Rating every Arsenal player season for 2021/22 (Mid+Attack)

Midfielders

Granit Xhaka 7

I’ve never been his biggest fan but he I must admit he has improved and been a key figure for the Gunners this season. this also presents one of Arsenal’s biggest problems with that they have to rely on Xhaka who still remains a liability at times. His reputation with refs as still being a massive hot head as well as lapses in concentration still holds Arsenal back. I personally would keep Xhaka for another season as he is a clear leader but he must be upgraded if Arsenal want to move further up the table.

Thomas Partey 7.5

Thomas Partey is the key for Arsenal. All the evidence is in Arsenal’s recent results since his injury at Palace. A near spotless injury record in Spain has been tarnished by the Arsenal injury curse. At times he makes it look easy with his swift turns and eye for a pass. He struggled at the start and he even admitted he was playing at a 4/10. Since then he has been impeccable except for the aforementioned Palace game in which he probably played his worst game of the season. If he can remain fit and Arteta can recruit an upgrade on Xhaka, Arsenal’s midfield could become a real force.

Mohammed Elneny 5.5

Elneny has always been a safe option despite not being the most glamorous of footballers. His tendency to opt to go backwards than forwards unanimously frustrates the fanbase but he is a very solid defensive player that will not stop running. He had some good performances in the absence of Thomas Partey but he’s not someone who takes Arsenal to the next level. A one year extension seems the right thing to do with European football returning to the Emirates next season

Albert Sambi Lokonga 5

Not afraid to get on the ball , Sambi had started off well showing glimpses of his potential but as the season progressed it was clear he could not fulfil the role and have the same impact as Partey. Especially towards the end of the season, he has struggled for minutes so some Europa League football will definitely help him out and maybe push him to a more regular first team place next season.

Martin Ødegaard 8.5

Since the whole Ozil saga, fans have been crying out for a quality playmaker and Arsenal finally have one. Ødegaard has put in numerous world class performances during Arsenal’s fantastic run from Dec-March. Him and Saka are often on the same wave length, providing the main threat for the Gunners. His ability to work in tight spaces is lovely to watch while his passing vision is often reminiscent of his German predecessor. The biggest criticism I can say is that he can struggle to make an impact in the bigger matches, however this is a team issue that Arteta needs to sort out as its costing them massively.

Attackers

Gabriel Martinelli 7.5

It’s quite obvious why Martinelli is a fan favourite. The boy puts in 200% every game and is always a threat that’s not always utilised by his teammates. I am truly baffled that he was not given at least a game at centre forward in the wake of Lacazette’s terrible run of form ( more on that later). The games against West Ham and Leeds in December really made me think he was going to explode goal scoring wise but that proved to be wrong as his goals dried up a lot in the second half of the season. Goals or not martinelli has proven to be a real danger and I just hope he remains fit for the season.

Bukayo Saka 9

Our starboy what more can I say. After his crucial miss in the Euro final, it takes real mental strength to bounce back and have a season like this, just look at Marcus Rashford a completely different player this season. 11 goals and 7 assists make him Arsenal’s top goal contributor in the league. His one and one take on ability is exceptional whilst also proving to be really strong physically which surprises me due to his stature. He is young and will only improve, one of the biggest things Arsenal can do this summer, is getting him to sign a new long term deal.

Emile Smith Rowe 7.5

Smith Rowe ended the season as the Gunners second top goalscorer. From September to December he was in red hot goal scoring form scoring 8 from 13 and the majority came from the subs bench. Coming off the bench to seal the victory was something this side has lacked over the past seasons and so he has proven to be a valuable asset. The second half of the season his form had declined with only 2 goals and his impacts in the game especially towards the end of the season become less and less. I feel this is down to losing out to Martinelli and also mainly that Arsenal seem to favour the right hand side especially since Tierney’s absence, lessening Smith Rowe’s involvement in attacks. Once Tierney returns I expect Smith Rowe to find his form from the start of the season.

Nicolas Pepe 3

I feel this will be Pepe’s last season for the Gunners. There was high expectation this season that we would finally see his true value after his impressive end to last season. However this was not the case as the Ivorian has struggled for game time and form with his most memorable moment coming as the orchestrator in the dramatic 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton ‘celebration police’ Wanderers. He has had some terrible sub appearances against the likes of Newcastle, Aston Villa and Leeds. I cant see Arsenal getting more than 25 million for him and he will go down as one of the worst pieces of business in the clubs history unfortunately.

