Arsenal Truth - End of Season Player Ratings and Assessments

Tuesday, 26 May 09, 08:50 AM · Comments(51)

So, Arsenal's season is over, and what a poor season it's been. It was all very, very predictable following the summer departures of Gilberto, Flamini, Lehmann, Hleb, and Diarra last January.

Of course, not all of those players were missed - but for me Flamini's departure had a massive negative effect on the team, whilst Hleb's departure robbed the club of some much required creativity in midfield. His replacement, Samir Nasri, has been a decent purchase, but has obviously required time to settle, whilst his youth has inevitably counted against the team.

For me the biggest pre-season cock-up was Wenger's refusal to buy a natural replacememt for Flamini, instead hoping that Denilson or Song could step-up to the plate. But, despite an improvement from the latter, this has proved to be a horribly predictable miscalculation from the manager.

Wenger's refusal to strengthen the defence with anything other than Mikael Silvestre has been another calamity. There's no doubt in my mind that this season I have witnessed some of the worst defensive performances from a Wenger team since his Arsenal management began, and considering the manager was preceded by George Graham, you could argue that this is Arsenal's worst defensive unit for nigh-on 25 years!

Needless to say, that is NOT to the manager's credit and is something that needs to be seriously addressed in the summer if Arsenal are to have any chance of winning silverware next season. Wenger should have addressed this last season, and said that he intended to, but, bizarrely, he didn't and I think this is a major reason why supporters grew very disenchanted with his management, as all their fears came to fruition right from the off as the season unfurled.

In fact, this season has seemed like a complete waste of time for my perspective, with no discernable progress made from 2007/2008 despite the manager's protestations. Despite an improvement in results over the latter half of the season - incorporating a long unbeaten run - still a lot of points were dropped and performances were anything but convincing. Ask yourself, is the Arsenal team we saw at Stoke on Saturday really any better than what we witnessed during the 2007/2008 season?

Hopefully, next season will be about getting back on track, and the return of Rosicky and Eduardo will go a long way towards that. I'm looking for these players to come back and bring their undoubted quality and experience to the first team, allied to Arshavin's impressive start and the continued progress of Nasri, Walcott and perhaps Bendtner. Long-term, I agree with Wenger that his vision needs to be hitting the heights two years from now - but we need to see a huge improvement next season too with a trophy high on the agenda.

There has been a lot of moaning and groaning and a lot of animosity shown towards the manager, some of it justified, some of it over the top - but it seems as though Wenger has taken on board the criticisms and is ready to get serious in the summer with some quality signings. Here's hoping he can appease the fans - of whom many might accept Arsenal's season, but few can be happy with it by any stretch of the imagination.

Signings will need to be made early, and not left until the last day in August to shave off a few million in transfer fees. Arsenal could potentially face a top 4 side in the unseeded qualification stages for the Champions League; the club cannot afford to go into that scenario with the squad as it has now, or there may well be no Champions League next season.

Ultimately, however, we have come to the end of the season and it's a question of how have the players performed. Many of them have been dropped in the deep-end and ended up on the end of some harsh criticism. In some cases understandable and deserved (Eboue, Adebayor), in others, a bit unfair (Bendtner, Gallas).

Regardless, readers of Arsenal Truth will know that I have been rating the players' performances all season, so here is my best and the worst. which has been calculated by adding up all the ratings I have given per player throughout the season and dividing them by the amount of games each has played to get an average rating. Note I have only included players who have made 10 appearances or more throughout the season.

PLAYER OF THE SEASON

Andrei Arshavin
Seasonal Rating - 7.2

It says a lot that despite only joining the club in January, Arshavin is my player of the season. It's all the more remarkable considering players usually require a lengthy period of adjustment when entering English football. Arshavin's 4 goal heroics at Anfield have definitely been the highlight of the season for me, even if the game simultaneously highlighted everything bad about Arsenal including their wretched defending. I've no doubt that Arshavin will be a sensation next season, but do have a few reservations about playing him wide left, and also the player's temperament. It's good to have a couple of players who speak honestly and don't just come out with the usual mind-numbing rhetoric, but Arshavin's at a big club now, he's no longer a big fish in a St. Petersburg pond and cannot expect to dictate his opinions to the manager. However, I feel this is unlikely to be a major problem if it's kept on top of.

