Arsenal: Top 5 contenders for Player of the Season award

Here are our votes for Arsenal’s Player of the Season and why it makes sense

Arsenal didn’t have the season many expected of them. A glut of promising and expensive summer signings, and a narrow miss on UCL the seasons before left hopes running high as the Gunners keyed up to compete for top four.

Poor management, from coaches and owners alike, hampered our early momentum, and led to a string of draws and losses, characterized by abysmal runs of form in every area of the team. From there, even Mikel Arteta‘s passion couldn’t prevent an early Europa League exit, although his Arsenal didn’t lose a game until after the restart.

The FA Cup final is a fantastic win and sprinkles some good feeling on Arsenal’s worst finish in 25 years. And our good run of form—16 wins, 5 draws, and 5 losses since New Years Day—has left some Gooners, myself included, hopeful for the 2020/21 season.

But first, I’d like to pause and reflect on this season’s performances, and the players who characterized the best bits of our season. Nobody was perfect, but some stood head-and-shoulders above the rest. Let’s begin at number 5.

5. Matteo Guendouzi

I reckon most of you are shaking your hands—or maybe fists—at this suggestion, but before you write it off, let me explain. In order to assume the noble title of “the American with asinine hot takes,” I had to come up with a Player of the Season candidate so ludicrous, you would all hate me. But the more I thought about Matteo Guendouzi, the more it made sense.

What seems like a decade ago under Unai Emery, Guendouzi was the only player who impressed on a weekly basis. When Arsenal’s midfield crumbled, he held them aloft. He put fire and passion into every touch of the ball, and when Granit Xhaka was dismissed during the infamous Crystal Palace game, he took up the bruiser role too.

Now, I don’t nominate him because I particularly like Guendouzi (anymore), nor to vindicate Unai Emery’s management of the team. Frankly, they’re a bit similar for me: Inconsistent, positionally unaware, and more prone to fighting after the match than during it.

But at the same time, there were enough games where Guendouzi saved us points at the beginning of the season that I have to give him credit. And even if he leaves us at the end of the season—for a whopping pile of cash I hope—he served the Gunners well during the first half of the season, and he deserves to be recognized.

On to number four, and somebody who I think is a bit more reasonable.

4. Bukayo Saka

Nominated as one of Arsenal’s Player of the Season contenders, some might say he deserved a shout here too. And with 4 goals and 11 assists on the season, it’s hard to count him out. But there are a few reasons why I haven’t included him in the running.

First off, let me say that I really love Bukayo Saka. To hear me talk and write, he’s the future of the club, the England National Team, and a future Ballon d’Or contender. A reach? Maybe. Still, I stand by it.

And up until the restart, he was a consistent, often standout performer. But in the latter portions of the season, especially after our back-to-back wins against City and Liverpool, Saka couldn’t catch a minute of playing time, let alone a full 90.

And when he did, he often looked a bit lost, which does make some sense considering his lack of consistent time in one position. Still, it’s not to his credit. Furthermore, Arteta consistently trusted Joe Willock, Reiss Nelson, and even Eddie Nketiah ahead of him. He just never found a groove.

Furthermore, he has the same number of goal contributions in the Premier and Europa Leagues, which on the surface is fantastic, until you realize he played over three times the minutes in the Premier League. Yes, a lot of those minutes were at an unfamiliar left-back role, but it’s still a serious difference.

Saka is the archetypal amazing youth prospect—trustworthy and talented, a key cog in the machine of non-league competition, and an impactful participant in the league when need be. And for that reason, he only makes fourth on this list. Because he has so much more to give and didn’t actually top out this season. Which if you think about it, is a good thing.

On to number three, and the player who replaces Saka in this ranking.

3. Nicolas Pepe

It’s not about the money, and it never will be. Nicolas Pepe is the real deal, and contrary to popular belief, he actually proved it.

It was never going to be easy to overcome the pressure of a £75 million transfer, especially coming off the back of a 23 goal, 12 assist season for LOSC Lille. And despite a rather torrid start, I’d wager Pepe has done that, and in more ways than one.

