Power Ranking Every Player for Arsenal in 2016/17 Premier League Season
Arsenal's Premier League season is over—as is their run of consistently qualifying for the Champions League.
In this piece, we take stock and assess how individual players have performed over the course of the league campaign.
They're ranked according to their positive impact on Arsenal's Premier League performance. Statistics are taken into account, but this is about more than how many times players figured. It's what they did with that game time that's ultimately more important.
Read on to discover Arsenal's top performers in the 2016/17 Premier League season.
29. Ainsley Maitland-Niles
1 of 29
Young midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles was a peripheral figure in this campaign.
Although the 19-year-old appeared several times in cup competitions, he made just one Premier League appearance—a five-minute cameo as a substitute against Sunderland.
28. Mathieu Debuchy
2 of 29
Mathieu Debuchy was never expected to play a significant role this season having been loaned to Bordeaux midway through the 2016/17 campaign.
However, few could have predicted he would feature so infrequently. Debuchy made just one Premier League appearance, and even that lasted for just 15 minutes before injury claimed him again.
It would be a great surprise if we saw him wear an Arsenal shirt again.
27. Per Mertesacker
3 of 29
Arsenal club captain Per Mertesacker was ruled out for the first half of the season by injury.
Although the 32-year-old returned to training at the turn of the year, manager Arsene Wenger chose to keep him in reserve.
For a long time it appeared as if the German defender would have to wait until 2017/18 to make his first-team comeback, but he managed to get off the bench during the final-day win over Everton.
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26. Jack Wilshere
4 of 29
It's easy to forget now, but Jack Wilshere made two Premier League appearances as a substitute for Arsenal at the start of the season.
Wenger seemingly had the midfielder as part of his plans, but the player's desire for more regular football saw him loaned to Bournemouth.
Unsurprisingly, injury cut short his campaign on the south coast, and it remains to be seen if Wilshere has a future at the Emirates Stadium.
25. Carl Jenkinson
5 of 29
Carl Jenkinson made just one Premier League appearance all season. However, it was a fairly significant one, as he started and played 83 minutes in a 1-1 draw at Manchester United in November.
As the season wore on, it became clear that Wenger didn't trust the 25-year-old, preferring to play Gabriel Paulista out of position as a right-back rather than use the former Charlton Athletic man.
24. David Ospina
6 of 29
Although goalkeeper David Ospina featured regularly in the Champions League, his Premier League campaign was one to forget.
He played just twice—in the humiliating 3-1 defeat to West Bromwich Albion and the 2-2 draw with Manchester City.
With Petr Cech firmly established as the No. 1 and Wojciech Szczesny potentially about to return from a loan spell with AS Roma, Ospina's future at Arsenal looks bleak.
23. Calum Chambers
7 of 29
Calum Chambers spent almost the entirety of the season on loan at Middlesbrough, but in his one Arsenal appearance on the opening day, he did at least manage to score a goal.
Chambers was ultimately relegated from the Premier League with Boro, but he will presumably be back with the Gunners next season and pushing for a place in their new-look back three.
22. Emiliano Martinez
8 of 29
Like fellow goalkeeper David Ospina, Emiliano Martinez made just two Premier League appearances this season.
He did manage to keep a clean sheet against West Ham United, but that was balanced out by the fact he was then involved in the horrifying 3-0 defeat at Crystal Palace.
To be fair to Martinez, he was one of the few players to emerge from the Palace game with any kind of credit. He needs more first-team experience, so another loan beckons.
21. Kieran Gibbs
9 of 29
As a graduate of Arsenal's academy, Kieran Gibbs remains a popular figure at the Emirates.
However, his performances this season have suggested that the Gunners need to look for an upgrade to compete with Nacho Monreal on the left side of the defence.
Gibbs appears to have stagnated somewhat at Arsenal. The 27-year-old hasn't progressed as anticipated, and he has lost some of his attacking threat in the final third.