Eddie Nketiah 6

Ill admit, I never really had much faith in Nketiah. Fair play to him, he has done really well since taking Lacazette’s place in a move that was too little to late. Every game he has been a real threat form the forward position something the club had struggled with in recent months. Do I want him to extend? Yes. Should he be the main striker? No. Let him be the Europa main man with rotation in the prem, Arsenal really need that star power up top if they want to compete for the champions league next season and Nketiah can provide that competition.

Alexandre Lacazette 4

Arsenal not upgrading on Lacazette has ultimately cost them top 4 with the Frenchman failing to even provide 10 league goals. His link up play at times had been excellent which is what I believe is the reason he was not replaced as they thought he can still contribute by creating rather than scoring. Post January he probably became the most frustrating player in the squad, shooting when he should be passing and passing when he should be shooting. He lacked energy and just overall technical ability at times making him little threat. There’s an argument that he does not start for any other club expect the bottom 3. It would be utterly insane if Arsenal opt to extend his contract.

Note from EnterTheReviews: A big thanks to Emirates Era for this piece.

If you have passion and want to write about football drop me an email at: enterthereviews123.com.

Thanks for reading.

Rating every Arsenal players season for 2021/22

After the first three games, things looked bleak for the Gunners and another season of disappointment seem inevitable. However, as the season progressed, the team grew with new signings and soon the young guns were in contention for a illusive Champions League spot. As of time of writing (18/05/22) Arsenal threw away their chances with gutless performances against rivals Spurs and Newcastle which has left a sour taste in many supporters mouths. As it comes to the end of the season, it is time to assess each first teamer’s performance across the season.

Goalkeepers

Aaron Ramsdale 7

The transfer came in with a heap of criticism from supporters and pundits a like. Ramsdale quickly established himself as the new no 1 at the Emirates and had a fantastic run including a incredible game against Leicester, leading to a England call up. His antics on the pitch, particularly riling up opposition fans made him a quick fan favourite. However around February time, his form has dropped dramatically with him constantly being beaten by saveable shots which has evidently made him become a lot more nervous leading to his ability to distribute to decline as well. Ramsdale was one of my picks for player of the season until recent months and I really hope he can rediscover his form for next season.

Bernd Leno 4

The past few seasons, Leno has been a life saver for the Gunners but his poor distribution and lacking the ability to play out from the back has seen him drop to number 2 in the Arsenal goalkeeping pecking order. He did manage to start the first 3 games with a poor game against Brentford and was a part of the other two embarrassments of fixtures. A great moment did come when Leno filled in for an injured Ramsdsale against Aston Villa and he kept his only league clean sheet of the season. It looks like he will leave in the summer and he has been a valiant professional throughout his 4 year tenure.

Defenders

Takehiro Tomiyasu7.5

Tomiyasu has been mostly brilliant throughout his debut season with him fighting for every ball, being solid defensively and winning most of his duels. A few struggles against Liverpool and Man Utd and more recently Newcastle have not changed my mind, that Tomi is a Key player for years to come. His rating would be higher if it was not for persistent injuries that have kept him out for a lot of games. Tomi’s injury proneness should provide a wake up call to Arteta and co. in finding a suitable backup.

Cedric Soares 3

The permanent transfer always baffled me especially with the reported £75,000 weekly wage making him a higher earner than the likes of Gabriel, Saka and Smith-Rowe. This season I felt Cedric has been rash and reckless and a liability defensively with a ludicrous performance against Man Utd at the Emirates where at one point he pushes away the ball in his own penalty area. Another common occurrence seems to be him squaring up to opponents for little reason. His presence on set pieces is infuriating as well as they rarely deliver, especially with much better takers available. It’s not been all bad, he has put in some decent performances but he is someone Arsenal should be looking to upgrade upon.

Gabriel Magalhães 7.5

The rock at the back, Gabriel remains Arsenal’s best centre back. Sometimes prone to nerves and mistakes, Gabriel will always put his body on the line and has made some match winning tackles and blocks across the season as well proving some key goals. His passing can be mixed but is improving. His lowest moment came against Man City where he lost his head and ultimately the game after his dismissal for a second yellow card with both incidents being avoidable. I don’t buy into the rumours that he will leave this summer as I believe he sees himself as a key player for seasons to come.