Cesc Fabregas
Seasonal Rating - 6.7

Credit to Fabregas in that a season for which he's missed 13 consecutive games with a serious knee injury, he has still performed at a high enough level to make him one of Arsenal's most productive players. This is often despite being surrounded by a distinct lack of quality and played out of position in a host of games. Next season, surrounded by players of the calibre of Rosicky, Arshavin, Eduardo and a world class defensive midfielder, Fabregas can really blossom and shows us what he is truly capable of - perhaps getting amongst the goals again, which he's been unable to do since Flamini departed.

Bacary Sagna
Seasonal Rating - 6.6

Sagna has not quite hit the same heights as last season, but he's still by far Arsenal's most consistent defender - if anything, the rest of the defence has been dragging him down to their level. It would be nice if Arsenal could have as good a full-back on the left-side too. If there is a negative then Sagna needs to improve on his crossing next season - it's often woeful and wastes far too many attacks.

Manuel Almunia
Seasonal Rating - 6.4

I think we all had doubts about Almunia taking over from Jens Lehmann to claim the club keeper's jersey full time. However, the Spaniard has done well for the most part and has been one of Arsenal's most improved players this season. One of his greatest assets is his temperament; he's not the kind to panic and by god have Arsenal's defence needed a calming influence behind them. Yes, he still makes the occasional mistake and cannot be considered world class, but then so have Cech, Van der Saar and Reina. Most importantly, I believe that Arsenal are capable of winning a major trophy with Almunia in goal.

Robin Van Persie
Seasonal Rating - 6.4

Van Persie has been Arsenal's top scorer this season, with 20 - his best tally for the club to date. In January, Van Persie single-handedly carried Arsenal through their bad spell with his goals and assists, which became the catalyst for a long, unbeaten run of games in the Premiership. Some still doubt Van Persie, who has a tendency to slow Arsenal's attacks by taking too many touches and an over-reliance of his left foot. However, Van Persie has hardly been assisted by what has been a dour midfield and he is by no means a sole striker either, so all things considered he has delivered.

William Gallas
Seasonal Rating - 6.3

Gallas has had a mixed season, but I have always sympathised with the player. He is clearly a winner, with a winner's mentality - just what Arsenal need right now, but he failed to captain the team intelligently and his criticisms had an adverse effect on so many of the young players. Gallas would probably be a good captain in a team full of men, but not babies. Although Gallas struggled at times he was often surrounded by clueless performers such as Clichy, Song, Denilson and even Toure, for whom the players share a strained relationship. Yet Gallas took all the criticism on the chin and performed like a warrior prior to his injury in early-April. If Arsenal are to buy the big stopper they so desperately need at the back, then it needs to be Gallas playing next to him. I really hope we do not lose this player in the summer, it will only be another big step backwards when everything needs to be going forwards.

Theo Walcott
Seasonal Rating - 6.3

A lot of Arsenal supporters don't rate Walcott too highly, whereas others laud him purely for being English. Personally, I am surprised that I have rated the player marginally above Nasri this season. This may have something to do with the fact that Walcott is more direct than Nasri and usually shows in games even if he lacks end product. I still feel his future is as a central striker, Walcott would terrify opponents on one-on-one situations through the middle, whereas on the wing he often struggles to deliver that final ball. Walcott still has a lot to learn and has learned a lot this season. I still don't feel he is quite ready to play in the big games though; on many occasions Walcott would be better deployed coming off the bench in the final 20 minutes.

Kieran Gibbs
Seasonal Rating - 6.2

Gibbs did as good a job as could be expected covering for the injured Gael Clichy in the latter part of the season. Yes he made some key mistakes, which is only to be expected, but I would much rather blame Wenger for having to shove such a young player into massive games at a key period in the season when he's clearly not ready. But Gibbs performed very well in many of those games and proved equally as capable as Glichy who is prone to consistent errors. At the moment, I don't feel there is a lot to choose between the two - and I'm not really sure if either are good enough to be staking a claim for a first team place at a club with a tradition of fielding such great left-backs.

