Sky Sports’ power rankings for the 2017/18 season so far have been released but how do Arsenal fare?
Sky Sports’ power rankings for the season so far have been released and while Nacho Monreal, Petr Cech, Shkodran Mustafi, Sead Kolasinac, Alexandre Lacazette and Alexis Sanchez have done pretty well, we decided to take a look outside the top 50.
The rankings are totted up as the season plays out. Points are awarded for goals, assists, clearances, blocks etc, depending on what position the player stars in. For example, Monreal’s a defender so would have been given more points for his goal against Brighton on Sunday than Laca.
If Cech scored a goal, he would be handed 6,000 compared to 1,600.
Likewise, a defender gets 1,100 points for an assist, when everyone else gets 500.
The 22-year-old has struggled with injuries again this season and has only made one League Cup appearances against Doncaster Rovers.
24. Francis Coquelin
Alexandre Lacazette and Francis Coquelin. Picture: Getty Images
The midfielder isn’t too popular among Gooners. He’s battled injury this term and has only played for 132 minutes.
23. Reiss Nelson
Arsenal’s English midfielder Reiss Nelson (R) has an unsuccessful shot during the English League Cup third round football match between Arsenal and Doncaster Rovers at The Emirates Stadium in London on September 20, 2017. (BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images)
Nelson impressed in pre-season but the 17-year-old’s only made three competitive appearances for the club so far.
22. Joe Willock
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 20: Joe Willock of Arsenal in action during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Arsenal and Doncaster Rovers at Emirates Stadium on September 20, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
The 18-year-old has appearance twice for the Gunners.
21. Ainsley Maitland-Niles
Doncaster Rovers’ English midfielder Matty Blair (L) runs away from Arsenal’s English midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles during the English League Cup third round football match between Arsenal and Doncaster Rovers at The Emirates Stadium in London on September 20, 2017. (BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images)
The 20-year-old has only made four appearances for the first team so far this term.
20. David Ospina
(IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images)
The goalkeeper is yet to make an appearance in the Premier League as he’s second-choice to Cech but he’s kept one clean sheet in three games.
19. Granit Xhaka
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 11: Granit Xhaka of Arsenal gestures to his team mates during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Leicester City at Emirates Stadium on August 11, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
The 25-year-old has had a sloppy season so far.
18. Jack Wilshere
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 20: Jack Wilshere of Arsenal in action during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Arsenal and Doncaster Rovers at Emirates Stadium on September 20, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
It’s a shame the midfielder is so far down the list considering how well he performs when he actually gets game time…
17. Per Mertesacker
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 20: Per Mertesacker of Arsenal looks on during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Arsenal and Doncaster Rovers at Emirates Stadium on September 20, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
You can definitely tell the big guy’s retiring at the end of the season.
16. Rob Holding
(IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images)
A poor performance against Leicester during the opening game of the season really knocked his confidence. He’s only made three Premiership appearances this term.
15. Shkodran Mustafi
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 25: Jay Rodriguez of West Bromwich Albion is challenged in the penalty area by Shkodran Mustafi of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion at Emirates Stadium on September 25, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
The defender has made a couple of considerable errors already this season.
14. Mesut Ozil
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 09: Mesut Ozil of Arsenal reacts during the Premier League match between Arsenal and AFC Bournemouth at Emirates Stadium on September 9, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
The German has already missed five matches (and counting) through injury and is yet to even register his first assist of the season.
13. Alex Iwobi
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 01: Alex Iwobi of Arsenal in action during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Brighton and Hove Albion at Emirates Stadium on October 1, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
While Iwobi scored against Brighton, as an attacking player, he needs to be doing it more.
12. Mohamed Elneny
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 25: Mohamed Elneny of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion at Emirates Stadium on September 25, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Elneny is solid. He may not do anything spectacular but he’s reliable. While it seems harsh that he’s this far down the list, it’s understandable when you know how the power ranking points system works.
11. Olivier Giroud
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 11: Olivier Giroud celebrates scoring the 4th Arsenal goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Leicester City at Emirates Stadium on August 11, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
The big guy has really struggled for minutes again this season. He scored his 100th Arsenal goal against BATE Borisov on Thursday but before that he hasn’t found the net since the opening game of the campaign against Leicester.
10. Theo Walcott
Arsenal’s forward from England Theo Walcott celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Europa League Group H football match between FC BATE Borisov and Arsenal FC in Borisov, outside Minsk, on September 28, 2017. (MAXIM MALINOVSKY/AFP/Getty Images)
Theo’s scored three goals in three League Cup and Europa League appearances but his lack of playing time will have impacted his score.
9. Hector Bellerin
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 14: Hector Bellerin of Arsenal celebrates after the final whistle of the UEFA Europa League group H match between Arsenal FC and 1. FC Koeln at Emirates Stadium on September 14, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Despite a dip in form at the end of last season, which carried on over into this term, Bellerin has been steadily improving in recent games.
8. Laurent Koscielny
Arsenal’s French defender Laurent Koscielny (L) and Arsenal’s French striker Olivier Giroud react after missing a chance during the English Premier League football match between West Bromwich Albion and Arsenal at The Hawthorns stadium in West Bromwich, central England, on March 18, 2017. (LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP/Getty Images)
The reliable centre-back has seemed a bit off the pace this season.
7. Aaron Ramsey
Arsenal’s Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey jumps over the save from Chelsea’s Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge in London on September 17, 2017. (GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)
Despite what the media claim, Rambo’s done pretty well this season. He was outstanding against Chelsea.
6. Alexis Sanchez
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 20: Matthew Blair of Doncaster Rovers and Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal battle for possession during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Arsenal and Doncaster Rovers at Emirates Stadium on September 20, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Old grumpy pants has only scored once this season, so it’s difficult to know how he ranks so high.
5. Sead Kolasinac
(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
This beast. He may have costed Arsenal nothing but the Bosnian Hulk is worth his weight in goal… which is a lot.
4. Petr Cech
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 01: Petr Cech of Arsenal punches the ball while under pressure from Lewis Dunk of Brighton and Hove Albion during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Brighton and Hove Albion at Emirates Stadium on October 1, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Although not many believe that the goalkeeper still has it, he rates pretty highly in the power rankings.
3. Danny Welbeck
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 17: Danny Welbeck of Arsenal attempts to get away from Cesc Fabregas of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on September 17, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Welbz has scored three goals in five Premiership appearances and it’s a shame he’s gotten injured. He’s set to return after the international break.
2. Alexandre Lacazette
(IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images)
The former Lyon striker has scored four goals in seven Premier League games – all of which have come at the Emirates. He’s adapting well and his work rate is impressive.
1. Nacho Monreal
Arsenal’s Spanish defender Nacho Monreal (R) celebrates with Arsenal’s Spanish defender Hector Bellerin, (2R), scoring the team’s first goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Brighton at the Emirates Stadium in London on October 1, 2017. (ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)
While most players divide opinion, Nacho doesn’t. The defender has been making goal-line clearances one game and scoring the next. It’s a pleasure to have him at Arsenal.
