In the absence of any substantial news or developments this morning, I thought I’d take stock and do some mid-season player ratings.
These are based on the way we do them after every game at Arseblog News, where 6 is considered a sort of baseline to go up and down based on performance etc. As always, remember that ratings are subjective and relevant to each individual. player and our expectations of him, rather than pitting one against the other. It’s also a bit of fun, but feel free to weigh in with your ratings on Asses.
Arsenal Mid-Season Player Ratings 2023
Goalkeepers
Aaron Ramsdale: He hasn’t really played much since David Raya arrived, but when he did he was basically fine. 6
David Raya: Like Ramsdale, I think it’s basically been okay. He had some moments on the ball that were a little iffy, but other than one or two goals that looked a little more iffy than they were, he did well. Has it been a significant improvement over Ramsdale? Not in my opinion. 6
Defenders
Ben White: I think his form has fluctuated this season, and the fact that he’s been playing with an ongoing problem for most of the campaign goes some way to explaining that. He has had good and not so good games, but he has never had a bad moment. 6.5
William Saliba: For me, the best centre-back in the Premier League so far this season, he is maturing into an exceptional player. 8.5
Gabriel: Together with Saliba we have formed an exceptional pairing, an aggressive defender whose attack sometimes leaves him trapped, but in terms of that balance between right and left that we had, he is the perfect partner for Saliba. 8
Oleksandr Zinchenko: The last few weeks have cost him some points. As we saw against Fulham, what he does in that role is difficult to replicate, but at the same time he has made too many mistakes for a player of his technical quality and experience, and playing the game at his own pace has too often frustrated me. . 6.5
Takehiro Tomiyasu: When he was fit, he was very good, although concerns about his fitness remain. 7
Jakub Kiwior: A thumbs up because we rarely see him in his natural position. He did well against Sheffield United, but it was Sheffield United. His best performance of the season came at left-back in the EFL Cup against Brentford, but a lack of pace due to occasional playing time must make it difficult to find his best. 6
There are no ratings for Jurrien Timber (injured) and Cedric (barely played).
Midfielders
Declan Rice: Simply excellent from day one, the last two games have not been to their usual high standards but have raised the level of the team. 8
Jorginho: More or less good when needed, only four starts in the Premier League, has almost played more minutes in the league than Ramsdale. 6
Martin Odegaard: You could probably divide his season into two parts, the first was good but not at his usual level, the second, after returning from injury, a little more like the influential player we saw last season. 7
Fabio Vieira: Had a good cameo against Fulham and has a goal and three assists in the Premier League to his name, but beyond that, he doesn’t seem to have made the kind of progress he would like to see. 5
Kai Havertz: It took him some time to adapt, and we have seen some good contributions in the second part of the first half of the season (!), but there are still questions about his suitability for the left 8 position and what he brings to the team in overall (especially for the price). 6.5
There are no ratings for Thomas Partey (injured all season after playing 3 games at right back), Emile Smith Rowe (barely played) and Mohamed Elneny (only 71 minutes). Perhaps despite all the discussion about our attacking line, the fact that we have basically played with four midfielders all season (Rice, Jorg, Ode, Havertz) and a secondary player (Vieira) who is now injured, could well be a problem too.
Forward
Gabriel Jesús: Very good in the Champions League with 4 goals and 2 assists in five games, but in the Premier League, 3 goals and 1 assist in 15 appearances is not brilliant, 11 of them were starts. 6.5
Bukayo Saka: A recent goal drought has raised some concerns, and there’s no doubt he hasn’t been at his best (often because teams double him), but in 26 appearances in all competitions this season, he has 21 appearances in goals (12). goals, 9 assists). 7.5
Gabriel Martinelli: Still a threat on the left side, but has failed to produce the end product so far this season. Based on what he did last season and what was expected of him this time, he has fallen short, although I feel like a goal or two will help him move forward. 6
Eddie Nketiah: 6 goals and 4 assists in all competitions, but 3 of his 5 in the league came against the worst team in the division. Which doesn’t take anything away from his excellent hat-trick, but for me the biggest problem with Eddie is that having a second-choice striker who rarely makes any kind of contribution from the bench is something of a hamstring. 6
Leandro Trossard: He has 6 goals and 2 assists in all competitions, but for me it has been a bit disappointing. His appearances in the left eight have been disappointing and he has been better when he played up front. His inability to take a decent corner is both strange and annoying. 6
Reiss Nelson: 17 games in all competitions, and his contribution has been a couple of assists in home and away games against PSV. He is not trustworthy to be a starter, he is not effective from the bench. In my admittedly made-up dream world, use him as a counterweight to keep Michael Olise away from Crystal Palace this month (sorry, Dan!). 5
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There you go. There are certainly a lot of talking points there. Obviously it’s not an exact science or anything like that, but if you’re glass half full you can see how a team that hasn’t had too many outstanding players could do much better in the second half of the season if we get a few more up to their best level. . If your glass is half empty, there’s not much you can say that will change that anyway!
Have good people.