Benjamin White 7

Ben White struggled at the start of the season especially against the likes of Brentford and Burnley. He eventually started to show his class as his partnership with Gabriel flourishes. A comfortable disciplined passer of the ball and has the ability to drive forward, something that he has done less and less in recent times for some reason. I think may favourite performance of his, is his domination of Michail Antonio at the emirates. However some poor lapses of judgement against the likes of Southampton and Liverpool have shown he still has work to do and with the hopeful integration of Saliba , it should provide healthy competition to push him and Gabriel to the next level.

Rob Holding 5

Some poor performances at the start of the season led to him losing his place in the first team and being a substitute for the majority of the season. Rob Holding has proven to be a useful player when coming off the bench in the infamous 5-2-3 formation. A disastrous performance against Spurs has put him in the bad books with the fanbase and it looks likely that with the return of Saliba his game time will be less and less.

Kieran Tierney 6

I have actually been more critical this season with his offensive and defensive displays being no one where near the standard we expect from the Scotsman. I feel once Arsenal get an aerially dominant striker, Tierney’s crossing capabilities can be utilised to their maximum. He is still a key part of the backline and his injury issues along with Thomas Partey have derailed Arsenals season. Tierney is still levels above his compettitor in all departments which move us onto…

Nuno Tavares 2

Probably the most chaotic unpredictable footballers in the league. Oh Nuno, he started off with promise but disastrous performances against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest seem to have destroyed his confidence. He got a second chance after Tierney’s injury but things have gotten worse with the Gunners failing to keep a clean sheet since his return, obviously it’s not all his fault for that. A goal against United made me think his confidence would be restored but it just made him drop a mental performance that saw him give away possessions and a stupid penalty. He reminds me of Andre Santos, decent going forward but horrendous defensively. He is young though which people seem to forget and it may be worth going out on loan as he is clearly not ready to be Tierney’s backup.

Note: That cannon celebration is cold though

Midfielders + Attackers

Premier League 10 most impressive players Nov-Dec

The names listed are the players who have impressed me the most when i’ve watched them play this season. I have tried to avoid the more obvious bigger names unless they have been too good to ignore. The fixtures used for this criteria are game weeks 11-20

Note: This list is NOT in order

1.Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal)

Since becoming a regular in the ever improving Arsenal side, Gabriel Martinelli has flourished scoring 4 and assisting 2 in 7 appearances. His goals have shown he is a ruthless finisher in close range. However his scoring has not been the most impressive part of his game but rather his desire to chase down and win the ball back for his team. Against Norwich he ran from the left wing to the right wing in order to retrieve the ball which then created the move in which Saka finished. His pace and desire along with his predatorial finishing has been a key reason why Arteta’s men have entered into the top 4.

2.Emmanuel Dennis (Watford)

The Watford talisman does not seem to be getting the recognition he deserves with 13 goal contributions in 16 league appearances, including a standout performance against Manchester United. Despite Watford’s poor run of form, Dennis remains a bright spark. With Dennis being called up for Nigeria for the upcoming AFCON tournament in January, he will miss vital games against Tottenham, Newcastle, Norwich and without a backup striker who can match Dennis’s contributions, Watford may be in for a struggle.

3.Joao Cancelo (Man City)

A very gifted versatile footballer than is the current best fullback in the league for me. Both efficient offensively and defensively on either wing, Cancelo has been a crucial reason as to why Pep’s Man City are running away with the league yet again. His movement and crossing ability makes himself a nightmare for defenders to defend against.

4.Trent Alexander Arnold (Liverpool)

From one full back to the other, Trent has continued to show why he is so crucial to Liverpool’s attacking play. 2 goals and 8 Assists from right back is incredible and yes his defensive duties still remain questionable, he more than makes up for it with his crossing and long range shooting ability. An absolute stunner against newcastle was one of the goals of the season so far.

5.Mason Mount (Chelsea)

Now for England, I don’t rate Mount at all, he offers very little and does not seem to have that explosiveness like others do in his position. However for Chelsea, he is a different player. You can tell his is the heart of the team and what has impressed me the most these game weeks is that he has produced some excellent finishes particularly those against Watford and West Ham. 4 goals and 3 assists in 7 straight starts is not a bad return at all.

