Since Mikel Arteta’s appointment as Head Coach in 2019,Arsenal have made an admirable progress. Last season they were leading the English Premiere League for most of the season but a late collapse resulted in a second placed finish behind eventual champions Manchester City. Arsenal wooed the fans with mesmerizing football. The one-touch progressive football made them one of the most aesthetically pleasing teams in the world.
This season Mikel Arteta’s team is looking even better. In intensely contested three-horse PL title race,Arsenal are on the top of the table with seven games still to be played. Still many expect Manchester City or Liverpool to knock the Arsenal off their perch.But Arsenal look a more solid outfit this time around. Their key players are healthier and are in better shape. Gunners are also playing well in the UEFA Champions League this season. They are into the quarter finals of the competition. Where they are facing the German Giants Bayern Munchen.
In the first leg at the Emirates,Gunners drew 2-2 and face a daunting task of winning at the Allianz Arena in the second leg to secure the semi-final spot. In this decisive phase of the season,Mikel Arteta’s troops have no margins for error. Their best players need to step up.
Here we will discuss the three most influential players in the team. Few will criticize this list because of the omission of the Bakayo Saka. Saka is a wonderful player and is essential to Arsenal project. But he is prone to hot and cold spells throughout the season and the main criterion for this list is consistency.
To read Manchester City Top 3 Best Players,click Here.
o read Plato’s Theory of Justice in detail, click Here.
To Read IPL and other Cricket related articles click Here.
William Saliba (CB, Arsenal)
William Saliba built his reputation in French Ligue 1 while on loan from Arsenal. At the beginning of last season, when his parent club inducted him into their squad as a starting center back,many doubted whether he could perform in a more challenging and competitive environment of English Premiere League. Saliba proved all those doubters wrong emphatically and became a rock at the back for Londoners . He formed a great partnership with Gabriel at the heart of the Gunners’ defense.
Saliba’s prime attributes are his brilliant reading of the game and composure on the ball. His importance to the team was laid bare for everyone to see last season when he got injured and missed the last 11 games in the League. Arsenal could not cope without Saliba and promptly gifted the title to Manchester City. This season,a fit and in form Saliba will be crucial to Arsenal success in the Premiere League and the UEFA Champions League.
Martin Odegaard (AMF, Arsenal)
After joining Arsenal initially on loan in winter transfer window in january 2021,Odegaard made his move permanent in the summer. The Norwegian magician has proven to be an inspired signing for the gunners. His silky skills and elegant dribbles instantly endeared him to the fans. His leadership qualities and work ethic immensely impressed Mikel Arteta and he appointed him the club captain at the start of the last season.
This move played out well and Odegaard became one of the best players in the England and was the driving force behind gunners title challenge last season. The 22/23 season was the most productive of Odegaard’s career in terms of goals and assists. He played 45 games for gunners in all competitions ,scored 15 goals and assisted further 7. This season too the Norwegian is the creator-in-chief for his team. He has the ability to unlock the low block defenses with his precision passing.
Odegaard has already scored 10 times and provided 7 assists so far this season for Arsenal. He has also created 78 chances for his team mates in the Premiere League. His influence on this gunners can’t be measured on stats alone. He leads his team in pressing the opposition. Odegaard often tracks back to help out his defense. His set piece delivery is also tidy. All in all Martin Odegaard is one of the best midfielders in the world.His importance to Arsenal cannot be overstated.
Declan Rice (DM, Arsenal)
Last summer,when Declan Rice joined Arsenal from West Ham United for a whopping 105 million pounds,many eyebrows were raised whether Rice is worth that exorbitant amount of money. Nine months latter,Rice has proven himself to be worth every penny Gunners spent on him. He has had transformational impact on the Mikel Arteta’s team. He is arguably the second best defensive midfielder in the League, only Manchester City star Rodri is better.
Rice replaced the injury-prone Thomas Partey at the heart of the Arsenal midfield and has added the much needed stability to the team. He is screening the defense masterfully. No surprise then that Arsenal have conceded the least amount of goals in the league this season. Rice has also influenced the games offensively this season,scoring important goals.In 31 league games so far, Rice has scored 6 goals and provided 5 assists. He has also created 33 chances for his team mates.
These are quite impressive numbers for a defensive midfielder.Rice is also a tireless worker and often covers the most distance for his team. If Arsenal are determined to win the Premiere League title and perform well in the Champions League,Rice has to play the starring role.
For latest news on Football click Here.