AFC North. AFC South. AFC West. NFC East. NFC North. NFC South. NFC West. AL East. AL Central. AL West. Sorry, there was a problem. More from Sport. Football As a gay woman I'd never want to go to Qatar — footballers should speak out over human rights. Then there's the other winners. Against Everton on Dec. Adding on to the importance his goals have played this season, Robin van Persie has presented himself as one of the foremost captains currently playing in England.
Arsenal, which were mired in 15th place in the Premier League standings in mid-September following a gruesome defeat to Blackburn at Ewood Park, have since surged into third thanks in large part to their talismanic captain's prowess. Manchester City might be ahead of them in the standings, but it should be said that Arsenal's rise up the proverbial ladder has been nothing short of awesome. As Wenger said in his appraisal of his charge's chances, this marks the first season that Robin van Persie has knocks on wood managed to remain injury free.
His season has not been blighted by knocks, and his side have been all the more strengthened for it. He's played enough games to deserve the award. Statistics offer but a brief insight into the overall impact of a player—take, for example, David Silva's five league goals and 12 assists.
The signing of Dias at the start of October has been City's most significant in terms of transforming the whole team. City have the best defensive record in the league this season with only 32 league goals conceded - and six of those came in September, before Dias arrived.
His impact has been felt on Stones too - he has rediscovered his potential playing alongside Dias, who truly organises the City back line.
They didn't have Dias, whose influence has taken them that step further. He has an incredible future ahead of him - he's only 23 and and he is proof of the old adage that attacks win you games but defences win you titles. Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes got my vote when I was asked about this in February, but he doesn't get it now. Dias does the simple aspects of defending extremely well and has been so consistent. He's been hugely important in the stability of City's defence, which has won them the Premier League and taken them to the Champions League final too.
If the players were voting in March like they usually do, Fernandes would have got a lot of votes. Harry Kane has had another excellent season and his Tottenham team-mate Son Heung-min would also have been right in the race. But, looking at it now, like the players have been, there are only two contenders - De Bruyne and Dias. Personally I will always go for the creator in a choice like that because of the kind of player I was myself - it is a lot harder to create than defend.
He's just a fabulous all-round midfielder. Bruno Fernandes comes close. His numbers have been that good, and he kept United afloat until the likes of Paul Pogba joined the party later in the season. But it has to be a City player because of the campaign they are having, and Dias stands out. Ultimately he has reminded everyone that defending comes first. My third choice would be Stuart Dallas because of how well Leeds have done this season and how pivotal he is to what they have done.
They have been the surprise package, and he epitomises what they are all about. My number two is Tomas Soucek at West Ham because he is a result of some fantastic recruitment. He and Vladimir Coufal have both improved the team but Soucek shows exactly what a top-class box-to-box midfielder can do.
His form, his goals and his defensive work have helped West Ham to get where they are. I was torn between Soucek and Dias for number one but I've gone for Dias simply because City have won the league and are in the Champions League final, and what makes him all the more special is his age. When you are a young player, you often just concentrate on your own game but he is that comfortable with himself, he has the capacity to affect others.
Dias gets my vote, and not only because I'm fully paid-up member of the defenders' union. He's a natural leader who has transformed Manchester City and ended the defensive frailty they'd had since Kompany left. He has exceptional leadership qualities for a young player and he leaves everything on the pitch, which is infectious to those around him.
This is his first season in the Premier League but it looks like he has been here for years. We always talk about players needing time to bed in when they come over here. If so, how good is he going to be next season? The impact he has had for City is similar to the one Virgil van Dijk made at Liverpool in He's the reason they are where they are, and it was a brilliant piece of recruitment to sign him.
City have had great teams before under Guardiola but they have probably always been a bit of a soft touch at the back. Not any more.
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