Johan Djourou
Seasonal Rating - 6.1

Yet again I have surprised myself, but the stats don't lie. Djourou has done a reasonable job at the back for Arsenal, but then 6.1 is hardly a high-level rating. I am quite happy for the young Swiss to remain at Arsenal and learn his trade, but don't feel he should be playing as many games as he does; he will clearly never be first choice.

Samir Nasri
Seasonal Rating - 6.1

Nasri's first season as an Arsenal player has been mostly positive. He hasn't quite brought to the team what the departed Hleb did, but that's understandable considering the age difference and his requirement to adapt. Nasri did score seven goals from midfield, however, whereas Hleb only managed 11 in three season, although it's not all about goals. It will interesting to see how Wenger deploys Nasri next season, what with Arshavin stealing his right wing bearth and Rosicky hopefully coming back into the fold. One thing's for sure, holding midfielder he isn't.

Kolo Toure
Seasonal Rating - 6.1

Toure has had a poor season for Arsenal, carrying on from a poor second half to last season. Without Sol Campbell next to him, Toure's aerial deficiencies are cruelly exposed - he's pretty witless in that department to be honest. I don't feel Toure and Gallas is the way forward, the duo do not complement each other and don't even like each other, which despite what Wenger says is not a healthy situation. Unfortunately, I feel that neither Toure or Gallas will be willing to make way for a third first-choice defender next season and it could be Gallas that Wenger decides to lose - but given the choice I feel that would be a big mistake. Although Toure is undoubtedly an Arsenal legend, there is no room for sentiment, Gallas is the better defender and I would prefer to see him stay at Arsenal above Toure. I also get the feeling that once Toure's electric pace goes he will be almost completely redundant as a player.

Carlos Vela
Seasonal Rating - 6.1

Would like to have seen more of Vela this season and felt a little worried for him sitting on the bench for so long. He has shown in relatively few appearances what a quality young striker he is with bags of potential, and is a far more natural finisher than Bendtner or Adebayor. Hopefully, with Adebayor leaving in the summer Vela will get many more opportunities to shine.

Alex Song
Seasonal Rating - 6.0

Song had a ghastly start to the season, but over the duration began to show many signs of improvement. The player is willing to put his foot in, reads the game fairly well and even shows a willingess to get forward and passes well in the final third. On the minus side, he is still very young and inexperienced, and that has cost Arsenal in many games this season, but Song is definitely worth keeping as a squad player.

Lukasz Fabianski
Seasonal Rating - 5.9

Fabianski got his chance this season, but more often than not disappointed - making several howlers in a variety of games. In fact, he has never looked comfortable and it's a worry that the young Pole is second choice keepr, he could quite literally wreck Arsenal's season next year if Almunia sustained a long-term injury. I'm not saying the situation is not understandable, Fabiasnki is young and a young goalkeeper's mistakes are punished a lot more than the mistakes of other young players, but that's the nature of the beast. Goalkeepers need to have exceptionally strong mental attributes at the very top level, even if they have all the physical capabilities, which Fabianski clearly possesses. Personally, I thought Alex Manninger showed a lot more than Fabianski does, and he wasn't deemed up to it.

Emmanuel Adebayor
Seasonal Rating - 5.8

Three words sum up Adebayor's season "Not Good Enough". He dallied with AC Milan in the summer, got a pay hike to keep him sweet then performed miserably, often displaying a lack of effort which was his hallmark when he first joined the club (effort, not lack of it). Even when Adebayor attempted to defend himself later in the season, one week later he would make contradictory statements to the press about his loyalties. Allied to the fact that Adebayor is not the sharpest tool in the box and hasn't been able to learn the offside rule in three years, if there's big money on the table Arsenal should take it - and undoubtedly will take it. Eduardo will be back next season, and Vela could do with getting more games too - Adebayor won't be missed.

Nicklas Bendtner
Seasonal Rating - 5.7

Adebayor has more natural talent than Bendtner, hence why on the rare occasions he has performed well this season he has brought a little more to the table than Bendtner has. By Bendtner's own admission, his performances were often awful up to Christmas but he has noticeably improved of late. He's not the finished article by any means and has a tendency to be big-headed - just like Adebayor - but 15 goals is a very good return for a developing fourth choice striker so he has earned a new contract.

