As 2024 draws to a close, we have looked back on the year to give credit some of Arsenal’s best performers.
Whilst Arsenal heartbreakingly missed out on winning the 2023/24 Premier League title, the Gunners still made progress last season.
Mikel Arteta will feel that his side are heading in the right direction.
Whilst Arsenal are on the back foot in the title race this time around, the Gunners can still land silverware this season, as long as their key players continue to shine.
Bukayo Saka
Despite still being just 23-years-old, Bukayo Saka has already established himself as a talismanic figure at Arsenal, and is the face of Arteta’s project.
The Hale End academy graduate already has 250 senior appearances for the North London club to his name, as well as 43 England caps. He is the Gunners’ most potent attacker, weighing in with goals and assists on a remarkably consistent basis.
Back in 2023, Arteta insisted that Saka should be ranked amongst “world class” players, and the winger has lived up to that billing in 2024.
If the Gunners are to stand any chance of being crowned Premier League champions this season, or of winning any other piece of major silverware, it is vital that Saka can stay fit.
Martin Odegaard
Perhaps the greatest demonstration of the Norwegian playmaker’s importance to this team is how much Arsenal missed Martin Odegaard whilst he was injured earlier this season.
The midfielder is the creative hub of Arteta’s team, and has the ability to unlock stubborn opposition defences with the kind of pass that only he has the vision and guile to spot.
Odegaard is just as influential off the ball, though, as he presses relentlessly and leads by example with his work rate and willingness to defend from the front.
Odegaard has been called a “perfect” Arsenal captain before, and distinguished himself once again in 2024.
Gabriel Magalhaes
Whilst William Saliba is so often lauded, and deservedly so, Gabriel Magalhaes does not always get the credit that he is due.
The centre-back duo have long since established a formidable partnership at the back for the Gunners, but Gabriel was able to step his own game up to another level in 2024.
The 27-year-old has cut mistakes out of his game, has grown into a vocal leader at the back, and remains a devastatingly effective aerial threat in the opposition penalty area when it comes to attacking set-pieces.
Gabriel has been called the most underrated player at Arsenal, but was able to prove his quality beyond any doubt this year.
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