Hello Champions! Still has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? I started writing player ratings and it ended up becoming more… so, here’s a… erm… season review? Sort of.
Immediate reflections
I had a dream a couple of nights ago. I was chilling with Declan Rice – as you do. There were some other players there too, but obviously Dec was my bestie. Then there was a bit of panic, someone informed us – or rather Dec – that he was running late. Cue chaos. It dawned upon me we were in a stadium, and a mazy one at that.
Eventually we found where we needed to go – it was a Champions League final game, already underway! Arteta wasn’t pleased we were late. Somehow, I managed to sit on the bench with the players.
The game was against Real Madrid and went to extra-time after a 1-1 result at 90 mins. Somehow, the result became 4-4 during extra-time. I don’t remember the other 6 goal – obviously it must have been a very boring match. And then Martinelli scored a rocket of a goal. We won. Celebrations everywhere.
That is to say – I don’t think I’m over the Champions League final loss.
To be clear, I am super proud of this team, the manager, the fans – everyone involved in the club. But I still feel somewhat haunted by the loss. Maybe it’s all the online noise from other supporters (and teams!) trying to tarnish the season as some sort of failure because we’ve only won the Premier League.
I don’t need validation from rival fanbases, but I really do hope we find a way to shut them up next season. Maybe it’s impossible. Maybe we win every trophy available to us, finish the league Invincible with over 100 points… but the “banter” will continue because Win the dog went the entire season without scoring a goal. So, what I’m trying to say is f*ck em!
In time I think I’ll look back on this season with zero disappointment. Is anyone else still feeling disheartened by the UCL loss? Or am I alone there?
Title Parade
For many the parade allowed people to overcome the UCL loss at a speedier pace. Every Arsenal fan I know was at the parade. I wasn’t there in person, but what a parade it was! I’ve never seen anything like it. I heard all sorts of stories: the good, the bad, the ugly, and the good again. I hope I get to experience something similar one day.
Watching the content from the parade I think it’s only fair to declare the Champion of the Champion’s Parade… Mr Benjamin White.
This man must be seen as the most fun in the squad, or the most annoying. As someone who is a bit Marmite, I can totally relate. From his glasses-throwing (Odegaard’s face!), to his call for Hincapie to take his bum out – the guy seems a complete hoot. Me and Benji would make great besties. I recognise I’m getting through besties at an alarming rate within a single blog post. Sorry, Dec.
Player Ratings
These ratings are not to compare Player A to Player B. They are my opinion of individual player performances vs what my expectations were for them at the beginning of the season. Similar to Arseblog’s approach in past years if you read that blog.
Goalkeepers
David Raya – 9.5
My player of the season. It was close to Declan Rice but I believe we would be much worse off without Raya in goal this season. Some of his saves were remarkable – is it really suprising?
Kepa Arribazalaga – 4.5
Look – I think he’s a decent no.2 and would be happy for him to stay. The rating here is probably skewed by his mistake in the League Cup final – a game I believe we should have started Raya.
Defenders
William Saliba – 9
He just quietly gets on with things which to some outsiders may do him a disservice. But us Arsenal fans appreciate him – we need no reminder of the Mustafi’s that came before.
Cristhian Mosquera – 7.5
I believe he’s done amazingly for a young defender played out of position for key parts of this season. Did well in the UCL final up until that moment – he probably should have been taken off as soon as he received his yellow.
Ben White – 7
I’m not sure his minutes were managed very well. He went from not starting when he was expected to, to having a suddenly increased load. He was starting to find some rhythm up until his season-ending injury. I want him to stay for squad depth. My new bestie.
Piero Hincapié – 8
Like many, I wasn’t sure if he was needed at the beginning of the season. But when we need to be more defensively solid, he’s the right option at left back.
Gabriel Magalhães – 9
He compliments Saliba so well at the back. And a monster when we need him to be. If he continued scoring goals from corners in the second half of the season he’d have been a good shout for player of the season.
Jurriën Timber – 8
Definitely missed when he was out. Again, I feel his minutes could have been managed at the beginning of the season with Ben White. If he had stayed fit I believe we would have won the UCL.
