The 2024/25 season was supposed to be the campaign when Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal would go one better and finally end their 20-year wait for the Premier League title. However, fans have once again been reminded to trust the process this summer off the back of a third straight runners-up finish.
The fact that the Gunners haven’t won the title this season would be a tough pill to swallow, and their wait for a major honour of any description now stands at five years after failing to overcome PSG in the Champions League.
Despite their shortcomings, there have been some excellent individual performances throughout the campaign, and their top five players in 2024/25 can be found here.
5. Declan Rice
When it comes to determining Arsenal’s player of the season, there are only two or three leading candidates. However, it would be hard to argue that Declan Rice is deserving of the accolade in 2024/25.
Rice has once again vindicated the big money spent to prize the midfielder away from West Ham. He has been the relentless force in the middle of the field, which ultimately led to their best run in the Champions League under Arteta.
Happy Sunday ❤️ pic.twitter.com/0ixNtzrmFN
— Declan Rice (@DR41fanpage) May 18, 2025
His performances against Real Madrid will go down in the history books, with his excellent brace at the Emirates being his star performance of his career to this point. The 26-year-old has enjoyed his best goal-scoring season of his career, and he registered eleven goal involvements in the Premier League.
However, it is his defensive work that often gave the Gunners the platform to excel. Rice was part of the team that kept eleven Premier League clean sheets, and he averaged 1.54 tackles and 3.51 winning ground duels per game.
4. Gabriel
William Saliba has rightly gotten the plaudits for Arsenal in recent seasons, but he was upstaged in the 2024/25 season by his defensive partner. It could be argued Arsenal’s season began to fall apart as soon as it was revealed that Gabriel would be ruled out for the remainder of the campaign in April.
The defender’s season started brightly after netting the winner in the North London derby against Tottenham, before he scored once again in the crucial early-season draw at Manchester City. His presence from attacking set pieces saw the Gunners become one of the most dangerous attacking teams from corners in the Premier League.
Gabriel Magalhaes #AFC pic.twitter.com/J7fVzQXQLb
— AFC Pics (@W33ie) May 15, 2025
Gabriel ended the season with three league goals, with only seven Arsenal players scoring more. Defensively, he was solid throughout the season, with Arsenal only allowing 0.8 goals per 90 when the Brazilian was on the field. Gabriel averaged 3.73 winning ground duels per game and was also a force in the air, winning 2.02 aerial duels per game.
3. David Raya
Unsurprisingly, given their attacking issues throughout the season, many of the star performers for Arsenal in 2024/25 can be found in the defensive areas. David Raya enjoyed another excellent season, once again vindicating Mikel Arteta’s decision to bring in the former Brentford stopper to replace fan favourite Aaron Ramsdale.
Raya made arguably the save of the season when managing to keep out Ollie Watkins’ header at Villa Park in August, and he would later share the Golden Glove Award with Mats Sels.
David Raya: Played 2 Seasons at Arsenal, Won 2 Golden Gloves Awards
He is a serious high level Goalkeeper
£27m Well Spent🤝 pic.twitter.com/UfPSzCN12V
— UpYourArsenal🔴⚪🔴⚪♥️ (@UPYOURARSENAL04) May 28, 2025
The Spaniard made club history this season after keeping 23 clean sheets in just 50 appearances for Arsenal, becoming the fastest to reach that landmark. His stats this season have been incredible, saving 72% of the 118 shots that he has faced, and allowing an average of just 0.84 goals per game.
2. Jurrien Timber
Another defender to make the list comes in the form of Jurrien Timber. The Dutchman encountered a frustrating first season at the Emirates after being ruled out throughout the 2023/24 campaign due to injury. However, he has been one of their star players this term, despite playing in an unfamiliar position.
His versatility has offered Arteta options throughout the season, with Timber playing at right-back and left-back to cover two problem areas for the Gunners. His importance to the team has been reflected in the fact that Arsenal have only allowed 0.78 goals per game when he has been on the field.
Jurrien Timber comeback out of ACL injury was insane. pic.twitter.com/KV14voeTme
— Gooner Eurychus (@GoonerEurychus) May 26, 2025
His combative approach has also seen him make an average of 2.08 tackles per 90, and his aggressive nature has seen him make an average of 0.89 interceptions per fixture, ensuring that he is always able to get his team back on the front foot. It will be fascinating to see where he plays next season, as he has excelled in the right-back position ahead of Ben White.
1. Myles Lewis-Skelly
Left-back has been a problem area for Arsenal throughout Arteta’s reign, but homegrown Myles Lewis-Skelly has made the position his own since being handed his first-team opportunity. The 18-year-old has undeniably been the breakout star in the Premier League this season.
He made his first Premier League start against Everton in December, before showcasing his trait as being a big game player after netting the opening goal in a 2-2 draw against Manchester City in February.
👀✨ Thomas Tuchel: “Myles Lewis-Skelly came into camp and showed straight away that it’s so normal to fall in LOVE with him!”. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/1fsjWkVwD6
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 21, 2025
Lewis-Skelly has averaged one tackle per 90 in the Premier League this season, and has also been a constant force in the attacking areas, with Arteta typically trusting the full-back to drop into a midfield role when the club is in possession of the ball.
His ascent to the top of the game is set to continue next season, and he could yet be a vitally important player for Thomas Tuchel’s England after being handed a first cap in their win over Albania in March.
