attack

In attack, there is no place for Saka, who, despite netting seven league goals, has struggled for consistency this season.

Saka is in competition with Ismaila Sarr on the right flank, who has been integral to Palace through what has been a tumultuous campaign.

Sarr has been far and away Palace’s best player this season, and his absence was sorely felt when he was away at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Snubbed: Bukayo Saka

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Eberechi Eze is selected at left-wing after impressing in limited minutes to help guide Arsenal to the title. The 27-year-old notably netted a hat-trick on his north London derby debut before following that performance up with a brace in the reverse fixture at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

His late assist for Gabriel Martinelli proved to be a critical moment in the title race as Arsenal drew 1-1 with Manchester City in September, and he was decisive when given the opportunity.

Brentford’s Igor Thiago, meanwhile, gets in ahead of Joao Pedro - as he did in Brazil’s World Cup squad - after scoring 22 goals for the Bees.