It looks like it may well be time for him to move on.
20. Mohamed Elneny
10 of 29
When he arrived at Arsenal in the second half of 2015/16, Mohamed Elneny played a vital role in helping to stabilise the Gunners' midfield. However, he has been little more than a squad player this season.
The Egypt international is a tidy midfielder, but it's clear he's not a major part of Wenger's plans.
Arsenal would presumably like to keep hold of such an intelligent and consistent player, but it's possible Elneny will want the opportunity to play more regularly elsewhere.
19. Lucas Perez
11 of 29
What a strange season Lucas Perez has had.
Signed from Deportivo La Coruna shortly before the summer transfer deadline day, he was handed the No. 9 shirt and all the expectation that comes with it.
He started the first Premier League game after his arrival but has subsequently struggled to make the team for league matches.
Lucas made just two Premier League starts all season, but he did come off the bench nine times to largely positive effect.
The fleeting glimpses we've seen of him suggest he should have had more playing time.
18. Santi Cazorla
12 of 29
How different might Arsenal's season have been had Santi Cazorla remained fit?
The Gunners won six of the eight Premier League games in which Cazorla featured, including that memorable 3-0 thrashing of Chelsea.
When Wenger lost the Spanish magician, he struggled to find a midfield combination that functioned effectively, and that problem plagued the Gunners until the spring.
17. Gabriel Paulista
13 of 29
The signing of Shkodran Mustafi threatened Gabriel Paulista's place at Arsenal, but the Brazilian proved his value as a useful squad member across the course of the season, featuring in just over half of the Gunners' Premier League games.
The thing Gabriel had in his favour this season was a newfound versatility. Although nominally a centre-half, he filled in regularly at right-back when Hector Bellerin was injured.
16. Danny Welbeck
14 of 29
Danny Welbeck missed the first half of the season with a cartilage injury, but he returned in January to revitalise Arsenal's ailing attack.
His most memorable contribution was the headed goal against Manchester United—the third time Welbeck has netted against his former club since leaving Old Trafford.
When Alexis Sanchez was moved back to play on the flank rather than as a No. 9, Welbeck's mobility made him the ideal replacement as the spearhead of the Arsenal attack.
15. Aaron Ramsey
15 of 29
After his outstanding Euro 2016 with Wales, there were high hopes that Aaron Ramsey could play a major part in Arsenal's season. However, he did not live up to the hype.
Ramsey made 23 league appearances in the end but scored just one goal. For a player famed for his knack of driving into the box at the crucial moment, that's a poor record.
Like many players, Ramsey benefited from the switch to a 3-4-2-1 system. Perhaps if Arsenal persist with that shape, the Welshman will return to something approaching his best.
14. Alex Iwobi
16 of 29
Alex Iwobi's second season with the first team was a mixed campaign.
The 21-year-old started well, featuring regularly on the left side of the Arsenal attack and even being entrusted with the No. 10 position when Mesut Ozil was unavailable.
However, he faded in the second half of the season. Perhaps as a consequence of his inexperience, his confidence seemed particularly hit by Arsenal's poor form in the spring.
13. Francis Coquelin
17 of 29
The technical limitations of Francis Coquelin have infuriated the Arsenal fans at times this season, but it's impossible to question his commitment.
Despite his flaws, he remains a trusted part of Wenger's plans. However, the burgeoning partnership between Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey offers a real threat to Coquelin's regular place.
12. Hector Bellerin
18 of 29
This season has been a tricky one for Hector Bellerin.
An ankle injury ruled him out for a considerable spell in November, and upon returning to the team there was a notable lack of sharpness to the Spaniard's game.
Bellerin needs to get himself fit, but he also needs competition to keep him on his toes. Neither Carl Jenkinson nor Mathieu Debuchy were ever serious contenders for his place.
11. Nacho Monreal
19 of 29
Early in the season, Nacho Monreal struggled with the lack of protection he was given by Arsenal's midfield.
