Who are Arsenal’s best performing players so far this season?

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Arsenal currently sit top of the premier league table after winning nine of their opening 10 matches, but who have been the star performers for the Gunners?

This article breaks down the stats of the five most influential Arsenal players so far this season.

If the Gunners want to end their 18-year wait for a league title, these players will have to stay at the top of their game.

Bukayo Saka 

21-year-old Bukayo Saka is undoubtedly one of the Premier League’s brightest stars at the moment, enjoying a fantastic start to the season in a revitalised Arsenal side. He has featured in every league game of the campaign so far, and most recently netted a crucial goal in a narrow 1-0 victory over Leeds United. 

A confident, pacey, direct player, Saka has the ability to run past defenders with ease on his day. So far, he has completed an average of 1.5 dribbles per match, which allows him to get into areas to create and score goals. Rio recently said that he “loves the way he always tries to beat the full back” and thinks that Saka should be a guaranteed starter for England in the World Cup based on current form.

But dribbling is not the English winger’s only attribute. For a young player, he has great vision, allowing him to see through balls and passes and create chances for the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah. So far, Saka has averaged 2 key passes per game and with 4 assists to his name already, he is statistically Arsenal’s most prolific chance creator. 

Saka definitely has an eye for goal, scoring four in the Premier League as well as another in the Europa League. As previously mentioned, the 21-year-old netted a key goal against Leeds United at the weekend, but perhaps even more significant than that was his brace against Liverpool.

If Saka can continue to create and score goals at his current rate, Arsenal may well have a chance at the title. 

Played: 10
Pass accuracy: 84.2%
Dribbles per game: 1.5
Key passes per 90: 2
Shots per 90: 2.5
Assists: 4
Goals: 4 
Goal contributions per game: 0.8

Gabriel Martinelli 

Another effective goalscoring winger, the Brazilian Gabriel Martinelli seems to finally be living up to his potential after going through several injury disrupted spells with the Gunners since joining in 2019. 

In some ways, the Brazil international shares a lot of Bukayo Saka’s positive attributes. He is another young, quick, exciting, direct player with great feet. 

Statistically, Martinelli is the most prolific dribbler of the pair, completing 2.3 successful dribbles per match, making him Arsenal’s most effective player for this stat. He often uses his ability on the ball to get into good shooting positions, cutting in from the left to shoot with his right foot. 

Martinelli also creates plenty of chances, too, averaging 2.1 key passes per match and chalking up 2 assists so far this season. This puts him two behind his teammate Saka, but if he continues creating chances he could turn into one of the top playmakers in the Premier League. 

The thing that makes Martinelli so exciting though is his confidence in front of goal. The Brazilain averages more shots on target per game than any Arsenal player except Gabriel Jesus, showing how dangerous he can be. 

Most recently, he netted Arsenal’s opener in the 3-2 vcitory over Liverpool just one minute into the game. He used his express pace to get in behind the Liverpool defence, and finished off a fantastic through ball from (who else?) Bukayo Saka to put the Gunners ahead. 

Martinelli has scored 4 goals so far for Arsenal this season, giving him an impressive average of 0.6 goal contributions per game. 

Played: 10
Pass accuracy: 85.2%
Dribbles per 90: 2.3
Key passes per 90: 2.1
Shots per 90: 2.7
Assists: 2
Goals: 4
Goal contributions per game: 0.6

Granit Xhaka 

Granit Xhaka’s fine form is indicative of the progress Arsenal have made under Mikel Arteta this season. Just three years ago, the Switzerland international was booed off by his own supporters at the Emirates after an abysmal run of form, gaining a reputation of being a bit of a hot-head. Now, he is a fan favourite and statistically one of the best performing defensive midfielders in the Premier League. 

Xhaka has played almost every minute of Arsenal’s first 10 matches and he is vital in breaking up opposition attacks, averaging 0.7 interceptions and 0.6 tackles per 90 mins, (and so far, zero red cards) helping the Gunners to four clean sheets. 

But Arsenal’s number 34 is also an effective creator. The midfielder averages 1.6 key passes per game and currently has the fifth most assists via open play in the Premier League. With a pass success rate of 87.8% he is very assured in possession, something which has been key in Arsenal’s progress. 

Despite playing generally in a deep midfield role, the 30-year-old also carries a significant goal threat, with the confidence to take on shots from inside and outside the penalty area. Against the Gunners’ bitter rivals Tottenham, Xhaka finished off a fine Arsenal move with a powerful finish to make it 3-1 to seal a memorable derby win. 

If Arsenal want to stay in the title race, Xhaka must maintain his excellent form. 

Played: 10
Tackles per 90: 0.6
Interceptions per 90: 0.7 
Pass accuracy: 87.8%
Key passes per 90: 1.6
Shots per game: 1.1
Assists: 3
Goals: 2

Gabriel Jesus

If you’d said last season that Arsenal’s front three would be better than Liverpool’s then you probably would have been laughed at, but the combination of Martinelli, Jesus and Saka has been a revelation so far. 

Jesus signed from Manchester City for £45 million in the summer and he seems to have taken Arsenal to another level. With 3 assists and 5 goals in his first 10 matches, if Jesus can continue to make 0.8 goal contributions per game for the rest of the season, Arsenal can be a threat to any team.  

At Manchester City, the Brazilian found himself playing anywhere across the front three, but now has found himself as the Gunners’ main striker and his new-found stability seems to be helping him. He is fantastic on the ball, making 2.3 successful dribbles per game and also has the vision to pick out teammates in dangerous positions, averaging 1.6 key passes per 90 minutes. 

With an average of 3.1 shots on target per match, he is a constant threat and you can expect Jesus to chalk up plenty more goals this season. 

Played: 10
Pass accuracy: 81.6%
Key passes per 90: 1.6
Dribbles per 90: 2.3 
Shots per game: 3.1
Assists: 3
Goals: 5
Goal contributions per game: 0.8

William Saliba

A player who seems to go under the radar but has been vital to Arsenal’s new-found form, centre-back William Saliba has had an excellent start to the season. 

Standing at 6ft 3, Saliba is a strong, solid defender who rarely makes mistakes. The Frenchman has averaged 0.6 interceptions and 1.7 tackles and 2.9 clearances per game so far for the Gunners. 

Gary Neville said at the start of the season that Saliba reminded him of a “young Rio Ferdinand,” and if he can become anywhere near as good as the Manchester United icon, then he will have a very successful career at the Emirates. 

Saliba is also excellent with the ball at his feet. Ball playing defenders have become almost a necessity if you want to be a successful team in the Premier League, and with the third-highest pass completion rate in the division, Arsenal have certainly got that in Saliba. 

The Frenchman is also a goal threat too. Saliba scored a stunning goal in Arsenal’s 3-0 victory over Bournemouth in August, curling a left footed shot into the top corner like a seasoned striker. More recently, he headed home Arsenal’s opener in a 3-0 win over Brentford. 

At just 21 years old, the defender’s potential seems limitless.  

Played: 10
Tackles per 90: 1.7
Interceptions per 90: 0.6
Clearances per 90: 2.9
Pass accuracy: 92.6%
Assists: 1
Goals: 2
Clean sheets: 4