PITA’s Arsenal Player of the Month – October 2022

October was a mammoth month for Arsenal and a significant test of their credentials. With nine games arriving in 30 days, supporters would discover plenty about Mikel Arteta’s side.

And while there were hiccups, it’s fair to say the Gunners mitigated the frantic nature of their schedule reasonably well. Following Sunday’s 5-0 thumping of Nottingham Forest to round off the month, Arsenal remain at the top of the Premier League table and are in a brilliant position to progress automatically into the Europa League round of 16.

So, all things considered, it’s been a prosperous month for the Gunners with several players standing out.

Using our player ratings from each of the nine games in October, we’ve calculated an average rating for each player with the highest rated officially being crowned our Player of the Month.

PITA’s Arsenal Player of the Month – October 2022

Gabriel Jesus has dominated this award thus far, but a barren streak in front of goal means a new face has been added to the honours list. But who is it? Let’s find out.

3. Thomas Partey (Average rating – 7.0)

Arsenal’s October was kicked into gear by Thomas Partey when he opened the scoring in the North London derby with a sublime finish.

The Ghanaian started each of the Gunners’ five Premier League games last month, producing stellar performances in the victories over Spurs, Liverpool, and Nottingham Forest.

Tired second-half displays against Leeds and Southampton brought down his October average rating to 7.0, but that’s still enough to see him make the podium.

2. Ben White (Average rating – 7.08)

Ben White has been a model of consistency for Arsenal so far this season and it’d be an absolute travesty if he isn’t on the plane to Qatar.

White is proving himself to be a brilliant option at right-back for Mikel Arteta, with his technical security, physicality, and willingness to overlap manifesting every time he takes to the field.

He’s developed a wonderful understanding with Bukayo Saka down the right, and the defender is quickly evolving into one of the Gunners’ most important players.

1. Bukayo Saka (Average rating – 7.35)

Questions over Saka’s form were swiftly hushed in October as the wunderkind put together a brilliant month of football.

The England international netted in three consecutive games – a streak which started with a big-boy brace against Liverpool – and finished off the month with an assist for Gabriel Martinelli against Forest before the inevitable occurred and he sustained an impact injury.

Hopefully, though, Saka will make his return before the World Cup. 

His brilliance almost goes under the radar in this Arsenal side which has improved almost across the board since last season. Gabriel Jesus and William Saliba are both praised heavily, while Granit Xhaka’s turnaround has been one of the narratives of the season. Saka, meanwhile, like the sly fox that he is, has quietly gone about his work and is rediscovering his most potent form.