However, he has since proved his worth to the squad, excelling both as a centre-back and a left wing-back in Arsenal's new 3-4-2-1 system.
10. Rob Holding
20 of 29
He may not have played as many games as some, but Rob Holding has had a significant impact on Arsenal's season.
His presence in the squad is partly what enabled Wenger to switch to a back three, and since coming into the team the 21-year-old has shown startling maturity for one so young.
The former Bolton Wanderers man ended the season as one of the first names on the teamsheet.
9. Shkodran Mustafi
21 of 29
It was not a perfect debut season for Shkodran Mustafi, however the speed at which he acclimatised to the Premier League deserves commendation.
His greatest flaw remains his tendency to dive in unnecessarily. If he can learn to stay on his feet, Arsenal will have a defender worth every penny of his lofty price tag.
8. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
22 of 29
This was a season of progress for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. He played 31 Premier League games, scoring twice and collecting an impressive seven assists.
The 23-year-old also excelled in a variety of positions, looking particularly adept in central midfield and as a right wing-back.
With his contract now just over 12 months from expiry, Arsenal must work hard to secure an extension.
7. Granit Xhaka
23 of 29
He might have had a difficult start to life in England, but Granit Xhaka has steadily become an influential member of this Arsenal team.
In Santi Cazorla's absence, he has gradually emerged as the side's primary playmaker, picking the ball up off the defence and spraying passes from deep.
Xhaka has also worked on improving some of the disciplinary issues he had. Like fellow summer arrival Shkodran Mustafi, he is a far better defender when he stays on his feet.
6. Olivier Giroud
24 of 29
It's curious that in the season Olivier Giroud finally lost his place as a guaranteed starter at Arsenal, he also became one of their most efficient players.
The France international started only 11 Premier League games, yet he finished with 12 goals.
His ability to come off the bench and change games proved hugely valuable over the course of the campaign.
5. Petr Cech
25 of 29
Petr Cech started 34 games for Arsenal in 2016/17, keeping 12 clean sheets.
The first half of the season saw his form criticised, but once the Gunners switched to a back three, it became clear that the 35-year-old is still a classy shot-stopper when offered appropriate protection.
His presence and experience has also been useful to Arsenal in a season when they've largely been forced to fare without club captain Per Mertesacker.
4. Theo Walcott
26 of 29
In Arsenal’s final few league games of the season, Theo Walcott could barely get a kick.
However, it should not be forgotten that he was consistently one of their most dangerous players early on in the 2016/17 campaign.
The 28-year-old ended the season with 10 league goals from 28 appearances—a creditable record for a player who did not play as a central striker.
The problem for Walcott is that Arsenal have switched to a formation with no obvious place for a speedy winger.
3. Mesut Ozil
27 of 29
Mesut Ozil’s price tag and reputation ensures that he always receives plenty of criticism from fans and pundits alike.
However, he finished the Premier League season with eight goals and nine assists, which suggests he was one of the few positive performers in Arsenal's 2016/17 campaign.
While his commitment is often questioned, his durability shouldn't be. Despite coming off a gruelling Euro 2016 campaign, Ozil figured in 33 of Arsenal's 38 games.
2. Laurent Koscielny
28 of 29
At times it has felt as if Laurent Koscielny is the one thing preventing the Arsenal defence from descending into complete farce.
His role has been particularly crucial this season, as he has worn the captain's armband in the absence of Per Mertesacker.
It's a real shame that Koscielny's dismissal against Everton on the final day of the league season means he has robbed himself of the chance to lead out his side in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
1. Alexis Sanchez
29 of 29
Can there really be any debate about the identity of Arsenal's Premier League player of the season?
Twenty-four goals and 10 assists speak for themselves. Alexis has been a sensation this season, whether playing as a central striker or in a deeper role.
Arsenal must now do everything they can to keep hold of their star man ahead of 2017/18.
All statistics via Squawka.
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