Ranking Arsenal's Top 5 Players for November 2015

January may have a reputation for being the cruelest month, but for Arsenal, it invariably proves to be November. Every year, the Gunners seem to a suffer a slump in form just before the festive period.

2015/16 has been no different. Over the course of the month Arsenal suffered a 5-1 hammering at Bayern Munich and collected just two of an available nine points in the league. It has been a period punctuated by disappointing results and worrying injuries.

However, even amid these troubling times, there have still been some impressive individual performances. In this piece we identify the five best performers for Arsenal in November, seeking to quantify and assess their contribution to the Gunners cause. It’s about consistency across the five games—those who’ve only played fleetingly are unlikely to feature.

Go to the next slide to begin the countdown.

5. Nacho Monreal

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Pick any month in Arsenal’s calendar, and there’s a chance you’ll find Nacho Monreal featuring in one of these lists. He is one of their most reliable performers and is rightfully establishing a reputation as one of the Premier League’s most consistent defenders. 

It’s not so much that he shines above other players, but his performance level never seems to dip below a certain standard. In every match he is disciplined and determined, while his partnership with Alexis Sanchez continues to blossom. Monreal’s impeccable defending allows the Chilean the freedom to attack—or at least did, until Alexis pulled up against Norwich City with a hamstring problem.

Unlike many other members of the Arsenal squad, he’s robust too; Monreal has thus far been pleasingly resistant to injury. Arsene Wenger will hope that continues over the crucial Christmas period. With the Spaniard in the side, the Gunners look a much more solid outfit.

Kieran Gibbs’ cameos in November tended to come as a left winger. That may well remain the case, for Monreal shows no sign of budging any time soon.

4. Petr Cech

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With each passing month, the wisdom of acquiring Petr Cech from Chelsea in the summer becomes all the more clear. November was a month in which the former Chelsea man kept just one clean sheet, but his importance to the team should not underestimated.

Take the recent 1-1 draw at Norwich. Were it not for a quite stunning save from Cech, Arsenal would have dropped three points rather than two. Those are the moments that justify Cech’s reputation as a world-class shot-stopper and that make the £10 million fee they paid their London rivals for his services look like a snip.

Similarly, it was Cech’s reflexes to prevent a Toby Alderweireld effort that ensured Arsenal did not suffer the ignominy of losing the north London derby. A draw was disappointing enough—defeat would have been unpalatable. As on so many occasions this season, Cech was the difference between disaster and a measure of success.

As Cech settles at Arsenal, his influence over the rest of the team grows. He is already recognised as one of the team’s leaders, and it’s not impossible to imagine him wearing the captain’s armband one day.

3. Olivier Giroud

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In the penultimate game of October, the League Cup defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, Arsenal lost Theo Walcott to a calf problem. That meant a huge burden was suddenly placed on the broad shoulders of Olivier Giroud. Fortunately, he has responded well and largely lived up to the pressure.

In November, Giroud scored three times in seven games for club and country. His Arsenal strikes were against Bayern Munich and West Bromwich Albion. The first was an acrobatic volley to record a consolation for the Gunners; the second a deft header after a brilliant lofted free-kick by Mesut Ozil.

Walcott is expected back soon, and there is no guarantee Giroud will keep his place in the team. In the last couple of games, he’s look a little sluggish and some of his bad habits have crept back into his game. However, he’s largely contributed well without any real back-up to afford him a break.

When Walcott returns, Giroud may find himself back on the bench, reprising his role as an impact substitute. However, he has shown in this spell he still has plenty to offer the squad.

2. Alexis Sanchez

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Despite looking tired for much of the month, Alexis Sanchez still managed to make some key contributions for Arsenal’s in November.

The way he defied fatigue prompted Arsene Wenger to speak out in awe of his Chilean superstar. The Arsenal boss told David Hytner of the Guardian:

"

When he does something, he does it 100 per cent. He finishes and you think: ‘He’s dead now.’ But then he recovers and gives 100 per cent again. You always see signs of exhaustion but it’s not [that] because two days later, he’s fine.

His style is very explosive, it’s a very committed style. Jamie Vardy [at Leicester City] is a bit similar. When they go, they go. They are like the lion. He has to catch the animal in the first 200 metres. If he doesn’t get there, he’s dead [on his feet] afterwards. They are these kind of killers. When they go, it is to kill and after, they have to stop.

"

Alexis’ most impressive showing was undoubtedly against Dinamo Zagreb. With Arsenal needing to win to keep their hopes of qualifying for the knockout phase of the Champions League alive, Alexis grabbed two goals in an all-action display. He followed that performance up with an excellent assist for Mesut Ozil against Norwich.

All of that makes his hamstring injury in the game at Carrow Road a massive blow. Wenger will have to hope the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott can provide cover during Alexis’ absence.

1. Mesut Ozil

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Mesut Ozil is undoubtedly the man of the moment at Arsenal.

In November, he was largely in imperious form throughout. Along the way, he established a Premier League record by notching an assist in seven consecutive matches. The curled pass to create Kieran Gibbs’ equaliser against Tottenham Hotspur was particularly memorable.

Perhaps the most satisfying aspect of Ozil’s performances is that he has begun to add goals to his game. He scored against Norwich and Dinamo Zagreb, showing a new-found composure in the penalty box.

Although Arsenal stumbled in the Premier League title race, Ozil remained firmly on course for individual recognition at the end of the season. Right now, Arsenal daren’t imagine where they’d be without him.