It is time to open the voting for Just Arsenal’s 2024/25 Attacker of the Season, and we are doing things differently this year. I want to hear your scores for each player listed below, simply rate them from 1 to 10 in the comments, or email me at danielthemanofdestiny@googlemail.com, and I’ll tally the results.
Please remember, it’s just a bit of fun, so let’s respect each other’s opinions.
Here’s your shortlist. Be honest, be fair, and get voting…
Sterling – 2
Normally I wouldn’t be so critical of a loan.
After all it was a chance to get an experienced professional in who could allow Saka an occasional rest and if nothing else offer leadership to a young dressing room.
With Arsenal only paying 30 percent of his wages in many ways it was risk free.
No team with ambitions to win the Prem should ever be relying on a loan signing . Yet no one could have envisaged the injuries we got in attack meaning we could have done with the 30 year old to refind his mojo .
Yet Mikel Arteta had worked closely with the player at the Ethiad and it was clear within a couple of months he didn’t trust him anymore.
Making it more frustrating that our owners didn’t help the squad in January when they were told we were short up front and needed help.
In a sport where everyone talks surely research could have been done into why Man City didn’t offer Sterling a new contract or why he wasn’t going to be registered in any squads if he stayed at Stamford Bridge?
When we needed a goal often Sterling stayed on the bench even if not all subs were used. At times full backs were coming on as attacking options instead of him. When he was picked it would be for a few minutes.
No longer our problem but will be interesting where he goes next.
Will be amazed if he stays in England’s top flight.
Martinelli – 5
If you said to me a couple of years ago that some Gooners would reach the point where they would be content if the Brazilian was sold I would never have believed you.
While I like Arteta his management of the 23 year old is a classic example of why I doubt if the Spaniard has the ability to self reflect in the summer and learn from his mistakes.
Martinelli is indicative of Arteta being a great coach but maybe not a manager.
In the dark days of Uni Emery’s last couple of months and the transition to a new regime, Martinelli was a sign of hope, him and Saka the two youngsters not afraid to take risks, demanding the ball and wanting to make something happen.
Yet, while niggling injuries can’t be helped, the 23 year old has regressed .
It’s like he’s been over coached. You can’t fault in his work rate and willingness to track back but he rarely now takes on his man, he’s always cutting back, he stays on the left never switching positions.
Defenders are no longer scared of him.
Yet under another manager with more creative freedom I bet he does better.
Havertz – 5
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. Havertz became more appreciated when he was ruled out from Feb – May but that was only because we had zero striker to replace him.
In reality the German was on course to be getting an even lower score till he tore his hamstring.
Some of the chances he missed in Cup ties against Newcastle and Man United were crazy.
It’s not that the German doesn’t do a lot of things well. When defending narrow leads he can hold the ball up, win the ball in the air, force fouls from defenders, etc.
He’s just never going to be a natural finisher.
You don’t win the Prem with Kai Havertz as your sole forward.
Saka – 7
Only doesn’t get higher as he missed most of the second half of the season after an injury he did incredible to recover from so soon.
It was clear though his minutes were being managed for the Champions League.
Even when you felt in the first part of the campaign he wasn’t at his best his goal contribution numbers were impressive.
Yet with his usual partnership with Ben White on our right side and Odegaard below par there was an over reliance on the 23 year old.
With our tactics more conservative Arsenal were no longer making numerous chances every game, instead passing the ball sideways slowly relying on a moment of magic from their star boy.
Saka has the personality where he demands the ball and can handle the pressure of being the difference maker.
Long term though he needs some help.
Jesus – 4
Wherever it was fitness concerns or our manager losing faith the Brazilian started the season down the pecking order only getting the last few minutes of games to prove himself.
For the first time it was apparent that the 28 was lacking confidence like he was over thinking his final ball.
Like most attackers though he just needed to end his goal drought.
5 goals in 3 days against Crystal Palace looked to kick start his Arsenal career. This would have been timely with the injuries up front we would get before Jesus himself was ruled out for the rest of the year after an operation on his knee.
