After the previous international break, Arsenal managed to win only two games: they defeated Shakhtar Donetsk at home and Preston away. During this period, the Gunners lost twice and drew twice in the Premier League, while they suffered a 0-1 loss to Inter in the Champions League.
Overall, the second half of October and the beginning of November were particularly challenging for Arsenal, significantly diminishing their chances of achieving success this season.
Odegaard ↪️
Martinelli ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/jrVcGxZfyT— Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 11, 2024
As a result, identifying the top 5 Arsenal players proved to be difficult, as none of them truly excelled during this time. Nonetheless, we will attempt to highlight those who performed the best in the team.
5. Declan Rice
This season, Declan Rice has yet to fully fill Granit Xhaka’s boots in terms of attacking productivity. The English midfielder has struggled to combine with his teammates in the left half-space, often finding it difficult to execute high-quality progressive passes in the opponent’s half.
However, Rice has been a standout in pressing and counter-pressing, regularly winning both aerial and ground duels and effectively disrupting opponents’ counterattacks with well-timed tackles in the heart of midfield.
Declan Rice insists it’s very important for Arsenal to win a trophy this season:
“It’s so important. I say that strongly. This team has been close now in the Premier League for the last two years. Last year was the first season back in the Champions League and we got to the… pic.twitter.com/Q6nolP68UE
— now.arsenal (@now_arsenaI) November 12, 2024
Rice’s performances shine brightest when Mikel Arteta positions him as a defensive midfielder in the central area. This suggests this role will likely become his mainstay as he grows into Arsenal’s tactical setup.
4. Mikel Merino
Mikel Merino made his first full start for Arsenal in early October, and he will need time to adapt. However, the Spanish midfielder has already shown great promise in the final third, thanks to his well-timed runs into dangerous areas.
Merino opened his account against Liverpool and had three several golden chances in the match against Chelsea, but his finishing let him down on that occasion.
Seeing Mikel Merino handle the ball slowly, leisurely, simply in the middle of a siege of 2,3 Chelsea players, it was effective & pleasing to the eye.😌
With Merino’s presence in the last 20 minutes, Arsenal’s midfield really became smoother & more fluid pic.twitter.com/newQmEgC0m
— 𝙈𝙚𝙭 (@Afcmex) November 11, 2024
Merino is much more effective than Declan Rice at maneuvering with teammates in the left half-space. In the future, he is likely to become Arteta’s go-to replacement for Granit Xhaka, bringing a balance of defensive grit and offensive creativity that complements Arsenal’s setup.
3. Leandro Trossard
Leandro Trossard was undoubtedly one of Arsenal’s standout performers in September and early October. However, like his teammates, the Belgian saw a dip in form in November.
Nonetheless, his ability to play as a “false nine” and his high-level skills in both half-spaces have helped Arsenal maintain their attacking unpredictability, as Trossard regularly changes positions in the attack.
Nice comeback win before the break! 💪 pic.twitter.com/2rtkawAZx8
— Leandro Trossard (@LTrossard) October 5, 2024
In Arsenal’s clash with Liverpool, especially in the first half, Trossard was a constant thorn in the Reds’ side. His movement made it hard for defenders to track him. Moreover, Leandro contributed excellently to combinations with his teammates.
The Belgian forward remains an important player for Arsenal and will continue to be an invaluable piece in Arteta’s tactical puzzle for the rest of the season.
2. Thomas Partey
Thomas Partey’s contract is set to expire next summer, and it remains unclear whether he will stay with Arsenal. Interestingly, despite his effectiveness in the defensive midfield role, Arsenal has not rushed to extend the Ghanaian midfielder’s contract.
This season, Partey has excelled at winning tackles and interceptions, positioning himself well in front of the penalty area during opponents’ attacks. Furthermore, he contributes to offensive plays by participating in quick combinations with his teammates while also showing a calm head under pressure.
Thomas Partey appreciation tweet ❤️ pic.twitter.com/6hrfU9lEgf
— Ebuka (@EbukaMeansGreat) November 10, 2024
Mikel Arteta has also successfully deployed Partey as an auxiliary right-back in key matches against Liverpool and Newcastle. In these matches he won numerous ground and aerial duels and made several successful tackles.
Without a versatile and top-level defensive player like Partey, it would have been much more challenging for Arsenal to cope with injuries to their full-backs and central midfielders. Partey’s strong performances in October and November affirm his value to the squad.
1. Bukayo Saka
Due to Gabriel Martinelli’s inconsistent performance, Martin Ødegaard’s injury, and the team’s overall challenges, Bukayo Saka has become the Gunners’ key attacking force.
The success of Arsenal’s attacks over the past month has heavily relied on Saka. Opponents, fully aware of his threat, have begun to double- or even triple-team him, making every game a battle for the English star.
An honour to wear the armband for the first time. My club! ©️❤️ pic.twitter.com/tdnjv4Jw9D
— Bukayo Saka (@BukayoSaka87) October 22, 2023
In Arsenal’s match against Chelsea, it was clear that the Blues’ coaching staff, with Marc Cucurella leading the charge, had thoroughly analyzed and prepared for Bukayo Saka’s every move, making it a challenging match for the winger.
As a result, Saka is under immense pressure, and there is a big risk that he might not be able to avoid injuries this season. In the match against Chelsea, he had to leave the field in the 80th minute due to an injury, a stark reminder of the toll these demands are taking on him.
Still, Bukayo Saka is undoubtedly Arsenal’s best player, not just in October and early November but since the very start of the campaign.
