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Premier League giants Arsenal failed to secure Champions League football at the end of the 2020-21 campaign. They have recovered exceptionally well this season and are one of the top contenders for a top-four finish.
Unlike other Premier League biggies, Arsenal do not have established world-beaters at their disposal. What they do have is a team full of spirited individuals who are eager to make every opportunity count.
Here are the five Arsenal players who took their chances and delivered match-winning performances in 2021:
#5 Kieran Tierney
In modern football, full-backs arguably play the most important role on the pitch. They are tasked with the responsibility of juggling two worlds and are required to do it with utmost dedication.
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Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney is slowly proving himself to be a master of the art, making the Gunners realize his importance with each passing day.
Tierney also happens to be extremely versatile. He can play as a left-back, left wing-back, or even a left centre-back when the situation demands it.
Irrespective of the role he is playing, Tierney looks for opportunities to put the ball inside the area. His low crosses are extremely effective and often leave the opposition dumbfounded across the face of the goal.
Tierney likes to create chances for his teammates but is not afraid of trying his luck either. When he picks up the ball in a central area close to the opposition goal, he needs no invitation to shoot.
In 2021, we saw many instances of Tierney’s creativity. The Scotland international has scored thrice and provided six assists in 2021.
#4 Martin Odegaard
Norwegian star Martin Odegaard was a prized asset for Real Madrid. The 13-time Champions League winners thought highly of the youngster and expected him to become a first-team player.
Odegaard was particularly impressive in his loan spell at Real Sociedad, but Madrid still had no room for a player of his skillset.
Arsenal got the player on loan in 2020 before signing him permanently at the start of the 2021-22 campaign. Operating in his preferred number 10 role, Odegaard has been instrumental to Arsenal’s steady run of form this season.
He is great with the ball at his feet, can have a go at goal from distance and possesses impressive vision.
Odegaard scored five goals and provided six assists for the Gunners in 2021. Considering Arteta’s trust in the player, we expect him to retain his purple patch for the remainder of the 2021-22 campaign.
#3 Aaron Ramsdale
Arsenal signed Aaron Ramsdale in the summer of 2021, primarily to play second fiddle to Bernd Leno.
However, thanks to Mikel Arteta’s open-mindedness and the keeper’s heroics in training sessions, Ramsdale got the call to replace Leno under the bar.
The former Sheffield United man made his Premier League debut for Arsenal on matchday four. He kept a clean sheet and helped the Gunners to their first win of the season.
Since then, he has featured in 15 Premier League games for Arsenal, keeping nine clean sheets.
#2 Emile Smith Rowe
Arsenal academy graduate Emile Smith Rowe has been one of the club's standout performers this year. The 21-year-old has all the makings of being a true midfield maestro, showing that with his performances over the last few months.
Smith Rowe earned his first senior team contract in 2020. He could not simply walk straight into the team, but no one could have denied him his fair shot. He only featured in 20 Premier League games for Arsenal last season, but did enough to get on Mikel Arteta’s good book.
Smith Rowe has taken it up a notch this season and has already matched his last season's tally. The young Englishman has scored eight goals and provided two assists in the Premier League this season, emerging as Arsenal’s leading goalscorer in the league.
#1 Bukayo Saka
In 2021, Arsenal had the privilege of seeing some of their top academy graduates take flight. Bukayo Saka, who has been a beacon of hope for the Gunners this season, impressed the most.
Despite being only 20 years old, Saka led his teammates by example, always trying his best to impact the game one way or the other.
The naturally gifted left-sided midfielder has an abundance of pace, is an excellent dribbler and is a mature decision-maker for his age. He loves to take on defenders head-on, but does not hesitate to pass the ball to a teammate in a better position.
In the second half of the 2020-21 season, Saka scored five goals and provided eight assists in all competitions. This season, he has been even more involved for Arsenal.
Saka has taken part in all of Arsenal’s 19 Premier League games so far, registering five goals and four assists. Saka has also scored once in the League Cup to take his goalscoring tally to 11 for the year.
