Blog | Arsenal Player Rankings | October 2018
Reminder: these scores are based on end product and what a player actually does to help their team win a game. Individual contributions do count, but players only receive the highest marks if the efforts help the team.
This features a list of the top 11 players who have appeared in at least 50% of the team’s games so far this season. Hopefully, there'll be fewer injuries and player sales meaning I can slowly up that figure as the season goes on and we see which players Emery rates as his first choice team.
Player Rankings
As usual, the players are listed in reverse order counting down to the best player so far this season.
11. Hector Bellerin - average rating: 6.75
Forced off against Palace with an injury, Unai Emery will be hoping that Bellerin will be back for the game against Liverpool as his form has slowly improved since the start of the season.
10. Aaron Ramsey - average rating: 6.83
Struggling for playing time amid confirmation that he will be leaving Arsenal this season, it will be interesting to see if Ramsey can maintain a spot on this list.
9. Alex Iwobi - average rating: 6.95
Iwobi's form has wobbled a bit in the past few games, but I think it remains to be seen if this is another plateau, or just a young player in need of a rest.
8. Mesut Ozil - average rating: 7.10
Ozil's form has continued to slowly improve as the season has gone on, although he hasn't created as many goals as I would've expected - fortunately he's scored a few to make up the loss.
6= Danny Welbeck - average rating: 7.14
I really hope Welbeck is given a new contract, as he's one of my favourite players at the club and seems to be seizing any opportunities he gets this season.
6= Lucas Torreira - average rating: 7.14
I think he's settled in well, but is possibly a little overwhelmed with just how much help he needs to give the defence and I'm not sure Xhaka is the right partner for him.
5. Alexandre Lacazette - average rating: 7.15
Lacazette's form has dipped in the past few games with his end product almost completely drying up, although a lack of consistent quality service doesn't help.
4. Rob Holding - average rating: 7.28
Storming in near the top of the list is - shockingly - an Arsenal defender, with Holding impressing when played and has apparently done enough to look like Emery's first choice centre-back.
3. Bernd Leno - average rating: 7.30
Even more shockingly, an Arsenal goalkeeper near the top of the rankings! The team might still be conceding, but I don't think any of the goals have been his fault.
2. Nacho Monreal - average rating: 7.50
Another Arsenal defender this high up? Surely some mistake? Or do I need to point out how Arsenal have looked a lot weaker without him on the left-hand side?
1. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - average rating: 7.71
Retaining top spot thanks to his non-stop goal-scoring, including six goals from his last six shots in the Premier League. Quite the record for someone playing out of position or having to start on the bench.
In closing
You couldn't make a team out of the eleven above, as it would be even weaker defensively than the current side. And, despite two defenders and a goalkeeper in the top four, it's clear that Arsenal are still far stronger going forwards than keeping opponents away from goal.
As for those who have played enough to qualify but didn't make it, Mkhitaryan just missed out on taking Bellerin's spot, but then there's quite a gap to the next player - the eleven above and Mkhitaryan really are the core dozen right now.
Emile Smith-Rowe could potentially earn himself a spot if he gets enough chances this season. He's currently sitting on a decent rating of 7.13 right now, but that is from just a handful of games and that score could change very quickly with one bad (or great!) performance.
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