After leading the table for much of the 2022/23 Premier League season, Arsenal were undone in the end by avoidable defeats and injuries to key performers.
The Gunners showed great promise under Mikel Arteta, surprising everyone with their playing style, resilience and spirit. Mikel Arteta has shown he is capable of moulding a young group of players that can produce some of the best football since Arsene Wenger’s heydays.
But what goes up eventually must come down, and that rings true for Mikel Arteta’s side after things started falling apart following the 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Anfield in early April. As a result, they ended up finishing second, five points behind champions Manchester City.
It was a season filled with renewed optimism for Arsenal, in what could only be defined as an overachieving year where they qualified for the Champions League after seven long years. While the team’s development could be attributed to the manager, there are some players who enjoyed a stellar season and helped the Gunners achieve an impressive second place.
That said, let us take a look at Arsenal’s three standout performers from the 2022/23 season.
Arguably Arsenal’s best player of the season, Bukayo Saka was a key player in their eventually failed attempt to win the 2022/23 Premier League crown. He scooped the Premier League Young Player of The Year award for the second time in his mushrooming career, having also won it in 2021.
Saka, 21, became the first Arsenal player in history to appear in each and every game of the Premier League in back-to-back seasons. The England international’s presence in the Gunners’ attack was remarkable, bagging 14 goals and 11 assists in 38 league games.
The youngster endured the odd dip in form at the tail end of the campaign, but overall, it’s still been a fantastic term for Saka.
One half of Arsenal’s brilliant centre-back pairing, William Saliba enjoyed a dream maiden season in the Premier League.
Saliba, 22, answered a lot of critics who questioned whether he would be able to cut the mustard in the Premier League, impressing with his physicality, awareness and ball-playing ability. The Frenchman formed a strong partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes at the heart of Arsenal’s defence, helping the team keep 11 clean sheets.
The 22-year-old’s performances in defence were vital in the Gunners’ push for the title, and his importance was highlighted as the wheels came off in their attempt to be crowned champions after he sustained a season-ending back injury in March.
Martin Odegaard was one of the Premier League’s best players this past season, and his presence was significant during Arsenal’s title challenge.
The Norwegian playmaker, 24, registered 15 goals and seven assists in 37 Premier League games for Arteta’s side, leading the team by example. On the back of a magnificent campaign, he picked up the Premier League Player of the Year award.
A creative footballer with leadership skills, Odegaard will be key for Arsenal in mounting a title challenge next season.
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