Arsenal fans pack London streets for victory parade
Arsenal Football Newsletter
Arsenal on Sunday celebrated their best season in two over two decades with a trophy parade for winning the Premier League.
It was both the culmination of Mikel Arteta’s six-and-a-half-year reign to date, and also the start of the next chapter as the Gunners push after losing the Champions League final to Paris Saint-Germain.
Success built on defensive solidarity saw the Gunners crowned champions of England and two penalty misses away from taking the ultimate European prize. Arsenal spent big last summer and almost all of their signings produced the goods when called upon. Others got less chances to impress.
So, it’ll will be another summer of reshaping the squad for Arteta, and sporting director Andrea Berta, but first Arsenal reporter Matt Verri assesses every player from an historic campaign.
Declan Rice, Gabriel and Bukayo Saka
Every Arsenal player ranked this season
24) Kepa Arrizabalaga
Hard to look beyond the Carabao Cup final. Trusted by Arteta and had a nightmare, when he could have been sent off and then near enough threw one into his own net. Had shaky moments in the cups even before that. Really disappointing from a player who on paper appears to be a good No2 option.
23) Christian Norgaard
Perhaps harsh but he just did not play - 101 minutes of Premier League football shows he hasn’t impressed Arteta in training. Led to Zubimendi being run into the ground. Struggled when playing in midfield basically by himself against Southampton. Refusal to use him more raises big recruitment questions.
22) Gabriel Jesus
Injury problems have taken away so much physicality. Still capable of moments that remind you of what he offered when he signed, but they are few and far between. Nice moment when scoring on the final day of the Premier League season in what could well be his last appearance for the club.
21) Ben White
Few deserved their Premier League medal more than him. Has put his body on the line for Arsenal in recent years. Looked well off the pace in March and April as Arsenal’s form dipped, but rolled back the years in the second leg against Atletico. Still brings out the best in Saka but questions over his future at the club.
Max Dowman
20) Max Dowman
Maybe that Everton goal should have earned him a higher ranking considering just how special a moment it was. Just a ridiculous contribution from the 16-year-old. Feels like teams then started to try and kick him out of the game and that physical treatment is what he must adapt to.
19) Gabriel Martinelli
Unfortunately these aren’t just cup rankings. Ten goals across the Champions League and FA Cup - one in the Premier League all season. That was a big one, though, snatching a point at home to Man City. However, it’s just not enough from a winger that made 30 league appearances.
18) Noni Madueke
So frustrating. Can be unplayable at times when running at a full-back one-on-one but the end product that follows is far too hit and miss. Bright cameo nearly turned the Champions League final in Arsenal’s favour but eight goals and one assist all season is poor.
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17) Cristhian Mosquera
Looks an absolute bargain at £13m. Performance at Anfield in August was an early statement of what he is capable of. Emerged as a much-needed right-back option but limitations exposed. Struggled against Man City at the Etihad and then lunged in desperately for the turning point of the Champions League final.
16) Myles Lewis-Skelly
Would have been much, much higher had he been trusted in midfield by Arteta earlier. Finally got his big chance in May and grabbed it brilliantly. Sensational against Fulham and Atletico Madrid, so much so that he was rightly trusted in the Champions League final. A month that saved his Arsenal career?
15) Martin Odegaard
In the Arsenal history books as a title-winning captain but still a frustrating season individually. Injuries kept halting his momentum. Brilliant cameo against West Ham effectively won Arsenal the game but too rarely did he grab a match by the scruff of the neck like that.
14) Mikel Merino
Missed basically the entire second half of the season with a complicated foot injury. He was really impressive in the opening months though. When all the strikers were out injured, he chipped in with four goals and three assists in eight matches leading the line. That prevented Arsenal’s season from derailing.
13) Eberechi Eze
Took a while to get going and has lacked consistency. Showed flashes of what he is capable of, mainly against Tottenham. He is a moments player but that sense is that he still needs to fully win Arteta’s trust. Painful penalty miss in Budapest a tough end to an up-and-down first season.
12) Riccardo Calafiori
A genuine difference-maker in attack from left-back. Takes up such unique positions and adds a real unpredictable edge. Winner at Old Trafford on the opening day and his return from injury in May helped bring some fluid football back. But that is the problem - too many injuries and cannot stay fit.
11) Leandro Trossard
Earlier in the season he was Arsenal’s most reliable attacker, but he then went 25 matches without a goal after his superb display against Aston Villa in December. Turned it back on late in the run-in and winner against West Ham was as big a moment as any in Arsenal’s season.
10) Martin Zubimendi
Tale of two halves for his season and that’s an understatement. Slotted into the side brilliantly at first. Unexpected goal threat too with six in all competitions. None since February as form tailed right off, with the Spaniard looking exhausted. Well over 4000 minutes in his first season in England was a big effort.
9) Bukayo Saka
Battled an Achilles injury for a chunk of the season and was well off his best for large periods. Still managed 18 goal contributions and stepped up in the run-in when shining against Atletico Madrid, Fulham and Burnley. Delivered when briefly required to slot in at No10 earlier in the campaign.=
8) Kai Havertz
Injured for the first half of the season but chipped in with decisive contributions since then. Header against Burnley led to the league being won 24 hours later. Huge stoppage-time goals against Chelsea, Sporting and Bayer Leverkusen. Close to immortality when firing Arsenal in front in Budapest.
7) Viktor Gyokeres
Tough to know what to make of him. At times looked lost, at other points finally made use of his size. Always a willing worker and a return of 21 goals in his first season is a solid one. Still does not quite feel like the answer up front for Arsenal.
6) Piero Hincapie
Xabi Alonso told Mikel Arteta he was getting a warrior - that’s proved to be bang on. Immense in the Champions League, even when on one leg in extra time. Monster in the win over Newcastle in April that flipped momentum. Relentless in the second half of the season.
5) Jurrien Timber
Two-month absence makes it easy to forget how good and how consistent Timber was for much of the campaign. Gave away next to nothing defensively and for large spells central to how Arsenal attacked too. Even in Budapest he raised the level when coming on, despite a long time out.
4) William Saliba
Went under the radar at times compared to all-action partner but this was another wonderful season. Just never gets rattled. Felt like his passing went up a level again too. Had injuries in both ankles but never significantly dipped below his best.
3) Gabriel
Decisive penalty miss in Budapest a cruel end to a top-class campaign. Goal return dried up but influence did not. So many point-saving blocks and clearances. Aggressive without being rash. The desperation with which he defends is extraordinary.
2) David Raya
Yet another Golden Glove and so many pivotal saves to go with it. Massive saves against Brighton, Chelsea and West Ham to name only a few. Must have earned the team more than ten points. Arsenal badly missed him in the Carabao Cup final. One of the world’s very best.
1) Declan Rice
Arsenal’s midfield powerhouse. Often ran the show as a No8 and dominant at No6 too. Extraordinary physical effort, playing almost 4,500 minutes. Man of the match against Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid. Set-piece delivery is so often perfect too. Sensational season.