6.Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal)

I was not the biggest fan of Ødegaard when he joined the Gunners permanently and he did have quite the slow start. However in these game weeks we are starting to see what he can do, pulling the strings in games against Southampton, West Ham, Leeds and Norwich whilst also improving his goal scoring ability in the previous games . Some may say these were against weaker or depleted teams and so a similar performance against the likes of Tottenham and Manchester City could decide whether this man is the right one to lead Arsenal back to the Champions League.

7.Raheem Sterling (Man City)

After a slow start to the season, Sterling has found his form with 6 goals in his last 7 featured games. He has shown how he can be one of the league’s most dangerous players with is clever movement and dribbling that has won his team penalties as well as burying a few of his own. As an England fan its exciting seeing Sterling return to his top form and I’m hopeful he can have a similar campaign to the Euros at the upcoming World Cup in 2022.

8.Joelinton (Newcastle)

A player who has been hugely disrespected this season. Since joining from Hoffenheim it’s been no secret that Joelinton has not been the goal scoring machine, the Magpies were hoping for when he arrived. In a somewhat genius move, Eddie Howe has taken his strengths and moulded him into a monstrous ball winning midfielder. He is constantly battling, giving 110% every game whilst doing his defensive duties impressively. Just watch his recent performance against Man Utd, one of the best individual performances of the season so far. It’s a brilliant sight when a player who gets a lot of stick manages to turn it round. I hope he can continue his form for the rest of the season.

9.Diego Jota (Liverpool)

6 goals in 9 games is not a bad return at all is it. Jota always seems to be in the right area in order to at least get a shot away, showing his movement and positing is top notch.. Jota has done well at keeping out Roberto Firmino out of the side who’s game time seems to be getting less and less. Jota’s main criticism for me is he does miss quite a few chances but if your scoring 6 goals in 9 games you can’t really complain too much.

10.Romain Saiss (Wolves)

Wolves have kept 5 clean sheets in 8 games with two of those defeats being narrow losses to Liverpool and Man City. Wolves have become such a defensive unit these past couple of months, being the only team not to conceded from a set piece with Saiss being a key reason for it. His defensive positioning has been on point with dominant performances against Chelsea, Brighton, Burney & West Ham. Wolves defensive record is not being spoken about enough for me and after a slow start to the season, Wolves could find themselves in a comfortable part of the table if they can get their attacking to be as successful as the defence.

Honourable Mentions

Bernardo Silva (Man City)

After the first few weeks of this period of games, Bernardo was being put on the same level of Salah, turning into quite the goalscorer. However the last few weeks has seen the goals dry up and his contributions to the game being less effective hence why he just misses out

John McGinn (Aston Villa)

A proper engine of that Aston Villa midfield, everything revolves around him. Since Gerrard’s arrival McGinn has gone up another level, producing some exquisite passes whilst dictating the play which as made Villa a real threat again. Also his technique on his long range shooting whether it be on the ground or on the volley is phenomenal. If it wasn’t for 3 games postponed in a row, McGinn maybe could have sneaked into the top 10.

Lucas Moura (Tottenham)

A player who I never really thought we had seen the best from yet, Lucas Moura has finally found a decent run of form. The trio of Kane, Son and Lucas are finally starting to click under Conte with Lucas really standing out with his excellent dribbling technique which has caused massive issues for opposition defences. Lucas put in a standout performance against Crystal Palace.

Jose Sa (Wolves)

Jose Sa is right up there with Aaron Ramsdale for best signings of the season. Having to replace a brilliant keeper in Rui Patricio was going to be a tough ask but Sa has been excellent being one of the best shop stoppers in the league and instrumental along with his defence in keeping those 5 clean sheets.

James Maddison (Leicester)

Similar to Sterling, Maddison had a quiet start to the season, likely down to the recently admitted confident crisis, but it looks like he has regained his confidence with 4 goals and 3 assists in 8 games. Maddison was instrumental in a very close attempted comeback against Man City in which he sparked into life with a goal and also played his part in the other 2 goals. Similar performances against Newcastle and Watford has shown Maddison just may be back to his best.

Arsenal F.C: The hunt for a new striker

It’s no secret that Arsenal have been on the decline for some time with the gunners seem to be finishing lower and lower in the league table post Wenger era. However one bright spark was Pierre Emerick Aubameyang who has bagged 65 goals in 118 premier league appearances whilst also scoring vital goals in the FA Cup win in 2020. At a time where their defence was the weakest part of the squad, you could always count on Aubameyang.

