Ranking the 5 best Arsenal players so far this season (2021-22)

Arsenal’s rebuild under Mikel Arteta seems to finally be going according to plan. The former Arsenal skipper has turned a stale and stagnating side into one filled with youth, intent and hunger this season.

The Arsenal project is still not without its issues, however. Mikel Arteta’s side have very few options outside the first team—an issue that could come back to bite the North London side later in the season.

For now, however, Arsenal are up to the dizzying heights of fourth place and are eight points clear of north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. It's worth noting that Spurs have three games in hand, which would see them overtake Arsenal if they manage to secure all nine points.

The rebuild at Arsenal has had its fair share of heroes and villains. Members of the old guard, like former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bernd Leno, have seen themselves take up secondary roles in the team. Young stars have popped up and snatched their opportunities at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal can take comfort in the performances of several of their players, some of whom are just breaking into the first team. Here are five Arsenal players who have stood out from the pack so far this season:

#5 Martin Ødegaard

Manchester United v Arsenal - Premier League

The 23-year-old Norwegian may have been a former Real Madrid star, but breaking into Los Blancos' first team proved to be a rather difficult task. At Arsenal, however, Martin Ødegaard has found many opportunities in Arteta's side.

This season has seen the star pick up four goals in 16 Premier League appearances, only five goals away from his personal all-time record of nine goals a season.

Since losing to Liverpool 4-0 back in November, Ødegaard has directly contributed to four goals for his side. The versatile attacker might be struggling to contribute defensively, but Mikel Arteta will have no issues with Odegaard's style of play if he keeps improving.

#4 Takehiro Tomiyasu

The former Bologna star joined up with the Gunners in the summer transfer window and has become an indispensable part of Mikel Arteta's squad. Considering Tomiyasu's consistency, Arsenal arguably landed him for a steal after a deal worth less than €20 million. Tomiyasu has made 15 appearances for Arsenal, providing solidity at the back and a reliable outlet on the right flank.

Although he plays as a right-back, the star is quite capable of playing in the middle of the defense. The 23-year old is hardly the most skilled full-back, but his average of 2.5 clearances per game, alongside a combined 1.8 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game, have proven Tomiyasu's value.

#3 Ben White

Another signing Arsenal made during the summer transfer window: Ben White from Brighton, for a stunning £50 million. Many were uncertain about the former Leeds man at the time, but White has adapted superbly to his new role at the Emirates Stadium.

So far, the star has played in 16 of Arsenal's Premier League games, guiding the club to 10 wins in the process. His brilliant performances against West Ham, Sunderland, Newcastle, Watford and Leicester City ensured that Arsenal picked up clean sheets, driving the club into the top four positions on the table.

#2 Aaron Ramsdale

Aaron Ramsdale was another key purchase in a summer transfer window that saw Mikel Arteta boost the club's dwindling defense. Like Ben White, the 23-year-old goalkeeper has excelled while making the switch to a bigger club. Ramsdale has picked up eight clean sheets in the Premier League, playing an important role in driving Arsenal into a Champions League place in the table.

The young goalkeeper has made some impressive saves as well. Ramsdale's daring save against James Maddison's free kick is regarded as one of the saves of the season. The ace has been named Arsenal's Player of the Month twice this season, which goes to show just how brilliant he has been.

#1 Emile Smith Rowe

Arsenal v Sunderland - Carabao Cup Quarter Final

The list finishes off with yet another youngster who has played their heart out for the Gunners this season. Emile Smith Rowe came through the youth system at the Emirates, eventually picking up loan opportunities at RB Leipzig and Huddersfield Town.

However, his first-team breakthrough came last year, and brilliant performances in the 2020-21 campaign saw the star receive the famed No. 10 jersey before the season began.

Smith Rowe has continued in outstanding fashion this season. The versatile 21-year old has notched up seven goals and two assists in 16 Premier League games for the club. The last five games have seen him score thrice, even though the star came on as a substitute in two of those games.

About the author

Nnanna is currently an analyst on Sportskeeda. He started writing about football as a hobby many years ago, but it's recently become a more important aspect of his life.

He loves sports, football particularly, and is optimistic about the growth of local leagues in Africa.

Know More

Edited by Shourjo Chatterjee