Shall we go for it then. Enough of the build-up, it's time to reveal the BBC Sport Football Awards Premier League Player of the Season (as chosen by our pundits, journalists and experts).

Three, two, one...

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Plenty of contenders, especially Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes after he picked up top individual honours such as the Football Writers’ Association Footballer Of The Year, but I’m going for Declan Rice.

He has been at the very heart of Arsenal’s first title win in 22 years, a leader and an inspiration, as well as showing once again how comfortable he is on the elite stage by playing his part as they reached the Champions League Final.

Sami Mokbel
BBC Sport Senior football correspondent

I get the Bruno Fernandes argument, but Rice has driven Arsenal to the title and a Champions League final. Glory counts.

Alex Howell
BBC Sport Arsenal reporter

The midfielder has played the most minutes of any Arsenal player and has sometimes by sheer force of will impacted games.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

A vital cog in Arteta's midfield, Rice appeared in all but one of their league games en route to the Premier League title this season. He could yet be get his hands on the Champions League trophy, and will play a pivotal role for England this summer.

Is he the best player in the league according to our experts?

Appearances: 37

Goals: 4

Assists: 7

Arsenal's final position: 1st

Nb: Stats are derived from Transfermarkt and are Premier League only.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport Chief Football News Reporter

There has been a lot of debate over this in various quarters because the belief seems to be that someone from Arsenal should get it because they are the champions.

I don’t view the situation like that at all.

Fernandes is someone you would pay to watch play. He makes risky passes, he creates goals.

His ability is not to defend the goal, it is working out ways to get the ball into it.

He started the season in a deeper position – to the detriment of Kobbie Mainoo – and did well. He was restored to a more offensive area by Michael Carrick and his numbers went up even more.

Do I think ‘most assists’ is a thing? I’m not sure. But I do know Manchester United would have got nowhere near to finishing third without him.

Wayne Rooney on The Wayne Rooney Show

I am delighted for him [Bruno Fernandes]. He has been fantastic this season and the [Premier League] player of the year [because of] the influence he has, how driven he is and he's scored a few goals as well. He has been the heartbeat of that team.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The Manchester United talisman delivered his 21st assist on a fitting final day of the season, a campaign that has brought him widespread recognition.

That record-breaking moment added to an outstanding season in which the United captain also won the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year and the Premier League Player of the Season awards.

It is deserved not only for his performances this season — in which he also scored nine goals as United finished a creditable third — but for his consistency over a longer period.

Fernandes has been a reliable performer since joining from Sporting in 2020 and, even during difficult periods for United, he has remained one of the Premier League’s most effective attacking players.

Having already won the Premier League player of the season and the Football Writers' Association men's Player of the Year, Bruno Fernandes is going for the treble.

The Portugal midfielder created 21 assists - a Premier League record and scored nine goals.

Fernandes created a staggering 136 chances this season, (the next best was Dominik Szoboszlai with 78).

• Appearances: 35
• Goals: 9
• Assists: 21
• Man Utd's final position: 3rd

Nb: Stats are derived from Transfermarkt and are Premier League only.

Aadam Patel
Football Reporter

With 19 clean sheets in the Premier League and a title-winning save at West Ham, the Arsenal goalkeeper is my Player of the Season.

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya has been just as important, if not more, than defensive duo William Saliba and Gabriel.

Raya amassed 19 clean sheets in the Premier League this season, four more than any other goalkeeper and it was the joint most by an Arsenal goalkeeper in a single season, with David Seaman keeping 19 in both 1993-94 and 1998-99.

Appearances: 37

Clean sheets: 19

Goals conceded: 26

Arsenal's final position: 1st

Nb: Stats are derived from Transfermarkt and are Premier League only.

Ciaran Kelly
BBC Sport reporter

Defenders do not often get individual recognition, but Gabriel has been a hugely influential figure in Arsenal's march towards the title.

I must admit that I did not rate the screaming Brazilian all that much when I first saw him play for Arsenal in a 2-0 defeat at St James' Park a few years ago.

But the much-improved centre-back has typified the journey Arsenal have gone on since that bruising night on Tyneside.

He has also embodied everything that has been so effective about Arteta's team this season.

Not only has Gabriel been a lynchpin in the top-flight's meanest defence – he has caused the opposition real problems at set-plays.

Image source, Getty Images

Part of a defensive duo that helped Arsenal secure their first Premier League title in 22 years, Gabriel has been a dominant force at the back for the Gunners.

He also chipped in up the other end of the field, too, but is that enough to get your vote for player of the season?

Appearances: 32

Clean sheets: 17

Goal contributions: 7

Arsenal's final position: 1st

Nb: Stats are derived from Transfermarkt and are Premier League only.

Thanks for your thoughts Paul/everyone!

It's exciting, this.

Right, one final award remains. Are you ready? It's time to chat BBC Sport Football Awards Premier League Player of the Season...