Fast forward to the present day and the FA cup hero seems to be a shadow of his former self. Is it down to tactics? Partly, being shoved onto to the left did not help and the way Arteta has had the team play has left him isolated from any service. The blame does not just rest on Arteta, its obvious to the eye that the player is not as confident as he 0nce was. He can be accused of especially last season being lazy, playing it too safe and not taking enough shots.

By this time next season he will be 33 and with his inner club replacements either being too old or not ready (Lacazette, Nketiah, Balogun) to carry the club attacking wise, it may be time to look for a new striker. This article explores a few realistic attacking options (so no Haaland unfortunately) who I think could have a lasting impact on the club.

Side Note-Folarin Balogun

I really like Balogun, I think he is a very clever striker who deserved a few more chances last season especially in cup competitions. However he is not ready to be the main man just yet as evident with the Brentford game. Since going back down to the under 23s he’s recaptured his form that got him promoted in the first place which is great as he could easily have lost all confidence. He reminds me of a prime Aubameyang playing on the last shoulder and who can finish from anywhere in the box. I have no doubt in the next few years he can be the main man or a strong number 2.

Ivan Toney (Brentford, 25)

It may be early days but Premier League newboy Ivan Toney has looked right at home. Stand out performances against Arsenal, Aston Villa & Wolves have shown how much of a force this man can be. Toney is excellent at holding up the player whilst bullying defenders aerially. The man knows how to score penalties so he fits right in at Arsenal. His qualities suit Arteta’s style of play and his aggressive presence in the opposition box is something that Arsenal have lacked for some time.

Alexander Isak (Real Sociedad, 21)

What I like most about Isak is that despite being 6,3 he has electric pace and extraordinary quick feet which has embarrassed a few defenders in the past. He has scored a variety of goals from volleys to free kicks to headers. His technique on his day is impeccable. Although his goal scoring can be inconsistent, his impressive movement poises a threat against any defence as he can look to set up teammates rather than himself. With reported interest from Liverpool who may look to replace the likes of Firmino & Origi, Arsenal have to move fast in order to secure his services.

Victor Osimhen (Napoli, 21)

Another young striker who recently got the footballing world talking about him after a scintillating performance against Leicester in the Europa League. He may have not had the easiest time since arriving in Naples but its clear to see the talent is there. Victor is able to create shots for himself whilst using his strength to hold up the play to allow attacking runs from the wingers. Similar to Toney he is a aggressive presence in the box maybe a little over aggressive as he know to commit fouls. Signing Osimhen would be a risk but one that could pay off with the right training and discipline.

Karim Adeyemi (RB Salzburg, 19)

Red Bull Salazburg seem to have a factory line of quality strikers from Erling Haaland to Patson Daka to Hwang Hee-Chan to now Karim Adeyemi. The German striker has 7 goals in 8 games this season and put in a brilliant performance in the champions league against Sevilla recently, winning an astonishing 3 penalties. A striker with blistering pace and a eye for goal, his uses are not restricted to striker as he has shown he can be just as effective out wide. Karim is one to watch and most definitely has the potential to follow in the steps of Erling Haaland. This is the only player that I would recommend signing in a couple years in order to mature and develop his game without the pressure of big league football week in week out. However if a move looks on the cards in the near future it may be worth Arsenal signing him sooner rather than later as his value will explode once he gets his big move.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton, 24)

In my opinion, this is the go to transfer target but he will be by no means cheap. Homegrown, boyhood Gunners fan and Premier League proven what more can you ask for. The standout performer for Everton over the past two seasons which has earned him the number 2 spot in England’s striker department. Calvert Lewin suits the Arsenal system perfectly. Aerially dominant to get on the end of Tierney’s crosses and able to hold up the play strongly to allow the overlapping runs for the likes of Pepe, ESR and Saka, the move seems a match made in heaven. As stated earlier this transfer would not be cheap, I would think anywhere between £70 million-£90 million minimum due to the great importance he has for Everton.

Other names on this list would have been Odsonne Edouard, Donyell Malen, Patson Daka but they all have recently moved to new clubs making a move to the Emirates unlikely.

To conclude Arsenal’s next striker signing is vital to the long term future of the club. It has to be someone committed to the club whilst having the ability to get goals and be the main part of a developing squad.