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Arsenal was expected to go through a massive rebuilding project this season as Arsene Wenger finally drew curtains on his illustrious career in May. With the Frenchman stepping down, the onus fell on Unai Emery to restore the Gunners’ place among the country’s elite.
The Spaniard got off to a sticky start by tasting defeat in his opening two fixtures. However, a 22 game unbeaten run followed which included impressive displays against Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham.
Yet, since their win against their North London rivals, the Gunners seem to have dropped off the pace a little and now find themselves trailing Chelsea by a couple of points in the race for fourth place.
Emery has certainly brought in methods different to those deployed by his predecessor. The Spaniard has made the Gunners’ attack more direct with Lacazette and Aubameyang benefitting greatly.
Additionally, Emery has helped several players rediscover their good form. However, despite a relatively blip-free season, there have still been a few who have failed to punch to their weight.
With the season reaching the halfway mark, we take a glimpse of who have been the best and the worst so far this season.
Without further ado, here is a look at them:
#3 Worst: Bernd Leno
The German goalkeeper was signed in the summer from Bayer Leverkusen in order to solve the Gunners’ keeping conundrum. Unfortunately, though, he has failed to live up to his hype and always looks on the verge of a mistake when faced with adversity.
Initially, Leno had to play second-fiddle to Cech. However, an injury to the latter handed the former an opportunity to stake a claim for being the Gunners’ first-choice goalkeeper.
Though the German has been comfortable with the ball at his feet and helps the Gunners build attacks from the back, he has hardly painted a solid picture between the posts.
Leno has made several high-profile errors with his dubious decision-making and handling coming to the fore against Tottenham, Manchester United and more recently, Southampton.
In the summer, the acquisition of Leno brought renewed hope. However, the German hasn’t offered significant returns in the first half of his first English league season.
At 26 years of age, Leno still has time to blossom into the top-drawer keeper Arsenal have craved for. Yet, considering that the awards need to be given this season, he undesirably lays his hands on the award for the 3rd worst Arsenal player.
#3 Best: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
The Gabonese striker arrived in January 2018 and has scored goals for fun since setting foot on English shores. In the 2018-19 season, he already has 13 goals. The 13 goals also see him sit pretty at the perch of the Golden Boot race.
Aubameyang looked short of his best at the end of last season and many expected him to improve after a proper pre-season. And boy, hasn’t he improved.
The striker has enjoyed his partnership with Lacazette with the duo complementing each other well. Despite scaling such peaks, Aubameyang still has some aspects to improve upon. Over the course of the season, he has gone through patches where he has been completely anonymous.
Additionally, he has been guilty of missing some clear-cut chances in big games. Though Emery wouldn’t be minding the goals he’s procuring, the Spaniard might just want Aubameyang to realize his enormous potential even more.
The Gunners broke the bank in January expecting a top-notch goal poacher to arrive. And it’s safe to say that their investment has been repaid handsomely.
#2 Worst: Henrikh Mkhitaryan
The Armenian was part of the famous swap deal which saw Alexis Sanchez move to Old Trafford. While the Chilean failed to strike a chord with those in Manchester, Mkhitaryan quickly became a crowd puller with his imagination and ability to showcase flair.
However, the 2018-19 has represented a regression for the Armenian rather than an upward curve. Often a part of the front three, the Armenian has regularly failed to hit the heights expected of him, thus disgruntling the terraces at the Emirates.
Though Mkhitaryan has popped up with four league goals, he hasn’t been able to optimally unlock his potential. He has frequently given the ball away meaning that he has put his team under undue pressure at times which has resulted in quick turnovers.
The midfielder has tried his best but it simply hasn’t come off for him this term. The end product so synonymous with him has suddenly gone missing while his tally of one assist in 14 league appearances leaves a lot to be desired.
At 30 years of age, Arsenal could be his final top European club after a sensational stint at Dortmund. However, the Armenian has looked a shadow of his former Dortmund self.
#2 Best: Rob Holding
The English central defender was signed from Bolton a few seasons back by Arsene Wenger. Yet, it was Unai Emery who finally unlocked his vast potential and made him a permanent fixture at the back.
With Koscielny out long term, Arsenal were left with Holding as their only natural left-sided centre-back. Hence, the latter was thrown right into the mix and he emerged from the rubble a better player.
After impressing in his opportunities, Holding slowly and surely became one of Arsenal’s first names on the team sheet.
An accomplished passer of the ball, the Englishman has looked mature this season and has considerably reduced the number of mistakes. While his raw talent was never in question, his displays this term have shown that he deserves a longer run in the Arsenal first-team.
Unfortunately, though, an untimely injury at Old Trafford ruled him out for the entirety of the season. Holding will not play a further role in Arsenal’s season yet was indispensable in the initial phases.
Thus, it has come as no surprise that the Gunners have just won a solitary league game since he went off injured. In a season where Arsenal’s defence has crumbled under the slightest bit of pressure, Holding certainly held fort better than anyone else.
#1 Worst: Mesut Ozil
The German had a turbulent summer. After being entrusted with carrying his country’s hopes at the World Cup, Ozil wasn’t up to scratch in Russia and later found himself caught in the center of a racism storm.
Unfortunately, the bad treatment by the German FA seems to have taken a toll on Ozil as he has looked mentally jaded this campaign. At the start of the season, Emery earmarked him as one of the captains for the season yet every passing match has told us that the Spaniard hardly trusts the German in crunch situations.
Though the uncertainty over Ozil’s future has played a part in his wretched form, the German has enough talent to put those rumors to bed with sheer quality on the pitch.
Yet, something of that sort has failed to transpire this season.
When Ozil conjured magic against Leicester in October, many believed that he had turned a corner. Unfortunately, the step forward was followed by several steps in the opposite direction, meaning that the German now has a fight on his hands to regain his manager’s faith.
There aren’t many (if any) in the Arsenal dressing room who can rival Ozil’s vision or inventiveness. However, the German’s lackadaisical attitude has clearly offset the other strong facets of his game.
#1 Best: Lucas Torreira
Arsenal have lacked a Gilberto Silva-esque midfielder ever since the Brazilian left for newer pastures. However, in Lucas Torreira, the Gunners might just have found the midfielder they’ve been crying out for.
Since arriving at the Emirates, Torreira has put in countless dogged displays in the middle third, instantly becoming a hit with the Emirates faithful.
A bundle of energy, the Uruguayan isn’t shy of a tackle and gets stuck in to ensure his side maintain control in the centre of the park.
Additionally, he has adapted extremely well to the frenetic nature of the league and Arsenal’s passing style. Torreira is at the heart of every good Arsenal move and controls the tempo of the game with aplomb.
It would be a little too harsh to call Arsenal a one-man team but whenever the midfielder fails to influence proceedings, the Gunners have a tough job containing the opposition. Hence, Torreira’s influence can’t be overstated enough.
For years, Arsenal have been fretting over a player comprising of such a skill-set yet, that type of player remained elusive. But then, to the delight of many Gooners, the diminutive Uruguayan came along and ended the agonizing wait.
