Under the capable leadership of Arsene Wenger, Arsenal has yet to win a Premier League championship since winning it in the 2003–04 season. In May 2018, Unai Emery became the first manager to succeed the Frenchman, but after 78 games in charge, he was eventually unsuccessful.
After a turbulent six games (one victory, three draws, and two losses), former winger turned boss Freddie Ljungberg was replaced by Mikel Arteta, who has been in command ever since. Arteta has been in the dugout more than 250 times.
The fans will never forget Arteta’s transformational impact on Arsenal since his arrival, despite his constant criticism for not winning any trophies in north London. But what about the team he has at his disposal?
All senior players, including Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Kieran Tierney, Thomas Partey, and others, have been assigned to one of six groups: Must Keep; Useful to Have in the Squad; Talented Youngster; The Jury is Still Out; Listen to Offers and Get Rid.
Factors that rank
The following criteria have been used to rate the players:
overall quality and their contributions to the current team.
longevity and prospects for the future.
Based on their recent performances, are they worth the money?
Saliba, Odegaard, and Saka must remain Arteta’s preferred men.
There are several names that Arteta and his team need to sign to long-term contracts because Arsenal is now seen as successful in their title-challenging era. Saka, a young Englishman who was born in London, has emerged as one of the Premier League’s poster boys. His transformation from child to first team regular will always be part of the club’s legend.
William Saliba and Declan Rice are equally significant to the capital club’s collection of cutlery. Their significance is frequently felt in their absence because they are positioned at the centre of the defence and the pivot of the midfield, respectively. They both have the potential to become true club legends if they stay put.
David Raya has been one of the Premier League’s greatest goalkeepers since his six-month loan at the Emirates Stadium in 2023–2024, and he should wear the gloves for the team until he chooses not to.
Raya, who has participated in every minute of Arsenal’s 2024–25 Premier League campaign so far, makes a strong argument for being one of Arteta’s most valuable assets. The first step was to remove Aaron Ramsdale from his top slot, and now he is among the first names on the team sheet.
Despite being one of the league’s top defenders on his own, Gabriel Magalhaes is frequently overlooked by Saliba’s skill at the back. Jurrien Timber, a versatile defender with a beautiful blend of technical and tactical ability, is a player who has shown his value in a short period of time. The Dutchman is an absolute necessity because of his technical prowess and ability to play wherever in the back line.
The fact that Martin Odegaard is so essential to Arteta’s setup is demonstrated by Arsenal’s lack of bite in his absence. Odegaard, a key member of the Gunners’ midfield trio, is deservedly considered one of the greatest players in the English Premier League and ought to receive all the rewards he desires.
Need to Maintain
The player
Appearances at Arsenal (24/25)
Saka Bukayo
24
Rice, Declan
26
Saliba, William
29
Raya David
29
Magalhaes, Gabriel
27
Timber, Jurrien
26
Odegaard, Martin
19.
Beneficial to Have in the Team
There are prospects for White, Trossard, and Havertz in north London.
Even if he is on loan, Neto has a wealth of experience, so Arteta and his group should have faith in the seasoned Brazilian to be Raya’s backup for the foreseeable future. Even though he is now 35, it would be prudent to retain his services for the time being.
Ben White, who was previously a promising player at Brighton & Hove Albion, was acquired for £50 million in the summer of 2021 and has since established himself as a reliable back lineman; as such, he should be allowed to stay.
Leandro Trossard’s effect off the substitutes bench alone makes it worthwhile to keep him on board, especially considering Arsenal paid a very little amount for his services compared to the current market.
The lack of a functional marksman in the Red Side of North London has been a topic of discussion for a while. It’s unknown if Kai Havertz, a former Chelsea player who joined the Gunners in the summer of 2023, can cover that gap, but his versatility is unquestionably significant.
The signing of the aforementioned Merino cast doubt on Thomas Partey’s future, and since joining from Atletico Madrid, he has likewise been in and out of Arteta’s senior plans. Having made just under 100 appearances, the midfield destroyer has been a good addition, and his versatility might indicate that he has a significant role to play in the future.
Beneficial to Have in the Team
The player
Appearances at Arsenal (24/25)
Ben White
Twelve
Neto
3.
