Brentford captain Ben Mee reveals his PFA team of the year

Brentford captain Ben Mee reveals his PFA team of the year with four of Man City’s title winners present and three of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal squad… but there’s no room for Marcus Rashford and one VERY surprising inclusion at centre back

• Ben Mee has named his PFA team of the year as the season draws to a close
• He has included four Man City players and three Arsenal stars in his final XI
• But Mee has not included Man United’s Marcus Rashford in his front line

Brentford captain Ben Mee has made the shock decision to leave Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford out of his PFA team of the year.

After a miserable 2021-22 season that saw him slip down the pecking order at Old Trafford and fall out of favour at international level, Rashford has had an exceptional season this year, scoring 29 goals in all competitions.

However, this has not been enough to get him into Mee’s side, as the centre back revealed on Sunday morning that he has gone with a front three of Bukayo Saka, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland.

The trio have all starred for their respective clubs, with Saka registering 13 goals and 11 assists for Arsenal in the Premier League.

Kane has been the standout player in a struggling Spurs side, netting 28 league goals. His goal against Brentford on Saturday meant he’s scored in 25 different games this season – breaking the Premier League record.

Brentford captain Ben Mee (above) has revealed who he has picked in his PFA team of the year

Despite scoring 29 goals in all competitions, Marcus Rashford has not made Mee’s final XI

Man City pair Kevin De Bruyne (left) and Erling Haaland (right) are both obvious inclusions

Speaking of records, Haaland has racked up plenty this season, with his tally of 36 league strikes seeing him take the record for the most goals scored in a single Premier League season, making him an obvious inclusion in Mee’s side.

He is joined in the XI by three of his title-winning team-mates, with Mee opting to name Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan as two of his midfielders in his 4-3-3 formation, while also plumping for Nathan Ake at left back.

Both De Bruyne and Gundogan have really stepped up in City’s run-in, helping Pep Guardiola’s men to 11 straight victories, and Ake has been rewarded for an impressive season after being on the fringes of City’s team in previous years.

Arsenal have led the table for most of the season, but have fallen away badly in recent weeks, picking up just nine points from their last eight matches. 

Despite their disappointing drop-off in form, Mee has still picked two of Mikel Arteta’s players to join Saka, with Martin Odegaard completing his midfield, and Gabriel Magalhaes taking one of the centre back positions.

Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard are both in Mee’s team despite Arsenal’s dip in form

Only City have conceded fewer goals than third-placed Newcastle this term, and Mee has recognised that by including two of the Magpies’ back five. Kieran Trippier gets the nod at right back, and Nick Pope is in goal despite David de Gea winning the second Premier League Golden Glove of his career on Saturday.

Rashford and De Gea have both been snubbed, and Mee has actually decided not to include any United players in his XI, even though Erik ten Hag’s side look set to finish in the top four.

Instead, Mee has given the last centre back spot in his team to Brighton’s Lewis Dunk.

It looks a surprising call given that Tottenham (66) and Fulham (51) are the only top-half teams to concede more goals than Brighton (49) this season.

Yet Dunk has still caught Mee’s eye, and the Seagulls have had another excellent campaign as they close in on a place in next season’s Europa League.

Still, United duo Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez may feel hard done by after shining at the heart of their team’s defence this year.

Brighton defender Lewis Dunk is a shock inclusion in Mee’s team of the year

Mee’s team includes four City players and three of Arsenal’s squad, but no Man United stars

The two World Cup winners helped United end their six-year trophy drought by winning the Carabao Cup in February, and the Red Devils have a chance to add another piece of silverware next month when they take on City in the FA Cup final.

Arsenal’s William Saliba must have also been in the reckoning following a sensational first season in England.

His untimely back injury has proved costly for the Gunners, who have struggled to pick up results while he has been sidelined. 

Mee acknowledged his team would be controversial with some fans, as alongside his list of players he tweeted: ‘Pelters incoming’. 

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