Arsenal have had an up-and-down season this time around with some real highs and some disappointing lows.
On one hand, a second-place finish and a Champions League semi-final is arguably Arsenal’s best season in a long time, and a few years ago, the Gunners would only have dreamt of such a campaign.
However, it does feel like there’ve been a number of missed opportunities this season.
Mikel Arteta was angry a striker wasn’t signed in January, and, ultimately, Arsenal did fall off after Kai Havertz’s injury in February.
However, it wasn’t all doom and gloom for Arsenal, there were some great moments and some standout performers this term.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Peter Crouch has been naming who he believes is each top club’s Player of the Season, and he gave an interesting answer for Arsenal.
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Peter Crouch picks Declan Rice as his Arsenal Player of the Season
Crouch was asked to name who he thinks has been Arsenal’s Player of the Season.
There are a few contenders at play here, Bukayo Saka has earned plenty of praise this season, while William Saliba is the best defender in the world according to some.
However, according to Crouch, Declan Rice has actually been Arsenal’s Player of the Season.
Rice is operating at a world-class level these days, and Crouch believes he’s been the Gunners’ standout performer this year.
Arsenal’s top goal contributors this season
Crouch picked Rice as his Player of the Season for Arsenal, and it’s really hard to disagree here.
Indeed, the midfielder has been excellent for Arsenal this term, not just in terms of fulfilling his usual duties, but also in the attack.
In fact, only Bukayo Saka has more goal contributions than Rice for Arsenal this season.
Arsenal’s top goal contributors this season Goals Assists Goal contributions
Bukayo Saka 12 13 25
Declan Rice 9 10 19
Leandro Trossard 10 9 19
Kai Havertz 15 4 19
Martin Odegaard 6 11 17
Gabriel Martinelli 10 5 15
Of course, the argument could then be that Saka deserves to be considered Arsenal’s Player of the Season, but, then again, Saka was injured for a significant period this term, so it’s hard to give this award to a player who missed so much football.
Rice was excellent for Arsenal this year, and he would very much be a worthy winner of the club’s Player of the Year award.