Trossard, Leandro
29
Havertz, Kai
27
Partey, Thomas
29
Arsenal’s talented young players, Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri, have promising futures.
Although Hale End is well-known in Premier League circles for producing some of the best players in the English top division, such as Ashley Cole, Bukayo Saka, and Tony Adams, the most recent graduates of their academy are Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
The former will undoubtedly establish himself as a crucial member of the senior squad in the near future after winning over the Emirates supporters with a few standout displays, albeit mostly from the bench. Lewis-Skelly, 18, has made ten appearances for Arsenal’s main squad in all competitions this season and has earned starlet status following his Champions League performance against Monaco.
Talented Child
The player
Appearances at Arsenal (24/25)
Nwaneri Ethan
18
Lewis-Skelly, Myles
17
The verdict is still pending.
First team berths have not yet been secured by summer signings.
Unfortunately, Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori, the club’s summer signings, have not yet established themselves as valuable team players. However, time will tell. The club signed the 28-year-old from Real Sociedad despite their policy of signing up-and-coming players, and he has had a mixed start to life in the capital.
Since completing the summer transfer, the centre midfielder, who was born in Pamplona, has appeared in 21 games, totalling 586 minutes of action. Though it’s unclear if he was the best target for the Gunners, his gangly limbs make him a difficult player to mark out of the game.
In contrast, Calafiori is younger than the other player and has a better chance of thriving at the three-time Premier League winners. The Italian, who was also scouted by Liverpool and West Ham United in the summer, is defensively savvy and at ease away from home. He has all the makings to establish himself as a mainstay for Arteta and company.
The verdict is still pending.
The player
Appearances at Arsenal (24/25)
Merino Mikel
21
Calafiori Riccardo
16
Pay attention to the offers. Martinelli, Tomiyasu, and Partey all have questionable futures.
This category is intended for players who are on the team’s perimeter and would not be terribly missed if the club were to cut ties with them soon, but are not certain to be on the transfer list come January and possibly even in the summer. Although the seasoned Jorginho finished third in the 2021 Ballon d’Or standings, it is clear that the Italian mastermind has lost a yard of pace. To be honest, without him, Arsenal wouldn’t be the same.
After Timber returned from injury, Takehiro Tomiyasu, who has made only one appearance for the Gunners this season, has kind of faded into obscurity at the club. The 42-cap Japan international is still only 26 years old and clearly capable, so selling him may be advantageous for everyone.
Gabriel Martinelli’s status at the club has come under scrutiny due to a significant decline in performance levels after he was previously a key player in Arteta’s title hopes. He might be utilised as a makeweight in any future trades, as Arsenal has been trying to increase their offensive options for a while.
Pay Attention to Offers
The player
Appearances at Arsenal (24/25)
Jorginho
18
Tomiyasu Takehiro
One
Martinelli, Gabriel
28
Get Rid
Raheem Sterling, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Jesus, Kieran Tierney, and Jakub Kiwior
Even though the Scot is adored by the team’s supporters, Kieran Tierney should probably be bid farewell. After returning from his Real Sociedad loan, he has had difficulty finding playing time, which was made worse by defensive reinforcements in the summer. Maybe it’s time to leave for good.
The same can be said for Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior, who are more frequently warming the bench than playing on the pitch. The latter joined from Manchester City, the four-time Premier League champions, with the intention of introducing a steely, serial-winning mentality, but his bad choices have made him an unmemorable addition.
Undoubtedly, Gabriel Jesus has also served his time with the club. Unlike when he originally joined the North Londoners, the 64-cap Brazil international is no longer a reliable goal scorer or a persistent danger. For the benefit of all concerned, it is time to move on.
Although Raheem Sterling just signed a one-year loan agreement in the summer, he is scheduled to return to Chelsea at the end of the current term. It remains to be seen if he has played well enough for a permanent deal to be presented to him. Despite being regarded as one of the best English attackers of all time, he undoubtedly performs poorly and is not a desirable possibility due to his salary.
Get Rid
The player
Appearances at Arsenal (24/25)
Kiwior, Jakub
14
Tierney, Kieran
2.
Jesus Gabriel
27
Zinchenko, Oleksandr
11.
Sterling Raheem
Twelve
