PITAs Arsenal Player of the Month - September 2024

The second month of the 2024/25 season is in the books and Arsenal's unbeaten record remains intact.

August ended on a sour note for the Gunners as they were held at home by Brighton, and while Mikel Arteta's side were guilty of dropping a few points in their September fixtures, the draws they mustered at Atalanta and Manchester City were more than respectable.

This is an Arsenal team built on rock-solid foundations, with the absence of captain Martin Odegaard not yet felt.

There were five games for Gooners to enjoy this month, meaning three starts were required to qualify for our Player of the Month award. If you're new around here, we calculate our POTM award using the player ratings dished out by our team for every game. Each eligible player receives an average rating, with the top three making our monthly podium.

It's simple, eh? So, without further ado, let's get into our September 2024 Player of the Month award.

PITAs Arsenal Player of the Month - September 2024

3. David Raya (Average rating - 6.875)

Raya's earned back-to-back third-place finishes, although his average rating has come down ever so slightly. He received a 7.1 for his August antics, but a 6.875 in September.

The Spaniard has been forced to work hard for clean sheets, but his defence was responsible for the North London Derby shutout. Raya, however, saved Arsenal's bacon in Bergamo with an outstanding performance highlighted by a remarkable double save from Mateo Retegui's penalty.

It was that performance which catapulted him onto the podium, with Raya undoubtedly being Arsenal's Man of the Match that night.

2. William Saliba (Average rating - 7.625)

Spoiler alert: this is an award dominated by defenders.

There's a considerable hike from Raya's 6.875 up to William Saliba's 7.625, with the Frenchman finishing second this month.

We're all aware of the centre-back's majesty, and perhaps his average rating would've been even higher had he got on the end of a few Bukayo Saka corners. Saliba's talent knows no bounds, and while he ended the month with a so-so showing against Leicester, the French international started September with excellent performances against Spurs, Atalanta, and City. His displays in those three games were worthy of an 8.167 average rating.

1. Gabriel & Jurrien Timber (Average rating - 7.75)

Oooo, exciting. We've got a tie for first place!

Just sneaking ahead of Saliba is his centre-back partner Gabriel and the reborn Jurrien Timber.

You might think that Gabriel's goals have inflated his rating, but the Brazilian was outstanding outside of his winner in the derby. That was box defending at its very best, and he barely put a foot wrong at the Etihad either.

Timber, meanwhile, almost certainly won't be considered for the club's Player of the Month award, but he was a standout every time he took to the field in September. The masterful one-v-one defender has locked opponents down at a canter, and his impressive versatility has allowed him to excel in multiple roles.

While Ben White cannot be forgotten about, the Englishman has his work cut out if he's to earn starts at right-back over the Dutch monster.

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