Arsenal’s season appraisal: So close but yet so far from UCL football

Arsenal team awards:
Is It really a debate for the Gunners’ Player of the Season?
Player of the Season: Bukayo Saka

Yes, there really is no debating Arsenal’s player of the season. At 19 years of age, Bukayo Saka made himself available for every Premier League outing, completing 38 games for the club. Not only did he show up for every match as fit as a fiddle but he delivered the goods.

In his 38 appearances, he is the Gunners’ top scorer with 11 goals and joint leader for assists with seven. The weight of their entire North London club weighed heavily on his shoulders. He didn’t step aside and instead put his hand up for the task at hand.

What a player he is turning out to be!

Flop of the Season: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

From Golden Boot to exit plans, it was one of the biggest declines of an Arsenal and Premier League player one has ever witnessed. All that was required was an attitude adjustment and things could have been a lot better for the now Barcelona striker.

This alone caused so many backroom problems with the manager having to select a new club captain. Aubameyang, as great as he is in front of goal, fell victim to the captaincy curse at the Emirates and saw his contract prematurely terminated. For this reason, Aubameyang takes Arsenal’s Flop of the Season.

Most improved player: Emile Smith Rowe

Emile Smith Rowe, like Saka, is a young and exciting player with the weight of the club on his shoulders as well. But like his partner in crime, did fold under pressure? Nope! He did not. Behind Saka for most goals is ESR with 10 goals scored, making him the only other player to hit double figures in goals scored this term.

The season before he broke onto the scene while this season he displayed even more qualities that he has in his locker. The only improvement needed from the young Englishman is his fitness and trying to start as many games as his countryman, Saka.

Unsung hero: Alexandre Lacazette

Due to the fate of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Arsenal had a huge hole to fill and they needed a leader to do so. I don’t think anybody thought that leader would be Alexandre Lacazette.

At the time of the decision to make him the captain after Aubameyang’s ill-timed departure, he was barely in the starting lineup. But when the call was made, Laca pulled up his socks and became the leader the Gunners needed.

An inspirational commander, not because of his goals and assists but because of his presence and passion for the badge. It made Arteta not regret his choice to make him the team skipper and it helped see them through to the end of the season. Furthermore, the club is now two-minded about seeing him leave for free after taking up the captaincy role so well.

Arsenal’s signing of the Season: Aaron Ramsdale

Everybody scowled upon the arrival of Arron Ramsdale, having just been relegated with Sheffield United; and Arsenal already owning Bernd Leno, raised a few more concerns over the transfer of the English stopper to the Gunners.

However, once he took over from Leno in between the sticks, Arsenal never looked back. His first game during their worst patch at the start of the season was the 6-0 win over WBA in the EFL Cup.

He then went on to play 34 league games for the club, keeping 12 clean sheets and making 84 saves. The only negative to take from his maiden season at the Emirates, is his one or two errors leading to a goal and the high total of 39 goals conceded — but this is a stat all of Arsenal must claim responsibility for.

Worth the reminder: Ramsdale’s saves against Newcastle United and Leicester City. Outstanding Lad!

Team rating out of 10: 6

There are still lots of positives to take away from this campaign for Arteta and his boys. They still have more wins than losses, won a North London Derby, and finished above rivals Manchester United and West Ham United, both of whom were after the same spots as the Gunners.

As mentioned earlier, they have Europa League to look forward to and on two fronts can get back into the Champions League, their biggest quest to date.