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After a huge victory over rivals Manchester United, Arsenal are finally on-course to finishing in the top-four this season. North London rivals, Tottenham, sit third in the EPL standings, but they are only a point above the Gunners. The Lilywhites have not won in their last four EPL matches while Arsenal's domestic form is getting better and better as the weeks go by.
It is just Unai Emery's first season in-charge and halfway through, there are already fans calling for the manager to be sacked. The Gunners were embarrassed by Liverpool when they played at Anfield. Their form dipped after losses to Southampton and West Ham. However, the team is now starting to find their rhythm again and the players could continue this fighting spirit all the way until the season ends.
If Arsenal were to qualify for the UEFA Champions League at the end of this season, credit ought to be given to both Emery and the players. Some players have played an enormous role in the buildup to this race for a top-four finish and here is a look at the three key players for Arsenal this season.
#3 Bernd Leno
The German shot-stopper first found himself on Arsenal's bench when the new season began. Petr Cech was still Emery's first choice keeper back when the season started until the former was injured. Thereafter, Leno took over and Emery never looked back. Cech, who will be retiring after this season, has been used sparingly by the manager. His appearances have been limited to the Europa League and cup matches, something which David Ospina had experienced in the last few seasons.
As Leno starts to get the hang of things in the EPL, the future of Ospina looks bleak. The Colombian has been loaned to Napoli this season while Cech stayed behind as the backup keeper. Initially, Emiliano Martínez was also one of the keepers in the first team, but the Argentine joined Reading on loan in the winter transfer window. This goes to show that Emery has confidence in both Leno and Cech that they will see the team out for the rest of the season.
Fans can hardly remember when was the last time their side had kept a clean sheet, but Leno has been impressing fans with a series of superb saves when Arsenal faced Tottenham, Bournemouth and Manchester United in recent days. Unexpectedly, the German keeper managed the impossible- keeping a clean sheet against United. If not for his bravery and commitment, Arsenal could not have won the game.
#2 Sokratis
Since his arrival from Borussia Dortmund, Sokratis has been influential for the Gunners. In his recent game with Arsenal, he managed to keep a clean sheet together with Laurent Koscielny and Nacho Monreal. The three defenders at the back.managed to keep Manchester United forwards at bay throughout the whole match, which came as a surprise since the Red Devils have been performing so well when they go forward for the last few weeks.
Although Arsenal still frequently suffer from defensive lapses, Sokratis has been one of the main men at the backline, ensuring that he has a command of everything. It is noteworthy that this is the Greek centre-back's first season in the EPL. While Shkodran Mustafi struggled when he first joined the Gunners, Sokratis showed no signs of that. He has adapted well to the demands of the EPL and formed a formidable partnership alongside Koscielny.
The 30-year-old was unfortunate to get two yellows in Arsenal's Europa League first-leg tie against Rennes in France. His presence was sorely missed during the second half of the match and Unai Emery will now have to deal with the fact that Sokratis will be missing the return leg at home this midweek.
#1 Alexandre Lacazette
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's presence in the team did not wane Lacazette's influence and importance. Instead, Aubameyang's arrival showcased Lacazette's potential and abilities. The French forward has worked incredibly hard to create chances for his side and gain some popularity among fans.
In his first season at the Emirates, Lacazette was not the goal-scoring machine that fans had envisioned him to be. However, as time goes by, it has become more obvious that Lacazette does have other talents in his pocket. His determination to get the ball and drive the play forward paid off when Arsenal faced United.
When the striker gave Aubameyang the chance to take the important penalty, it showed his selflessness and role as a team member. Lacazette earnt the penalty and had the right to take the set-piece. Instead, the Gabonese forward was the one who took the penalty and before that Lacazette had some words of encouragement for his buddy. Certainly, those conversations helped boost Aubameyang's confidence given that the former Dortmund player has not been in a great form since missing the set-piece against Tottenham.
Lacazette is not the striker who would score in every match like Cristiano Ronaldo or Robert Lewandowski. However, when he is not on the pitch, the whole team feels the effects of his absence, just like in the game against Rennes.
