Arsenal’s defensive depth was tested to its limits in the latter stages of the 16/17 season but how did the defenders fare individually over the course of the season?
Nacho Monreal 6
The rating I’ve given the experienced Spaniard may seem harsh on the surface, but once you watch some of Arsenal’s performances from last season, you’ll quickly understand why.
At 31, he is in the peak years of his career and expects to play on a regular basis. Only Alexis Sánchez with 3,223 minutes, played more often than the left-back for the club this term.
91 interceptions and 62 tackles won are both commendable statistics, though he has only been performing at a consistent level over the past six weeks or so and his weaknesses are still evident to see.
He struggles against pacey attackers and cannot contain their threat. Knowing this, Monreal should make a conscious effort to regularly be in the right place at the right time to thwart the opposition, but his positional awareness is often disorganised and decision-making erratic.
There have been a number of examples, not least Chelsea and Liverpool away this season, where goals have been conceded because he has not shown awareness or a good level of anticipation to react quickly and stop chances on-goal.
Statistics may mask his shortcomings but he’s one of the club’s weaker first-team regulars and Kolasinac’s impending arrival is sure to make him sit up.
Hector Bellerín 7
This season has been a tough one for the 22-year-old, not least after being heavily booed by supporters following the 3-0 defeat at Crystal Palace.
It’s obvious that Bellerín had not recovered fully from the ankle injury which ruled him out in November and if that’s the case, it was a bold but naive decision to start him regularly.
A spell watching on from the substitutes’ bench has seems to have helped him regain confidence and following the Ox’s hamstring issue, his excellent individual displays showed exactly why Arsenal supporters should be heralding him .
Transfer speculation hasn’t helped him either but Bellerín is still young and will have learned plenty of lessons from this campaign, which he finished strongly after a period of inconsistency.
Shkodran Mustafi 8
Mustafi has settled into life in England well, despite a period of inconsistency which made him seem overhyped.
His defensive contribution has been important alongside the likes of Koscielny and although many will likely remember the disappointing displays, he has helped to improve the club’s backline and completed 54 successful tackles in 2,275 minutes of League football, averaging one almost every half.
He hasn’t been afraid to get physical or impose his strength when battling for possession against opponents, evidenced by his 64 interceptions but equally by the 36 fouls he has committed too.
It’s something he’ll need to improve upon next season against tricky attackers, avoiding an overly aggressive tackling stance as referees often penalise the German for that, increasing unwanted pressure in the defensive third.
Laurent Koscielny 8
Although his decision-making at times can be questionable, there’s no doubting who Arsenal’s best defender is.
200 clearances, 22 defensive blocks and 92 interceptions in 33 Premier League matches this season reiterates the Frenchman’s importance as part of Arsenal’s central defensive unit.
He relishes the challenge from opposition attackers and regularly dispossesses them in dangerous areas, often with seeming ease, to relieve his team-mates of pressure whilst starting attacking moves with his forward passes.
1,364 in total, or 83% of his passes have been played forward in England’s top flight this season which is more than any other Arsenal defender that has played 10 or more matches.
It’s these types of statistics which go unnoticed but are part of why Arsenal fans rate hims so highly.
Kieran Gibbs 6.5
The 27-year-old is likely to leave the club this summer and it’s a genuine shame, but all signs point to the fact that the club are keen to move forward by signing younger, more promising talents.
Kolasinac’s arrival was always going to signal the end for one of the club’s left-backs and given Wenger’s renewed confidence in Monreal to start him at centre-back, it seems as though he gave Gibbs an opportunity to increase his market value towards the end of the season.
He has played fairly well although whenever in dangerous positions, he regularly squanders the opportunity after a rushed decision or poor execution on an attempted cross.
Gabriel 6.5
The Brazilian is very much a rough diamond but has shown on a number of occasions his ability to excel when called upon.
No-one expected him to start at right-back away against West Ham in December, yet he embraced the role and made up for a lack of acceleration with dogged determination to help his team-mates where possible.
This continued to occur for a few more league games but it’s evident that Gabriel is more suited to a central defensive role, as reiterated by his performances against the likes of West Ham, Leicester and Everton towards the final stages of this campaign.
A frustrating tendency to lunge in and tackle recklessly in pursuit of possession needs to be dealt with, but Gabriel’s had an okay season and is likely to provide depth within the backline next term. He’ll be keen to start more regularly but needs to impress, justifying his place in the starting eleven.
Per Mertesacker 7
It may seem like Mertesacker’s rating has been completed in haste but considering he hasn’t played all season long, you have to give the big German credit for his displays against Everton and Chelsea in the FA Cup Final.
Sidelined with a serious knee injury until late January, he was solid when called upon following his second-half substitution against the Toffees and was rewarded with a start against the newly-crowned champions.
Two tackles, an interception, seven clearances and two further blocked shots showed he excelled against Antonio Conte’s side and silenced his critics in emphatic fashion.
“The more people write me off, the stronger I get,” he said after this weekend’s final.
Mertesacker has already confirmed that he will be at the club next season, hoping to repay the faith they have shown in him when they exercised the one-year option on his contract.
Rob Holding 8
£2m from Bolton last summer, Holdini has impressed when called upon and has quickly become a fan favourite at Arsenal.
He made his Champions League debut against Basel in December but was required to be patient for his really big chance. His performances of late have more than justified a regular starting berth in a back three alongside more experienced professionals, where he hasn’t looked out of place.
Comfortable in possession, a good reader of play and a keen ball-winner, his defensive displays haven’t gone unnoticed. Long may it continue.
Stats’ source: WhoScored, Squawka and Premier League
Mathieu Debuchy 0
Came back into the side following Bellerín’s injury and Jenkinson’s reported confidence issues but another untimely injury ruined any faint hopes of regaining a first-team place.
It’s been a tough few years for the Frenchman, who has been plagued by injuries. It’s such a sham as he is a talented defender who offers tenacity and experience at the back when he does occasionally feature.
Carl Jenkinson 1
Appeared more regularly at u23 level than in the first-team, and it’s inevitable that Jenkinson will leave the club at some stage over the summer.
The 25-year-old has been left frustrated by a lack of regular minutes and a disappointing display against Southampton in the EFL Cup accelerated calls for him to be dropped.
He hasn’t played since and with Crystal Palace monitoring his situation, it’s likely he’ll remain in the Premier League but make a move elsewhere as he wants to play on a weekly basis and is just not good enough for Arsenal.
Overview
Arsenal’s defence has been periodically impressive and otherwise porous, which describes the club’s season well too.
The constant alterations made at the back didn’t help matters as there were regular instances of a defensive partnership that hadn’t played together still expected to perform at a high level. This, as we know, is tough to achieve.
Establishing a three (or four, dependent on formation) man backline, all of whom play regularly will be crucial in helping to develop a more stable backline.