Mick McCarthy says Arsenal have a surprise star who will win Player of the Year, he’s ‘completely different’

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With the 2025/26 season underway and the transfer window now closed, predictions are being made.

For months, the debate about who the Premier League title contenders are has been floating around. 

Liverpool are favourites to win the title among pundits, but Arsenal will fancy their chances having finished runners-up for three years in a row. 

Mikel Arteta will be desperate to win silverware this season, particularly after strengthening his squad in the summer transfer window. 

• READ MORE: Ranking all eight Arsenal summer transfer signings from Viktor Gyokeres to Eberechi Eze

Mick McCarthy thinks Eberechi Eze will win Player of the Year

It’s not only predictions about the Premier League table that are being spoken about. 

Some have predicted what Viktor Gyokeres’ goalscoring tally will be in his first year at Arsenal, while others have made bold calls about the end-of-season awards. 

The latest to do so was Mick McCarthy, who shared his prediction for Player of the Year when speaking on The Managers podcast alongside Tony Pulis.

An Arsenal player hasn’t won the award since Thierry Henry in 2006, but McCarthy thinks things will change come May.

McCarthy believes one of Arsenal’s summer signings could be a contender to win the prize.

“I’d like to go for somebody completely different,” he said.

“I saw him come on yesterday, and if Arsenal are one of the top teams, which they should be, I think Eze will be a real great signing for them. 

“I’m going for him, somebody completely different”

The Player of the Season award has been dominated by Liverpool and Manchester City, with the last time a player from neither club won the award being in 2017.

It would be a delight to see Eze shine enough in his debut season at Arsenal to win Player of the Year, but he’ll have some fierce competition. 

Premier League Player of the Year is so difficult to win

The Premier League arguably boasts the highest density of world-class talent of any league in the world. 

It makes the end-of-the-season awards mean even more, as they’re so highly contested. 

Declan Rice was nominated for Player of the Year for his efforts last season, but no matter how good the midfielder was, he was never going to usurp Mohamed Salah.

Salah won the prize by contributing to 47 Premier League goals, topping both the goals and assists charts.

Can Eze shock everyone and prove McCarthy’s prediction to be right? The attacking midfielder has from now until May to show what he can do.