PITA's Arsenal 2023/24 End of Season Awards

The 2023/24 season once again ended without silverware (Community Shield notwithstanding) for Mikel Arteta's Arsenal, but you'd have to be Lee Gunner to overlook the progress made by the Spaniard's team.

The Gunners' title charge was fiercer than the year prior, with the club recording their highest Premier League points tally since the Invincibles campaign of 2003/04. In a pre-Pep Guardiola world, 89 points would often be more than enough to lift the title, but those pesky Sky Blue folk from Manchester have taken the requirements needed to usurp them to a new realm.

They're utterly relentless.

Nevertheless, the conclusion of the campaign offers us a brief time to reflect ahead of a busy summer of transfers and international football.

It's award season, folks, and the PITA team has collaborated to dish out their honours for the 2023/24 season.

Player of the Season

James Cormack: Martin Odegaard - I could imagine the constant geeing up of the Emirates faithful being fairly grating if he wasn't utterly masterful at footer. Odegaard took a while to get going this season, but he was a delight during the second half of the season. It's hard to imagine this team functioning without him.

Adam Schultz: William Saliba - I went in a different direction to most, but Saliba was a colossus in the heart of defense. Played every minute of every league game and was a huge reason why Arsenal had the league's best defense.

Kenneth Daly: Gabriel - The most difficult one first! There are so many contenders for this prize, but Gabriel often stood out. He proved himself to be an expert defender, notched some key goals and just pips it on account of his improvement from last year.

Jak Netting: Declan Rice - The simple fact is, Arsenal would not have taken the title to the last day without Rice. Whether it be his last-minute winner against Luton Town or his world-class performances week after week, the 25-year-old has been a revelation in our midfield both defensively and offensively.

James Dudko: Odegaard - Just about beats Saka to the Player of the Season award. Odegaard defined what made Arsenal special going forward this season. Namely, by leading a relentless high press and providing that extra special ingenuity after turnovers in the final third.

Lennie Teague: Odegaard - He has been a true leader this season, constantly lifting both the team and crowd when down.

Charlie Sturtivant: Saliba - He played every minute in the Premier League this season and as a result the defence was amazing. Least goals conceded, most clean sheets. Don’t think it would have been the same without Saliba.

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Signing of the Season

James Cormack: Declan Rice - Arsenal had a pretty good summer, and I suspect Jurrien Timber would've battled Rice fiercely for this honour. The English midfielder has made £105m look like a bargain.

Adam Schultz: Rice - It was a toss-up between Rice and Kai Havertz, but what Declan was able to do as the heartbeat of the midfield from Day 1 was incredible. Worth every bit of the £105m price tag.

Kenneth Daly: David Raya - Obviously, Declan Rice is up there (and probably deserves it). However, I will go with Raya because of the fortitude shown to usurp Aaron Ramsdale and his excellent displays this season, especially to bounce back after a nervy start. I’m glad he is here to stay.

Jak Netting: Rice - He may have cost £105m, but Rice is the missing part of Arsenal’s midfield, that we have arguably lacked since the days of Patrick Vieira. His defensive solidity, work-rate and ability to push forward has completely transformed the side.

James Dudko: Rice - Only one clear winner for Arsenal's Signing of the Season. Kai Havertz and David Raya proved the manager's judgement right, but Rice finally gave Arsenal the mix of power, energy and craft they've needed in midfield for years. Signed to be Gilberto Silva, Rice proved more like Patrick Vieira.

Lennie Teague: Rice - He has hardly put a foot wrong this season and certainly silenced any critics of his price tag. Big reason why we were in another title race.

Charlie Sturtivant: Rice - Instantly slotted into the team with almost no adaptation period. He was transformative in midfield and as a result, we weren’t relying on Partey to get minutes.

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Best Performance

James Cormack: 3-1 win vs Liverpool - We forget just how important this game was. Anything but a win here against the then-league leaders, and Arsenal likely don't mount a title challenge at all. They played Liverpool off the park, and their victory would've been more emphatic if it wasn't for that woeful defensive mix-up on the stroke of half-time.

Adam Schultz: 1-0 win vs Man City - This sticks out in the mind, not because it was the first time when Arsenal really announced itself as a title challenger, but that Arteta's side kept Pep's juggernaut to one shot of target for the game and just four shots on goal in total.

