Pain in the Arsenal
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PITA’s Arsenal Player of the Month – May 2023

By James Cormack

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 15: Martin Odegaard of Arsenal celebrates after scoring the team's second goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on January 15, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 15: Martin Odegaard of Arsenal celebrates after scoring the team's second goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on January 15, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /
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Another season is in the books, and our Player of the Month award for 2022/23 concludes with it.

A stuttering April left Arsenal’s title charge in tatters, and a sombre start to May following a convincing 3-1 win over Chelsea confirmed Man City as champions for the third season running with three games to spare.

Nevertheless, the Gunners rallied with the pressure off on the final day to ensure they registered their highest single-season Premier League points tally since the Invincibles campaign of 2003/04. It’s what this team deserved.

PITA’s Arsenal Player of the Month – May 2023

So without further ado, let’s get into our final Player of the Month award of the 2022/23 season.

Granit Xhaka and Martin Odegaard forged an immense partnership in midfield. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Granit Xhaka and Martin Odegaard forged an immense partnership in midfield. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /

3. Gabriel Jesus (Average rating – 7.0)

Gabriel Jesus dominated this award at the start of the season, with the Brazilian having a transformative impact on Arsenal’s attack. He’s featured less heavily since the World Cup – thanks to a long-term knee injury – but he’s back on the podium for the final award of the campaign.

While Jesus produced indifferent but industrious performances against Newcastle, Brighton, and Nottingham Forest, the striker was excellent in the triumphs over Chelsea and Wolves, scoring in both which helped his Premier League tally for the season up to 11.

Those two displays, in particular, helped his monthly rating up to 7.0 – which would’ve been enough to win previous awards, but not on this occasion.

2. Granit Xhaka (Average rating – 7.1)

Xhaka enjoyed a fairytale farewell at home to Wolves on the final day, but he missed out on claiming the last POTM award he’ll be eligible for by 0.1 points – are we calling them points?

Anyway, Xhaka’s showing against Wolves wasn’t even his finest of the month despite scoring twice. The Swiss international produced a more dominant showing at St. James’ Park in which Arsenal’s midfield purred. While much of the campaign has seen Xhaka operate space higher up the pitch, that display was all about his defensive output.

Overall, Xhaka manifested his importance to the Gunners in his final month at the club, and replacing him this summer is of paramount importance. He leaves a huge void in the dressing room.  

1. Martin Odegaard (Average rating – 7.2)

Cruelly pipping the departing long-time Gooner is the skipper, who averaged a 7.2 rating for his performances in May.

Despite winning the award, this probably wasn’t the best month of football Odegaard has put together this season. While he dazzled against Chelsea and Newcastle, he huffed and puffed in Arsenal’s three other outings without having too much of an impact. As a result, he could only draw level with Cesc Fabregas’ Premier League record of 15 non-penalty goals from midfield.

Still, it’s been a wonderful season for the Nordic creator, and it’s rather fitting that he concludes the campaign as the final POTM victor.