Ironically the injury might be the only reason he remains a Gunner beyond this summer.
Nwaneri – 6
It’s worth pointing out that when Odegaard was injured Mikel Arteta didn’t trust the then 17 year old to play in his usual position.
Yet when we were short of attacking options asking the teenager to play out wide was one of the internal solutions.
It’s part of the inconsistent man management of Nwaneri.
He’s got the personality to demand the call, the character to not be afraid to take a risk and clearly is not intimidated by the stage.
Yet in the run in the youngster wasn’t trusted. When we needed a goal against PSG at the Emirates he didn’t come on till the 89th minute.
In Paris he didn’t come off the bench at all.
You never know with our manager.
Is he just trying to protect an 18 year old by not playing him?
Does he feel the youngster is getting carried away with all the praise and attention?
Or has he seen something in training that he’s not impressed with?
Trossard – 6
Every title winning squad needs a Trossard.
All Champions have household names that are celebrated but just as crucial is having talent on the fringes who you can trust to come in and do a job.
Featuring in every League game, with 10 goals and 10 assists in all competitions, the Belgian played his part and shouldn’t be judged because not enough of his peers could do similar.
After scoring at Villa Park the 30 year old didn’t smile believed to be in frustration that he hadn’t started.
Little could he have envisaged that from the middle of January he would be one of the few available senior attackers at the club and from February the only one. That meant the expectation changed and In many ways he was let down that his employers didn’t bring in any help. He is never going to be the main man who is going to get you over the line at the highest level.
Arguably the best finisher at the club he was tried in the middle but plays better on the left.
You can never question his work rate.
Has earned a new contract.
Over to you, Gooners…
Who has been your standout attacker this season? Rate each player from 1 to 10 in the comments, or email me at danielthemanofdestiny@googlemail.com.
Don’t forget to get your votes in for our Defender and Midfielder of the Season too:
Looking forward to hearing your votes!
Dan Smith
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Dan,
You just know who I going to go for. I’ve gone for him in every one of your categories.
Its the great man himself, Raheem (the dream) Sterling. An absolute dream to have had in the squad, every time he came on he changed the game, an absolute legend. The moment we signed him, I just knew he would be the success of the season.
Can any one else detect any sarcasm in my post.😂🤣👍
Dan
A bit harsh on some and fsir on others
Nwaneri. Just turned 18 and imo still has to watch and learn. On his day he ghost past players but the other side of his duties he some times lacks discipline so understand why he.more on the bench then on the field
I believe next season he will get.more game time
Agree on Martinelli
Really disappointed about his progression. Lacks final.product
Leo – ok for a squad player but never a starter. Thinks he wants a starting place from the off which he isnt good enough, so cash up and may be move him on
Havertz. Was sceptical and shocked what we paid for him but he does offer a lot more then we give him credit for
His understanding and link play with MO, BS, BW is so good when they are all on song so under why he is.in there. Confidence player like a lot of players so when he isn’t on song and doesn’t have the understanding around him he looks poor
The rest
Your scores say it all and wouldn’t argue
GJ was starting to get going again,
last season but again, injuries keep plaguing hom
RS
Not sure what happened to player we once saw and got us off our seats
If you need to see proof where a top player can decline so quickly right in front of your own eyes then he is living proof
Ps
Cannot wait to see our very own max step up and get some first team game team
The kid.looks very special
I think this is pretty spot on again, Dan. Obviously scoring systems are subjective, but yours have been consistently applied, and once again I found the review notes to be thoughtful and a balanced reflection.
I agree with every rating with this one. Spot on.
Maybe the only change would give Saka a 6 because the injury hampered his season and he struggled a little after coming back from injury.
I can’t wait to see the defensive rating especially what you will give Skelly that you don’t trust at all.
The go to man, It has to go to the Big Brazilian.
He’s not in the team for scoring goals, but he has bails us out time and time again.
