It's been a memorable season for Mikel Arteta's side, with a number of their players turning in the best campaigns of their careers
It was a season that promised so much for so long, but ultimately ended in disappointment. There’s no doubt Arsenal have made huge strides under Mikel Arteta and a second-placed finish represents massive progress, but that will not lessen the pain of seeing Manchester City surpass them in the title race having spent so many months at the top of the table.
Arsenal have, however, been a breath of fresh air this season and deserve plenty of plaudits for how they have performed. From the vibrant attacking play of Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka, to the wizardry of Martin Odegaard, there have been some exceptional individual performances throughout the campaign.
Below, GOAL ranks the Arsenal players for the 2022-23 season…
23Emile Smith Rowe – 4/10
It’s been a hugely frustrating season for Smith Rowe. Injured right at the start of it, he spent months on the sidelines trying to get fit after a groin operation. He returned in January with fans hoping he could have a major impact over the second half of the campaign, but Arteta has barely used him at all, consistently leaving him on the bench and favouring others over the young academy product.
Smith Rowe ends the season without having made a single start and with major question marks hanging over his future. It feels harsh to even give him a rating, given his lack of starts.
Advertisement22Mohamed Elneny – 5/10
It’s been a difficult campaign for Elneny. The experienced midfielder only made eight appearances in all competitions before suffering a nasty knee injury in training in January, and he underwent an operation which forced him to miss the remainder of the season.
Elneny has been handed a new one-year contract, however, and that shows how much he is still valued by the club.
Getty Images21Matt Turner – 5/10
The United States international only made two appearances since the World Cup, and neither of them were in the league. He looked nervous on both occasions, particularly in the away game at Sporting CP, where he really struggled with the ball at his feet and was at fault for the hosts' opening goal.
Turner was left out for the second leg, with Arteta instead starting Aaron Ramsdale, which must have been a major blow to the American. He didn't play a single minute after that.
Getty Images20Rob Holding – 5/10
When William Saliba picked up his injury at the end of the season, it was Holding who Arteta turned to to fill the void. But the English defender just couldn’t reach the level that was needed and Arsenal looked far weaker as a result. It’s tough to blame Holding. He did everything he could, but it wasn’t enough and teams started to target him.
A hugely popular member of the squad, Holding has proven to be a fine signing over the years, but this summer feels like the right time for him to move on.