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football.london rates the Arsenal player performances for the season so far
Arsenal are top at Christmas, again. The Gunners have made good on their promise to fight for the Premier League title, and for the third time in four seasons, they are at the summit of the tree as the festive season reaches its peak.
Mikel Arteta has the biggest squad ever available to him since his arrival at the club in December 2019, and on the sixth anniversary of his appointment, is facing questions over whether he has efficiently used the squad during the season so far. Injuries have peppered the side once again and now the Spaniard has the most pressure he has ever felt.
With that in mind, football.london rates all of the players’ contributions so far this season. 28 players in total have been given minutes by the manager so far, with the potential for that number to reach the thirties before the season ends.
David Raya
Already on nine clean sheets for the season, joint with Robert Sanchez at Chelsea and has commanded his box and distributed excellently throughout the season. 8
Kepa Arrizabalaga
A couple of performances but has not put a foot wrong in any of his games and made some good saves too, particularly against Brighton. 7
Jurrien Timber
With injuries in his position, Timber has needed to step up and again play plenty of minutes and has done so extremely well becoming one of the best players in the group as a result. 8
Ben White
Was back from injury and impressing while fit, but then found himself injured again, which has come at a horrendous time as the England international just cannot stay fit. 7
Marli Salmon
Made his debut against Club Brugge at 16 years of age and a great moment in his career. Too little time to truly judge. n/a
William Saliba
How the Frenchman has been missed when injured, particularly while his usual centre-back partner has also been absent, but while present has been his elegant brilliant best. 8
Cristhian Mosquera
What a bargain this young Spaniard has been, and his injury too has come at a horrendous time for the club because, without so many other options, he would have been so valuable. 8
Gabriel Magalhaes
One of the best players in the team, when fit. But the fact that he started for Brazil in a meaningless friendly when he didn’t need to brings his score down slightly. 7
Riccardo Calafiori
A highlight of the season so far, the Italian is realising his potential and why he was signed by the club for his chaos and inversion. 8
Myles Lewis-Skelly
Will be frustrated with the lack of minutes so far, but a victim of Calafiori’s form. Was great against Atletico Madrid but has had some difficult displays since. 5
Piero Hincapie
Perhaps did not expect to have to fill the chasm of Gabriel Magalhaes’ injury, especially as he was seen more as a left-back despite being able to play centre-half. But he’s coped with it well, but outshone by Mosquera so far. 7
Martin Zubimendi
The signing of the summer so far, a brilliant addition to the team and seems perfect for his role. Some surprise goals and chance creation that might not have been expected, but he has taken the number six role to a new level. 9
Christian Norgaard
Arteta has raved about what Norgaard has brought to the side off the field but on it, he has had a very limited time but his centre-half performance in Brugge has been a highlight with how competent he was. 5
Declan Rice
The best player in this current team and rightly starts nearly every single game. His running, energy, game-reading and every aspect is world class and if Arsenal win the league or Champions League, we should be discussing Ballon d’Or realities for this man. 9
Martin Odegaard
Another injury-hit season sees Odegaard exposed to around a third of the available minutes this season, and despite a great pre-season and start to the campaign, these missed matches interrupted the momentum, and the team needs more from him. 6
Eberechi Eze
How on Earth do we judge Eberechi Eze. A hat-trick in a North London Derby, a winning sole goal against his former club, Crystal Palace. But he has let games pass him by, and speaking to Palace regulars, their predictions have been fulfilled.
He can win you games but equally can be completely ineffective. Hopefully, as the season progresses, we can get a lot more from him. 6
Ethan Nwaneri
Play Ethan Nwaneri more. That’s the message from fans, and there are games where he absolutely should be playing or coming on, but while his talent is trusted, his defensive shortcomings clearly are having a big impact on Arteta choosing him more often, and as a result, a loan in the not so distant future might be on the cards. 5
Mikel Merino
The big man keeps on delivering when the pressure is on and when he’s asked to play through the middle. A great signing, and while not spectacular, deserves his flowers for his contributions. 8
Bukayo Saka
The top scorer in the team, but perhaps not yet firing at his absolute best. I cannot help but feel that since the hamstring injury, Saka has lost a yard of pace and a bit of a threat too, and with Noni Madueke, he cannot be comfortable, but he has stepped up still in key games. 7
Max Dowman
What a talent this young man is, and while his minutes too have been limited every time he plays, you think he is going to do something. Winning a penalty against Leeds United was a great moment too and he became Europe’s youngest ever debutant in the Champions League. He scored a seven because of his contributions, his talent and just simply how impressive he is in every game despite the limited minutes. 7
Noni Madueke
I could not be happier that the awful people who thought graffitiing Hornsea Road outside the Emirates Stadium and the petition that was made and signed by thousands have been made to look roundly ridiculous by the contributions of Noni Madueke. Very impressed, and you can tell there is so much more to come. 7
Leandro Trossard
Another one of the standout performers of the season, a scorer of big goals in big games and who has also done so well to prove the doubters wrong. Big goals against Fulham, Sunderland, Aston Villa and Tottenham as well as that great substitute appearance in Bilbao. 9
Gabriel Martinelli
Another player who has definitely stepped up this season with some big moments, the goal against Manchester City was certainly one, and Bayern Munich, as the Brazilian silences his critics in the first half of the campaign. 8
Viktor Gyokeres
Arrived with huge amounts of expectation after scoring 97 goals in 102 games. Is it a lack of service? Is it the player himself? The debate has raged amongst supporters, and while there was an upturn in form just before his injury, which saw him miss a couple of league games, overall, if we’re honest, more was hoped to have emerged by the halfway point of the season. 6
Andre Harriman-Annous
A surprise debutant this season and amid the striker injury crisis the youngster got his chance and nearly scored against Brighton too. More to come from the player perhaps here or elsewhere. n/a
Kai Havertz
Injured in the opening game against Manchester United and did not have enough minutes to be rated. He is very much hoped to return soon. n/a
Gabriel Jesus
Has now found his way back into the fold and his appearances so far have been very encouraging indeed. Still reluctant to give a rating, as comparing him against others at this stage would be unfair. n/a
Mikel Arteta
His team is top of the table at Christmas, top of the UEFA Champions League table with a perfect record and into the League Cup semi-final. Could he really have done much more as manager?
Well, yes, because with this big squad, there are definitely arguments that Arteta needs to better manage the group. While some injuries have been bad luck, Ben White’s, for example, was arguably avoidable, while the Spaniard could do more to make changes in commanding positions and trust the group further.
That said, he has done very well in spite of the missing players, but the second half of the season will truly define whether he is the man to take the Gunners to their ultimate goal. 8
English (US) ·