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March 2025 was a month of respite for Arsenal as we enjoyed the first international slate of the new year.
The break will serve as the final breath taken in the 2024/25 campaign ahead of a hectic conclusion. Arsenal's schedule is pretty relentless down the stretch, especially if they edge closer towards the Champions League final in Munich.
There were just four Gunners outings in March, but there was time for the club to set European records and continue their streak of dominance over a familiar London foe. We remained without our frontline attackers, but the makeshift options just about proved serviceable.
Based on our player ratings from these four outings, here's our March 2025 Arsenal Player of the Month award.
3. Gabriel (Average rating - 7.0)
Four players ended the month with a 7.0 average rating, but we've given Gabriel the edge over the consistent performances of Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, and Myles Lewis-Skelly as he started all four games. The others started three.
The Brazilian has been a model of consistency this term, and that was further exemplified in March as he notched a 7.0 rating for each of his starts. He just doesn't put a foot wrong.
Arsenal will benefit from his early return from international duty through suspension, and his presence was sorely missed as Gabriel were overwhelmed by Argentina's divine manifestation of 'La Nuestra'.
2. Martin Odegaard (Average rating - 7.33)
The skipper has caught a fair bit of flack this season - justifiably so - and you might be surprised to see him make this month's podium.
His average rating was inflated by his second-half display in the first leg of Arsenal's Champions League victory over PSV Eindhoven. Odegaard made full use of the space Peter Bosz's side afforded him, having struggled to weave his way through and around compact Premier League defences for much of the campaign.
He earned an 8.5 rating for that performance, which included a couple of goals. Odegaard struggled to have an influence at Old Trafford and was bright in mere spells against Chelsea, but there's hope that the masterclass he produced for Norway in their big 4-2 win over Israel will inspire a dazzling conclusion to the season.
1. Declan Rice (Average rating - 7.625)
Declan Rice started the season rather slowly off the back of a deep Euro 2024 campaign, but the English midfielder found his groove over the winter and has been excellent since the turn of the year.
Mikel Arteta has primarily used Rice as a number eight, which allows him to contribute plenty in the final third, and although I still believe the £105m man's apex lies at the base of midfield, he's been able to produce consistently sound performances in a more advanced role.
Rice's rating in March refused to dip below a 7.5, and he scored an 8.0 for his performance in Eindhoven. The midfielder kicked off Arsenal's record-breaking rout with some good work around the PSV box before he teed up Timber at the back post.
Rice gained good practice as a #6 for England during the break, testing himself as a playmaker from deep against low blocks.
He's been a frequent podium-maker since joining the club, but this is his first Player of the Month award of the season.