Declan Rice has capped a fine first season in north London by coming second in our men’s Player of the Season vote.
Declan collected 24% of the votes cast by our supporters to claim the silver medal, having played in all but one of our matches in all competitions in 2023/24.
He hit new heights in our colours, scoring a personal best seven times, all of which came in the Premier League. Having debuted in our Community Shield success, his first strike for the club was memorable, as he fired us in front deep into stoppage time to help beat Manchester United in September, announcing himself to his new supporters in style.
His second goal was a sensational 36-yard strike against Chelsea, the furthest out a player has scored from for us in the Premier League, and in December he once again popped up with a crucial last-gasp winner against Luton Town, becoming only the third different Gunner to score two 90th-minute winning goals in a single Premier League campaign.
He bettered his Chelsea effort with a wonderful Goal of the Season contender back at West Ham United in February, which kick-started a run of three goals in five games.
As well as finding the back of the net, he was influential in our other attacks. Declan laid on 10 goals for teammates, nine of which were in the Premier League - one short of his total assists in 242 matches for the Hammers. In fact, no player started more open play sequences that ended in a shot in the Premier League last season.
Declan's presence was felt all over the pitch, as he also provided a shield in front of our defence to help break up opposition attacks and start our own, highlighted by only two players in the division running further than the 413km he clocked up.
He was a nominee for the Premier League Player of the Season, and was runner-up in the Football Writers' awards. He did claim our men’s Player of the Month award for August, as well as two Goal of the Month wins for his efforts against United and West Ham.
Having captained England on the occasion of his 50th cap back in March, he now heads to Euro 2024 hoping to crown an excellent 12 months with further success.
See Declan's best moments as a Gunner so far by pressing play on the video above
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