Pain in the Arsenal
Fansided

Arsenal: Complete 2018/19 season player ratings

By Andrew Dowdeswell

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 01: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal (L) celebrates after scoring his team's second goal with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Newcastle United at Emirates Stadium on April 01, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 01: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal (L) celebrates after scoring his team's second goal with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Newcastle United at Emirates Stadium on April 01, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /
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BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – MAY 29: Alex Iwobi of Arsenal scores his team’s first goal during the UEFA Europa League Final between Chelsea and Arsenal at Baku Olimpiya Stadionu on May 29, 2019 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – MAY 29: Alex Iwobi of Arsenal scores his team’s first goal during the UEFA Europa League Final between Chelsea and Arsenal at Baku Olimpiya Stadionu on May 29, 2019 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) /

Alex Iwobi – 6

This was Alex Iwobi’s best season as a senior footballer. Primarily deployed off the left wing, with Arsenal’s utter lack of wide attackers laid bare from the minute the season started, the Nigerian had clearly grown in confidence, becoming more direct in his play and at least attempting to add goals and assists to his game.

His dribbling was a consistent threat, he was purposeful with the ball at his feet, until he reached the penalty area, and he got five goals and nine assists in league and Europa League play. They not seem like the gaudiest of numbers, and perhaps they are an illustration of his limitations, but they are a significant improvement on what he usually produces.

Towards the end of the year, his old habits started to creep back into his game. His finishing was wasteful, he started to dally in his dribbling, rather than just driving at the opposing defender or firing a cross into the penalty area. But he was unquestionably better this season than he has been in any other season, and that is not to be scoffed at.