Arsenal 2020/21 season player ratings

Forwards

Bukayo Saka – 8 (POTS)

An absolute gem and quite easily our Player of the Season, even is Smith Rowe runs him closest. Whether it was on either wing, filling in at left-back, or even in midfield, he was simply outstanding. The four key areas of player performance are often broken down into the physical, mental, tactical, and technical elements; this young man seems to excel in all aspects.

If there’s one area where he can improve, it’s his finishing, but at just 19 years of age, he’s only going to get better. We’ve got a generational talent on our hands.

Willian – 3

One of the club’s worst signings in living memory. Looks a complete shell of the winger who was a solid contributor at Chelsea. Yes, I know he racked up some assists over the course of the season, but these were mostly simple layoffs or set pieces that were brilliantly headed in by Gabriel.

The fact that he was allowed to start so many games before Christmas was probably Arteta’s biggest mistake to date. We must find a way to offload him this summer, or he’ll continue to take away minutes from the likes of Pepe and Martinelli.

https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1396534306021986318

Nicolas Pepe – 7.5

I may be guilty of some slight recency bias here (the Ivorian scored nine goals in his last 13 league starts), but it’s not Pepe’s fault that he was shoved to one side in favor of Willian for much of the first half of the season.

In 2021, as his playing time gradually increased, so has the consistency of his performances. Forget the price tag, this guy is a class finisher and is dangerous whenever we get him the ball in and around the penalty area. Needs to be starting week in week out next season, Willian be damned.

Alexandre Lacazette – 7

Our top scorer in the Premier League and in all competitions (13 and 17 respectively). He understandably looked much better when the likes of Smith Rowe and Ødegaard came into the team, and his link-up play remains a strong point.

Entering the final year of his contract, an extension just doesn’t make sense as we need to move in a different direction long-term. However, if we don’t receive a decent offer for him this summer, it’s certainly possible that he’ll stay for his one final year.

Gabriel Martinelli – 6.5

Helped inject some energy and life into a stagnant Arsenal team when he returned from injury in December. As the season went on he found opportunities harder to come by, and it remains to be seen if his best position is on the left or as a central striker.

Still, it’s clear he has the talent and hunger to make a big difference in this team, and Arteta must find a way to get him more minutes next season.

Pierre Emerick Aubameyang – 5

It was a tough year for the Arsenal captain both on and off the pitch. Some of that is not his fault as we struggled to create anything at all for him at times, but he wasn’t his usual lethal self in front of goal either.

When he’s not giving you 20+ league goals, it can become difficult to justify his inclusion in the team as he does not provide much else in terms of build up play. Still, I’m realistically hoping we can get at least one more good season from Auba at the top level, provided we surround him with the right players to support him.