Kenneth Daly: 6-0 win vs West Ham - Several reasons for this: it was an incredible team effort that yielded six goals; Declan Rice scored a screamer against his former club; our centre-backs delivered at both ends; we avenged our Emirates loss. The Hammers’ loss against Manchester City on Sunday only cements my choice.

Jak Netting: 6-0 win vs West Ham - Sheer domination during our most successful period of the season, this was a game to remember. To put six past the Hammers and limit them to not even a single ‘big chance’ made it a very special game.

James Dudko: 3-1 win vs Liverpool - Arsenal won a big game against a big team in style. Speaking of style, Mikel Arteta's team gave Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool a dose of their own heavy metal-tinged medicine.

Lennie Teague: 3-1 win vs Liverpool - At a point where a win was crucial for the team to stay in the title race. Everyone stepped up and did their job to get the win.

Charlie Sturtivant: 3-1 win vs Liverpool - It was a big match in the title race and against a team we had just lost to in the FA Cup. We dominated the game and besides a mistake before half-time, Liverpool didn’t look like scoring let alone winning.

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Goal of the Season

James Cormack: Leandro Trossard vs Everton - A masterful short-corner routine executed to perfection. Some strike from Trossard, too. I'll give it the edge of Declan Rice's pearler given that it proved to be the winner at Goodison Park.

Adam Schultz: Eddie Nketiah vs Sheffield United - Eddie received the ball from Smith Rowe, took a touch, turned, and lashed home his shot from outside the box to complete his hat-trick. Sublime.

Kenneth Daly: Declan Rice vs West Ham - Not just because of who scored it or the opposition (although there is something poetic in that). This goal won out because it was an absolute rocket.

Jak Netting: Rice vs West Ham - Simply put, this was an exceptional goal that I feel is often forgotten about. After the grief that Rice had been given by West Ham fans, to score in the manner he did, capping o

James Dudko: Saka away at Spurs - The pass from Havertz was a peach, but this goal owed everything to the inevitability of Saka. When everybody in the stadium knows what you're going to do -- take a touch, cut inside onto your left and shoot -- and you still score, you're a special player. World class? It's not even a debate anymore.

Lennie Teague: Rice vs West Ham - Capped off a sensational win and no better opponent to score such a stunner against.

Charlie Sturtivant: Gabriel Martinelli vs Man City - Definitely wasn’t the prettiest goal of the season but in terms of what it meant it was definitely my goal of the season. We finally broke the curse against City and was a sign that on our day we had a chance to challenge for the league

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2023/24 Season Rating

James Cormack: 8/10 - The cup disappointments are magnified after failing to lift the title. I'd love to see this side go on a proper cup run to complement their league exploits, but you can't overlook just how impressive the Gunners were in the Premier League. They'll learn from their Champions League venture, too.

Adam Schultz: 9/10 - Arsenal did everything it could to claim the title. Most goals in a league season in history, 28 wins in the league (club record) and it still wasn't enough. Outstanding season despite not claiming any silverware.

Kenneth Daly: 8/10 - Our second-place finish might warrant a higher mark, but the fact we did not win the title, along with generally poor cup form, means I will only give this season an eight. Trophies are a must next year.

Jak Netting: 7/10 - It has been a season to remember, but that is not necessarily the hall mark of a completely outstanding season. Our league campaign has been truly special but cup competitions and Europe has left, frankly, a lot to be desired, and it is difficult to not acknowledge this while also highlighting the immense positives. But, overall, we are clearly continuing along the right trajectory.

James Dudko: 8.5/10 - Outstanding in the league, albeit occasionally lacking ambition (see Rodri's comments about City away) or creativity at times (see Fulham away). Arsenal would've been worth champions, but the league alone doesn't define a season. Making a hash of three cup competitions shows overall dominance is still out of reach.

Lennie Teague: 7.5/10 - Could have gone further in either domestic cup. Gave it all in PL and UCL but disappointing to end with no silverware.

Charlie Sturtivant: 8/10 - A really strong season with clear improvements on last year. However, we should have gone further in the domestic cups and our end of season form deserved to win the league.

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