He’s that go to man when all attacks fails, opposition had come to know it, you can see them barking instructions to stay with him most times than not , two up to three players trying to block his path
=Gabriel.
Oh yes, Gabriel Magahlase, I know he’s a defender but the rule should be adjusted to accommodate him in an attacking sense 🙂
totally agree its a good call – putting GM forward – give him his flowers …all day long. *No Diddy 🙂
@ Dan
I think your numbers are spot on related to each player which shows we need to rejig the front line as a matter of urgency. I would give a mention to merino #6 for having cahunas to head the line to noteworthy effect in games and save our blushes.
Not sure how on earth Nwaneri gets a better rating than Martinelli?
Other than that, ratings seem fairly spot. No one i attack was outstanding this season.
I disagree with some of your ratings, Dan. How can Kai Havertz, who missed about 2 months out injured but still ended our top scorer this season, get a 5? He deserves 7. Martinelli, who scored some crucial goals towards the end, deserves at least 6. At the time he got injured, Jesus had improved his goal scoring. Thus, he deserves 5. Where is Mikel Merino? He was our make shift no.9 and did a good job. He deserves 7.
Sterling 1- Basically lost the ball every time he got it. Well past it at this level and was a panic loan because the club flopped last summer pretty hard in the transfer market. Hard to think of a worse transfer the past 10 years. Even Willian was better.
Saka 8 – The entire attack doesnt exist without him. There’s really not much to be said because he keeps getting better and better. Thrown off by the injury, still came back and produced great performances against Madrid. He’s asked to do far too much. Yes, he misses some chances here and there. But nobody in our attack is even close to his level and its about time other players start bringing to goods instead of all the pressure falling to Saka and whether or not he is fit/has an off day. Bring in a striker and a good LW please. Saka alone deserves to be around better forwards.
Havertz 6- Serviceable enough as a forward but lacks the cutthroat mentality of even an average forward. Great linkup play, hard worker, and had some big moments. But more is needed. Not entirely his fault. His skillset honestly isn’t suited to any one position in the way Arteta sets up.
Martinelli 5- Times up as far as im concerned. Is on the peripheral of over half our games sometimes, doesnt score in crucial moments of the match, doesnt put in good crosses, and is largely predictable and most defenders in EPL have worked him out by now. Please by a LW, I pray. We will NOT win anything if we dont upgrade in this position.
Trossard 5- Not much to say. Losing a bit of his flair, was given moments to prove his worth in the squad and it’s not like Martinelli is so great that Trossard had no chance of taking his spot.
Nwaneri 7- Finally the boy got his chance and has left a great mark in his first real season as a first team player. Should’ve been in the lineup sooner when Odegaard got injured. Has a great shot, looks a decent backup for Saka and will hopefully just keep getting better. Not sure if his future lies in the Odegaard position though honestly. He’s definitely still adapting to trying to create in tight spaces.
Merino (ST) 8- Couldn’t ask more from a CM who is totally out of place as a forward. And honestly a pretty impressive record now in that position. Blame the club for failing in the summer and being forced to expect Merino at ST to send us to the UCL final…
Gabby Jesus 4- Injured again most the season, didn’t really have an impact when he did play. Time to move him hon when his contract expires. Sadly this transfer didn’t completely work out.
BBC
record revenues of £616m in 2023-24 are likely to be exceeded thanks to the expanded Champions League format and extra broadcast revenue, while the sales of homegrown duo Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah in the past 12 months brings about £50m of pure profit.
“As the most profitable club in Premier League history, Arsenal could easily spend over £200m in the window and have no PSR concerns,” said Maguire.
Dan,
I read that article to. And regards your comment about the PSR, if we don’t have a good window, it won’t stop some fans claiming the PSR had some thing to do with it. Even if reports suggest to the country. 🤷♂️
Dan, I wonder if Maguire took into account the £300 odd million the club owes Silent Stan, the transfer fees we still owe to other clubs, the wages not only to the players but to all of the clubs employees ?