Riccardo Calafiori – 7.5
Pure chaos! I’m surprised at some people writing him off and opting to sell this summer. Not me. I think the variety between Hincapie and Calafiori at left-back will be useful in seasons to come depending on opposition and game states.
Midfielders
Martin Ødegaard – 6.5
I’m so glad to have seen our captain lift a major piece of silverware. It was deserved purely for the seasons he had between 2022 and 2024. But something isn’t quite right. Be it fitness, or something more. Next season will be an important one for him to determine his longer term future.
Christian Nørgaard – 5
A signing that made sense at the beginning of the season, but he didn’t really make much of an impact. Didn’t really gain the manager’s trust. One for the departures lounge this summer.
Mikel Merino – 7
At the beginning of the season I didn’t really know his place in this squad. But after scoring key goals in the first half of this season, I was left wishing we had him as an option for the second half of the season.
Martín Zubimendi – 7
Fantastic first half of the season. Average (at best) second half of the season. Hopefully, after one year in England we’re able to manage his minutes next season so he doesn’t burn out again. And that he himself knows how to manage his own load too. Still a quality player so no hate.
Declan Rice – 9.5
We got him half price, didn’t we? Up there with our players of the season. I don’t think I need to really say more. Had the foresight to know it was not done. Until it was done.
Myles Lewis-Skelly – 7
What a U-turn at the end of the season. Where we would have been talking about selling him this summer, he’s made himself a key option in midfield for next season. Keep him!
Ethan Nwaneri – 5
I feel for him. He was messed around a bit this season. I’m willing to give him an extra season with us, but also wouldn’t be surprised if he’s sold this summer.
Forwards
Bukayo Saka – 7
He hasn’t been himself this season. You could argue he didn’t meet the expectations placed on him and therefore my rating is on the high side. BUT – I believe he’s been carrying something this season that has impacted his game. I really hope he’s able to get a break before the new season.
Gabriel Jesus – 5
A bit of a forgotten player. Got a couple of goals but let’s face it – he’s pretty much surplus to requirements as we look to improve the forward line next season.
Eberechi Eze – 7.5
Perhaps not hitting the highs expected of him. He did get some key goals this season. Hopefully now he’s more accustomed to our playing style and he can build on his first season.
Gabriel Martinelli – 6
A goal-scoring machine in the league-phase of the UCL, mostly absent in the Premier League. Hasn’t developed the way we all hoped. It pains me to say it, but I think it’s time to sell.
Viktor Gyökeres – 7.5
We kind of got there in the end, right? Not quite the goal machine some expected – though he met my expectations. I firmly believe he was brought in to provide a back-up/plan B for Havertz. Top scorer in his first season is no bad thing.
Leandro Trossard – 7
His form dipped for most of the second half of the season – there’s some personal stuff that may have impacted that form. One of our best players in the first half of the season – and contributed with some key goals. I would keep him as a squad option.
Noni Madueke – 5.5
Ok look, I’m not a fan. I was willing to give him a chance but aside from some added chaos and good corners I just feel he’s not a player who appeals to me.
Kai Havertz – 7
I hope we have a full season of Kai next year. Hard to rate as he missed so much of this season, but once again got some key goals.
Max Dowman – 9
Before this season did anybody else expect him to give us one of the moments of the season? This isn’t to pile pressure on him, but for what he’s delivered, this has been a great season for him.
Manager
Mikel Arteta – 9.5
The boss. Yeah, we’ve been pragmatic at times. We played beautiful football under Arteta in seasons gone by and ended empty-handed. He knew there needed to be pragmatism to get over the line, and that’s what we got. Were it for a spot kick he would have got a perfect 10 and legendary status. Would be good to see how we develop next season – hopefully with more of a free-flowing style.
And there you have it.
I’ll write more about what comes next in a season preview post in the coming weeks. Now attention turns to the World Cup. Except, it doesn’t. I was going to write a World Cup preview/predictions piece. Then I decided against. Because I don’t really care about the World Cup – aside from the Arsenal lads returning home without any issues. Maybe as the tournament progresses I may have something to say. But right now I have very little interest in it.
