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Arsenal: End of season player rankings
It was a turbulent and tempestuous season for Arsenal. Few players played at their best; many disappointed. Here are the 2017/18 player rankings.
It was a frustrating 2017/18 season for Arsenal. Toiling to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League, losing to Nottingham Forest in the third-round of the FA Cup, failing to make the most of deep runs in the EFL Cup and Europa League, the preseason hopes of the club quickly faded, so much so that Arsene Wenger handed his resignation and departed after 22 years in charge at the club.
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From a playing perspective, as the results would indicate, there were not many that played up to their potential. Rather, it was a season of collective and individual struggle. Injuries, inconsistencies, mental mistakes, individual errors. It was a campaign full of disappointment.
That brings me to the player rankings. We have ranked every player in the Arsenal squad by their performances solely from this past season. There will be plenty of disagreement, but it was an interesting exercise to delve into the fabric of the squad, greater understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the personnel that the Gunners possess.
So, let’s get going. First up, a man set to retire.
22. Per Mertesacker
It is difficult to rank Per Mertesacker’s higher than this. Of players that have been at Arsenal for the whole season and are older than 19, there is no player in the squad that has played fewer Premier League minutes than Mertesacker’s 365. Similarly, only Sead Kolasinac and Matt Macey have played fewer minutes than the German international in the Europa League.
Mertesacker’s time as a regular contributor ended last summer. His presence was still felt in the dressing room, behind the scenes, off the pitch. But there was now no need for him to even be on the bench, nevermind a frequent starter.
The announcement before the season ever begun that he would take over as the Head of the Academy when he retired this summer told the full story. This was a winding-down season for Mertesacker. Let’s hope that he enjoys his retirement and can lead the academy to flourish.
Andrew: 22nd; Josh: 22nd