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After Arsenal’s victory against Brighton on the 6th of April 2024, they are one step closer to winning the premier league for the 4th time… ever! With their captain, Martin Ødegaard, declaring that Arsenal fears nobody in the lead-up to the finals, we’re taking a look at everyone in the team who has contributed to this brilliant success. Currently gearing up to beat Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich in a few days in the Champions League quarter-finals, Arsenal are just smashing through this season with an unbeatable finesse. This is a stark contrast to last year’s beating, where the infamous Bukayo Saka missed the chance (more like the net) to put Arteta’s men 3-1 up in the penalty spot versus West Ham.
Arsenal have hit the first place in the Premier League leaderboards and are one point ahead of Liverpool and Manchester City. What’s so different from last year, and how is Arsenal coming out on top? Let’s break down the team and find the best and worst players who are making their names known.
1. Martin Ødegaard
Is Ødegaard one of Arsenal’s most prized possessions at the moment? We certainly think so, and so does Arteta. Formerly part of Real Madrid, the 25-year-old from Norway is the captain of both Arsenal and his national team, Norway — and he’s cemented as one of the best midfielders in the world. He has technique, vision, and range in his arsenal — and we Gunners are proud of how he’s contributed to Arsenal’s success so far. Not solely on the pitch, but he’s guaranteed to win fans through the books and sport betting too, due to his undeniable skills and almost guaranteed goals. In Arsenal’s win against Luton Town FC just this week, during the after-game interview, Arteta came forward and said “Martin (Ødegaard) is vital to connect everything in the way we play.” This admission shows that he is very much aware of the critical role Ødegaard plays, and how it’s been a huge part in the Gunners’ revival this season.
After joining the team in 2021 for £30 million, the midfielder has gone on to capture the hearts of Gunners’ fans everywhere. With such a monumental amount of talent, we can’t afford as a team to see him on the bench or out through injury, and fortunately, it seems like his technical brilliance is here to stay for the foreseeable.
2. Bukayo Saka
Saka is a crucial player in the team and one that everybody needs by their side (not just because of the endorsements either). At just 21 years old, Saka joined Arsenal through the academy and is a true Gunners superstar. Although Arteta is hoping the young star will retire as a club legend, it has been revealed that if he were to be valued today, then it would be between £150-£200 million — proving he’s a fighting force in the world of football. The right winger, although he’s had a few injuries, is still one of Arsenal’s biggest assets and is regarded as one of the best wingers in the world.
This is evidenced in the fact that he scored 41 goals and 33 assists in just 158 Premier League appearances — even though he is going through some off-games due to injury. He’s a young star and one who is working alongside these other superstars to get Arsenal the win for the fourth time in history.
3. William Saliba
William Saliba is the only reason that Arsenal aren’t letting a goal slip through this season, with serious competition heating up between them and Manchester City. He’s the ultimate defence powerhouse and one we Gunners are rooting for in the Premier League. The 23-year-old is a French professional football player who also plays for his National team, and is the centre-back to be reckoned with.
Instrumental to all the games as of late, Saliba is making Arsenal’s season comeback — after last year, when he was injured. Thank God for Saliba; he’s back and fighting better than ever, and could be the reason behind the first-place spot.
4. Oleksandr Zinchenko
With every team, there has to be a time when a player isn’t playing as they should — and Oleksandr Zinchenko is that one player. Struggling with injuries is a constant problem for Oleksandr Zinchenko, and because of this, he is unable to pick up form this season. Showing that he is levels below all the other players when he’s on the pitch, and lacking in match sharpness — it’s no wonder he’s benched a lot during this exciting Premier League fight to the finish. Signed to the team only in 2022 for £30 million, we won’t write him off just yet, but he has a lot of pressure to level up his game.
He’s playing against some of the world titles in sport — and although his gameplay last year was full of fire and no injuries, we’re dubbing him our worst player for 2024. Let’s hope he’ll pull it all around and come back fighting fit.
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