Mikel Arteta is hoping to usurp Manchester City in the Premier League after making his Arsenal squad title challengers.
The Gunners have missed out to Man City for the previous two seasons, taking a step closer each year in a bid to close the gap.
Arsenal first announced themselves as title challengers in the 2022/23 campaign, finishing second that term and last season.
Arteta is getting the best out of his squad, with the help of an abundance of incredibly talented players at his disposal.
Arsenal Ballon d’Or nominees
While every member of Arteta’s squad is important, several players are considered to be crucial to the Spaniard’s project.
From the defensive duo of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, to the front line combination of Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, Arteta can rely on talent of world-class quality.
The team are striving to achieve silverware, with there also attention at the Emirates regarding awards of an individual nature, as the Ballon d’Or ceremony fast approaches.
Four Arsenal players were nominated for the men’s award, with Saka, Saliba, Declan Rice and Odegaard making the star-studded list.
It’s an achievement in itself to be nominated for the historical award however, Arsenal’s luck in the Ballon d’Or does not make for encouraging reading.
No Arsenal player has ever won the award, with Thierry Henry getting closest in 2003 but, his 62 goal contributions that year weren’t enough…somehow.
Thierry Henry gives Ballon d’Or verdict
On an action packed Champions League night on Tuesday, Henry, Micah Richards and Jamie Carragher shared their opinions on who should win the 2024 Ballon d’Or.
Despite Arsenal’s four nominations, the trio had other ideas, with Henry and Richards backing Manchester City star Rodri to claim the prize.
“Rodri would still get my vote from last season’s performance,” Richards said, with Henry agreeing.
“Rodri, because I wanted Xavi, and Iniesta when they were performing, people forget about the midfielders and what they do, they’re the heart of the team.”
Arsenal defender Gabriel thinks Vinicius Junior will win the Ballon d’Or, an opinion shared by Carragher, who was inspired by the winger’s heroics for Real Madrid against Borussia Dortmund.
“I’d go for Vini Jr, he won the Champions League, it’s difficult for Rodri because of the position he plays.”
There’s always a chance for players to write their name in history and win the award, with Arteta’s current stars having the ability to build a greater claim to the prize over the year ahead.
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