Why Bukayo Saka was robbed of the 2021/22 PFA Young Player of the Year award

Phil Foden was recently named the PFA Young Player of the Year. While the Manchester City star had a great season, many Arsenal fans justly feel that Bukayo Saka was more deserving of the award – and rightly so.

Bukayo Saka was robbed of the 2021/22 PFA Young Player of the Year award

Saka was always going to be a long shot to claim the YPOTY with the last five winners all coming from title-winning sides. Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Foden have all helped their respective sides to Premier League glory. But, as I’ve already noted: team success shouldn’t equate to individual awards. If anything, it should be the opposite. A player like Saka being the best player on the fifth-best team in the league should hold more power than Foden being one of many players to have success for the Cityzens.

The City star wasn’t even a finalist for his own team’s Player of the Season award as Kevin De Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez, and Bernardo Silva were instead nominated.

https://twitter.com/ManCity/status/1526232015917416449?s=20&t=dH2cLonIAAXY9HX3P5xknw

Not only was Saka a more important player on his team, but statistically he outperformed Foden last season. The Arsenal starboy had more combined goals and assists than Foden and his availability for the Gunners shouldn’t go under the radar. Saka played in every single Premier League game.

If Foden was taken out of the City team they could likely still win the title. But if you took Saka out of Arsenal last season you can bet your bottom dollar that they’re not playing Europa League football in 2022/23.

Foden is without a doubt the most talented of the English youngsters, but we are at a point where Bukayo Saka is not too far behind him. Unfortunately, the way that this award is often distributed meant Saka’s chances were hurt by City winning the title.

Foden had a good season for a good team and deserves this award, but Bukayo Saka was robbed.