Confusion spread among Arsenal supporters after two players from the squad were reportedly left without medals during the official trophy presentation and post-match celebrations.
The club finally ended its long 22-year wait for a Premier League title, being crowned champions under manager Mikel Arteta.
Following their final league fixture against Crystal Palace, which ended in a 2–1 victory, the team moved straight into the title celebrations, culminating in the long-awaited trophy lift.
However, amid the joy and celebrations, some fans noticed that two players, identified as Marli Salmon and Tommy Setford, did not receive medals during the ceremony, unlike most of their teammates.
Eberechi Eze receiving his Premier League winner’s medal 😍 pic.twitter.com/AxP6wqHgMj
— Goaldata – Arsenal Zone (@ArsenalZNE) May 24, 2026
The pair were among the first to step up to the podium during the presentation, yet they appeared to leave without collecting their medals.
They didn’t give medals to Salmon and Setford I felt so sad for them 😭😭😭
— PD (@1_2spaces) May 24, 2026
Their apparent omission quickly sparked debate among supporters, with many questioning why the two players were not handed medals alongside the rest of the squad and raising concerns about how recognition was being distributed.
Under official league regulations, each winning club is allocated 40 commemorative medals, which are shared among players, coaching staff, and club officials.
However, there is a key requirement for automatic eligibility: a player must have featured in at least five Premier League matches during the season to be assured of receiving a medal at the official presentation.
Marli Salmon and Tommy Setford spent most of the campaign playing in domestic cup competitions rather than the league.
As a result, they did not reach the minimum threshold of five Premier League appearances needed to qualify automatically for a medal during the ceremony.
As a result, both players walked to the podium but did not receive medals alongside their teammates during the ceremony.
The Premier League handbook clearly outlines the rule in Section C13:
“The League Champions shall further receive 40 commemorative medals to be presented by the Club to its Manager and to such of its Players and Officials as it thinks fit, provided that any Player who has entered the field of play in a minimum of five of its League Matches that Season shall receive from the Club a commemorative medal.”
Despite missing out on the official stage presentation, there is still a strong possibility that both Salmon and Setford will receive winners’ medals privately from the club at a later date.