With 8 goals and 10 assists on the season—the second largest number of goal contributions in the squad—he’s really been quite good. And of those 18 goal contributions, 10 either saved points or won the game for the Gunners. He shows up where it matters, and that couldn’t be more important.

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His two free kicks against Vitoria spring to mind—talk about moments of magic—but he scored and assisted game-winners against 5 different league opponents, including Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea. That’s some seriously impressive work for a supposed flop. And it’s not all.

He also led the team in chances created, key passes, and successful dribbles, despite playing a hair over 2000 minutes, which places him as the sixth most in the squad. And while that’s impressive on the surface, it’s some of the intangibles that have really impressed me about Pepe this season.

The Ivorian has improved greatly as a Premier League footballer. He was always a talented dribbler with a very good left and dazzling skills, but when he signed, that was the extent of his abilities. He tended to drift around the top of the pitch, frustrating himself and his teammates with his lack of defensive work. No more.

Since Mikel Arteta took over, and especially since the restart, Pepe has been a defensive monster. Whether he’s haring around the right flank, disrupting play and intercepting the ball, or just bogging down passing lanes and frustrating opposition fullbacks with his dogged persistence, he’s made the difference in a number of key moments.

His willingness to improve, adapt, and grow into the English game are what really push him above Bukayo Saka in this ranking. He may not steal the headlines, but he’s quietly been scooping out a long-term place in this Arsenal rebuild. I, for one, am very excited about Pepe’s next season in the red-and-white.

On to number 2, which encompasses a decision too tough for me to handle.

2. Bernd Leno and Emiliano Martinez

Bernd Leno was nominated for the official Player of the Season award, but I just cannot leave Emi hanging. This is partially an emotional pick, but also an homage to what really felt like two different seasons. Just as Leno was the hero of the pre-restart Gunners, Emiliano Martinez was just as much their savior after football resumed.

They both have their strengths—Leno is a far more acrobatic, and is incredibly skilled with his feet, both in terms of shot-stopping and distribution, more so than his Argentinian counterpart. But Martinez has a better command of his area and often handles the ball better. In addition, Leno is quicker to rush forwards, but Martinez is often stronger against low shots. They’re an evenly matched pair.

And both players truly made names for themselves this season. Leno had a promising but error-strewn first season and came into the 19/20 campaign looking to prove his worth. Similarly, Martinez cemented himself as our cup competition keeper almost by default, but seized an unfortunate opportunity with both hands, and brought the first-choice keeper question to the forefront.

I cannot award this prize to one without recognizing the other. It’s as simple as that. Two amazing keepers had amazing seasons, ensuring Arsenal didn’t fall to absolute pieces. I’m cutting the silver medal in half.

But without one man, this season could not be possible. Arsenal’s success this season rides on the shoulders of one man, and he needs no introduction.

1. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Oh captain, my captain.

I don’t think it’s too bold to assume that 80% of the Arsenal fanbase uniting behind one issue is an unheard of phenomenon, but that’s exactly what happened this season. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang received a whopping 79% of the Player of the Season vote, giving him Alexandre Lacazette‘s 2019 crown, and you have to admit it’s 100% deserved.

I won’t carry on about our Gabonian talisman because, frankly, I don’t need to. You all know how important he has been this season, and how key he is to our future. 29 goals, 3 assists, and hopefully a new contract. I don’t care that he’ll be 34 when it ends, because it doesn’t matter. Auba is my king.

And that concludes the Player of the Season ranking for 2019/20. I wish I could have included Kieran Tierney and Gabriel Martinelli, two of my personal favorite players, but unfortunately, they spent too much time off the field to justify a nomination. Similarly, Alexandre Lacazette perked up towards the end of the season, but that 13-game goalless drought still hangs over his head like a thundercloud.

At the end of the day, Auba deserved every ounce of praise he received, and while the rest of my list may be controversial, he isn’t. Arsenal’s future is bright with Mikel Arteta at the helm, and Aubameyang leading the line. Onwards and upwards.