Gael Clichy
Seasonal Rating - 5.7

Rather like Kolo Toure, Clichy had a nightmare end to last season and carried that forward into the new season, making needless error after needless error that consistently cost Arsenal goals and points. His tendency to stand off wingers and not close them down is pretty infuriating and you have to question why he is still making such elementary mistakes. The defensive coaching at Arsenal really does leave a lot to be desired, but the player should use his brain more. I would suggest Clichy is given one more season at Arsenal to see if he can get back on track and deliver his undoubted potential, otherwise the club should cut their losses and get a solid Sagna-type left-sided full-back who primarily knows how to defend.

Denilson
Seasonal Rating - 5.7

Some supportes love him, others think he's a waste of space. I fall into the latter camp. For a laptop manager such as Wenger, Denilson is a dream, because statistically he appears to be a world class passer and retainer of possession. However, Denilson is playing in a defensive midfield role, and those attributes, whilst important for any player, are secondary to the requirement for him to tackle, block, anticipate and initiate attacks with direct passes - not just play numerous 5-yard short, square and backwards passes that merely slow play down and pass the buck. Denilson also gives far too many fouls away in dangerous areas, which has cost Arsenal goals as they are so poor at defending set pieces. I don't rate him and he has certainly not shown he is good enough in the defensive midfield role. Should Denilson leave he would not be missed in the slightest and I wouldn't fear him playing for any other team either.

Abou Diaby
Seasonal Rating - 5.5

Make no mistake, Diaby has had a wretched season. Although often deployed as a left winger in an act of perpetual crass stupidity by our manager, Diaby has never produced consistently in any shape or form. Just because Diaby is tall doesn't mean he wil naturally defend set-pieces well, because quite simply he doesn't. Diaby is also lazy, equally lazy as Adebayor - sometimes he simply can't be arsed to track a midfielder back and his passing is terribly sloppy. This is a player supposedly fighting for a first team place, yet he plays like he has 100 trophies stuffed in his living room cabinet. I'll admit he has talent, but many players have talent and never produce. Diaby is clearly expendable.

Mikael Silvestre
Seasonal Rating - 5.5

A godawful signing from Wenger. The day the signing went through, a million Bart Simpson-like "doh's" reverberated around Arsenal's worldwide fan base. Unfortunately, the fans have been proved 100% right to deride this calamatous signing. Silvestre has brought nothing to the team; he's dreadfully slow, positionally inept and doesn't even seem to display the necessary passion - Wenger's sole reason for signing Silvestre appears to be because he is French. The shareholders called him a "geriatric", because he is. Wenger needs to get rid of this aberration sharpish - his record of buying defenders is pretty woeful to be honest and he needs to get some advice in this area because any half-decent assistant manager - not a puppet like Rice - would have pleaded with Wenger not to buy this chump.

Aaron Ramsey
Seasonal Rating - 5.4

Why Wenger bought Aaron Ramsey is a complete mystery to me. In a team with an abundance of central midfielders, you have to ask why a supposedly hard-up manager would waste almost £5m on a 17-year old such as this. I can't imagine what sort of progress Ramsey has made this season other than in training, as his performances have been severely restricted to sitting on the bench and twiddling his thumbs. When he was give the chance to shine, against old club Cardiff in the FA Cup, the whole occasion seemed to get to him and he was quite dreadful. I don't see how Ramsey can expect to feature much next season either unless Wenger decides to cut loose of Denilson and/or Diaby. Meanwhile, Roskicky is coming back and Wilshire looks to be an equal prospect - a long-term loan looks the best bet for Ramsey before he himself asks for a move.

Emmanuel Eboue
Seasonal Rating - 4.3

My worst player of the season award falls to Eboue, who could barely raise his performances above an average rating of 4.3 per game. I'm sure few fans can forget Eboue's witless performances earlier in the season, resulting in the player being booed off at home to Wigan amidst the Ivorian's fake tears. He wasn't much better after that either, although he has marginally improved of late - particularly his attitude. Howeber, if any player is expendable, it's Eboue.

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Arsenal Truth - End of Season Player Ratings and Assessments

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