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Arsenal's 2020-21 Premier League season has been a topsy-turvy one. The Gunners began the season well but dropped off massively as the weeks progressed, as Mikel Arteta came under immense scrutiny for his failure to turn around a series of underwhelming results.
However, Arsenal recovered swiftly from their slump and currently find themselves eight in the Premier League standings, just six points behind champions Liverpool. Arteta has steadied the ship at the Emirates Stadium and made them resolute at the back, unlike what was the case under Unai Emery.
However, the Spaniard has also been made aware of the harsh realities of the Premier League, as the Gunners were on the wrong end of a handful of damaging defeats before the turn of the year.
On that note, here are five Arsenal players who have impressed so far this season.
#5 Thomas Partey
Thomas Partey has featured just 11 times in all competitions for Arsenal since his deadline day move from Atletico Madrid, but the Ghanaian midfielder has already shown flashes of brilliance at the Emirates Stadium.
An elegant midfielder by trade, the 27-year-old is capable of carrying the ball into dangerous areas and has also shown his passing ability in his short Arsenal career so far. Arsenal have been crying out for quality in midfield for years now, and with Partey in the team, they look like a much better side in both phases of play.
The Atletico Madrid academy graduate is already a fan favorite at the club and will look to put his injury woes behind him in the second half of the season.
#4 Alexandre Lacazette
Alexandre Lacazette has improved massively under Mikel Arteta and has been a key player for the Gunners this season. With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang enduring a lackluster first half of the campaign and Eddie Nketiah not preferred to lead the line, the Frenchman has been the focal point of the Arsenal attack for a sizable period.
Lacazette's goal record doesn't set the world alight, but his movement off the ball and work rate are seen as valuable assets by Arteta, who picks him more often than not when fit.
The 29-year-old's tally of 10 goals and two assists in 25 appearances across all competitions is a decent return for a striker who was completely written off at the start of the season.
#3 Kieran Tierney
Kieran Tierney has been one of Arsenal's best players this season and has quietly become a vital cog of Mikel Arteta's side. The Spaniard has made the Gunners resolute at the back and Tierney can take a lot of credit for that, having played as a left-back in a flat back four and a left-sided central defender in a back three.
The Scottish defender is also quite the character and has been hailed as one of the leaders of the team, while his consistent performances have earned him praise from fans and pundits alike.
Tierney's ability to contribute to both phases of play is an important feature of Arsenal's gameplay, with the former Celtic defender notching up a goal and three assists across 23 appearances in all competitions.
#2 Bernd Leno
Bernd Leno blew hot and cold under Unai Emery, but the German goalkeeper is another player who has improved tremendously under Arteta. While his shot-stopping skills were never under question, Leno developed a reputation of losing concentration in critical moments and was involved in a series of high-profile errors at the back for the Gunners.
However, with Arsenal's backline looking more solid under Arteta, Leno's gameplay has naturally improved as well. The German international is one of the first names on the team sheet and has recorded 11 shutouts in 27 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners this season.
At the age of 28, the former Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper is at the perfect age to take his game to the next level.
#1 Bukayo Saka
Hailed as Arsenal's golden boy, Bukayo Saka's meteoric rise in the past 18 months has been a pleasant surprise for the Gunners. Primarily used in the UEFA Europa League and the League Cup games by Unai Emery, the young Englishman burst onto the scene at the Emirates Stadium last season with a series of eye-catching displays on the wings.
Under Arteta, however, Saka has been deployed in several positions and has impressed regardless of where he has been stationed, a startling example of his outrageous footballing ability.
Saka has featured 25 times in all competitions this season and has chipped in with five goals and four assists. The 19-year-old has been Arsenal's Player of the Season and is widely regarded as one of the most exciting young players in world football.
