PITA’s Arsenal Player of the Month – August 2022

Manchester United ended Arsenal’s perfect start to the 2022/23 Premier League season as a Marcus Rashford brace sunk the Gunners on Sunday afternoon.

The trip to Old Trafford kick-started the club’s September schedule, but today we’re revisiting a glorious August for one last time.

We revealed our maiden Player of the Month victor following the conclusion of pre-season, and now it’s time for our second winner to be announced. There were five games in August for Arsenal and, as we know, all five ended in victory for Mikel Arteta’s side as Crystal Palace, Leicester, Bournemouth, Fulham and Aston Villa were swept aside to varying degrees.

Thus, to qualify for our August award, players must’ve started three of the five games.

PITA’s Arsenal Player of the Month – August 2022

Our award is calculated using the player ratings we write after every game. The player with the highest average rating is, of course, the POTM.

So, without further ado, let’s see who prevailed in August!

3. William Saliba (Average rating – 7.4)

Sliding in at third spot is William Tequi– Saliba.

The young French centre-half was so impressive during his first month of Premier League football and he particularly garnered plenty of praise for his performance on debut at Selhurst Park.

His first goal for the club arrived two weeks later at Bournemouth in what was yet another commanding display before he rounded off the month with a pair of serene showings against Fulham and Aston Villa.

Saliba’s talent has seen him swiftly emerge as a fan favourite at the Emirates, and I’m sure we’ll be seeing plenty of the Frenchman in our POTM awards throughout the season.

2. Martin Odegaard (Average rating – 7.8)

Martin Odegaard certainly frustrated supporters at times in August, particularly on opening night, but he produced dazzling performances in the triumphs over Bournemouth and Fulham.

The Arsenal skipper took command in the second period against the Cottagers and led the Gunners’ comeback.

The addition of Fabio Vieira from Porto means his place in Arteta’s XI isn’t totally secure despite his new leadership role, but the form he displayed throughout August means he’s currently an undroppable figure.

The Norwegian international earned an average rating of 7.8 from his five August starts, but it wasn’t enough to see him crowned POTM.

1. Gabriel Jesus (Average rating – 8.1)

That’s right, for the second month running Gabriel Jesus is PITA’s Player of the Month.

Jesus’ pre-season set the tone for a wonderful opening month in Arsenal colours. He burst out of the blocks against Palace and was unlucky not the get on the scoresheet before he contributed to all four of the Gunners’ goals against Leicester a week later.

The Brazilian scored twice on his home league debut and he bagged the opener against Villa to round off his brilliant August.

Jesus has transformed Arsenal’s attack in such a short space of time, and he’s someone who doesn’t need to be contributing to goals to have a major impact on proceedings. If the Gunners are to reach the next level this season, the former City man will play a leading role.