London Football Awards nominations dominated by Arsenal

In what has been a stellar season for the Gunners, with them five points clear at the top of the Premier League, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard battle it out for Premier League Player of the Year alongside Harry Kane, Ivan Toney and Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Saka is also up against teammates William Saliba and Gabriel Martinelli, as well as Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise and Millwall’s Billy Mitchell for Young Player of the Year.

And Mikel Arteta is up for Manager of the Year, with Aaron Ramsdale nominated for Goalkeeper of the Year and and Beth Mead and Kim Little nominated for FA Women’s Super League Player of the Year against the likes of Chelsea’s Sam Kerr and Millie Bright.

Richie Wellens’ Leyton Orient are recognised for their brilliant season so far as they lead the League Two table. 

Paul Smyth and Omar Beckles battling it out for the EFL Player of the Year award, with Wellens earning himself a nomination for Manager of the Year.
The London Football Awards, now in its ninth year, celebrates the achievements of players, clubs and initiatives taking place in the capital during the year.

Nominees and winners are selected by a panel of judges made up of ex-players, broadcasters and professionals from across the footballing pyramid. 

The 26-person judging panel for 2023 includes the likes of former players Bobby Zamora and Tony Cottee; esteemed broadcasters Jacqui Oatley and Dickie Davis; and Bob Wilson OBE, ex-Arsenal legend and founder of the Willow Foundation.

Wilson said: “It’s been an incredible season so far for players and clubs across London, so being able to honour them at our ceremony this year give us immense pride. 

“It gets harder every single year to decide on these nominees, with the standard of football on show getting higher with each season that goes by. 

“Every nominee would be a worthy winner and we look forward to celebrating with them all in the coming weeks.”

The winner of the prestigious Outstanding Contribution to London Football Award was recently announced as former West Ham captain and Premier League legend Mark Noble, soon to be followed by a public vote to decide the Goal of the Season.

All proceeds from the awards go to Willow, the UK’s only national charity providing Special Days and Specials Treats for seriously ill young adults aged 16-40 when they are needed most.

The charity was founded by Bob Wilson and wife Megs after the death of their daughter Anna from cancer aged 31.

The London Football Awards is sponsored by Toscafund, who also sponsor the Premier League Player of The Year category, and includes awards sponsored by: London Evening Standard (Community Project of the Year), Jump (EFL Player of the Year), Frogmore (Manager of the Year), Multiplex (Goalkeeper of the Year), Weston Homes (Outstanding Contribution to London Football) and Gung Ho Communications (the FA Women’s Super League Player of the Year).

The 2023 London Football Awards will be held at the Roundhouse on Monday March 13, with more information at londonfootballawards.org. 

PREMIER LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE YEAR (2022/23): Martin Odegaard – Arsenal; Bukayo Saka – Arsenal; Harry Kane – Tottenham Hotspur; Ivan Toney – Brentford; Aleksander Mitrovic – Fulham.

ENGLISH FOOTBALL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Joao Pedro – Watford; Zian Fleming – Millwall; Paul Smyth – Leyton Orient; Miles Leaburn – Charlton Athletic; Omar Beckles – Leyton Orient.

YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Bukayo Saka – Arsenal; Michael Olise – Crystal Palace; Gabriel Martinelli – Arsenal; William Saliba – Arsenal; Billy Mitchell – Millwall.

GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR: Aaron Ramsdale – Arsenal; David Raya – Brentford; Bernd Leno – Fulham; Kepa Arrizabalaga – Chelsea; Lawrence Vigouroux – Leyton Orient.

THE FA WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Beth Mead – Arsenal; Kim Little – Arsenal; Sam Kerr – Chelsea; Millie Bright – Chelsea; Dagný Brynjarsdóttir – West Ham.

WOMEN’S YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Lauren James – Chelsea; Asmita Ale – Tottenham Hotspur; Izzy Atkinson – West Ham.

MANAGER OF THE YEAR: Mikel Arteta – Arsenal; Richie Wellens – Leyton Orient; Emma Hayes – Chelsea Women; Thomas Frank – Brentford; Marco Silva – Fulham.

GOAL OF THE SEASON: Heung-Min Son – Spurs v Leicester Sep 17; Michael Olise – Crystal Palace v Man Utd Jan 18; Ismalia Sarr – Watford v West Brom Aug 8; Paul Smyth – Leyton Orient v Doncaster Oct 8; Laura Wienroither – Arsenal Women v Man Utd Women Nov 19.

COMMUNITY PROJECT OF THE YEAR (2022 CALENDAR YEAR): Tackling Discrimination Through the Power of Football – Brentford FC Community Sports Trust; More Than A Game – Fulham Football Club Foundation; Get Involved – Palace for Life Foundation.