Arsenal Women struggled in 2017, failing to add to their trophy cabinet and missing out on the Champions League. But here are their three top performers who can hold their heads high.

Defender – Anna Patten/Lotte Wubben-Moy

Cheating slightly, but the 18-year-olds were both exceptional during the Spring Series, and one of the reasons why Arsenal finished the half-season unbeaten.

Had they stayed at the club and carried on playing in the Winter League, I believe the pair would have been knocking on the door of the first-team.

I don’t know if I’ve seen a better centre-back pairing than Patten and Wubben-Moy since Arsenal won the the quadruple in 2006/07 – with Ciara Grant and Anita Asante forming a potent defensive partnership.

Having two teenagers bossing it in defence and helping the team to stay unbeaten for the whole Spring Series was an incredible feat – especially considering Patten made her first-team debut just months previously. Wubben-Moy made her first-team debut age 16, winning the u17 and Development Cup.

The dynamic duo find themselves third on my list. It’s a shame for the club that they made the choice to further their education and develop their football at university in the US. We can only hope they return in the future, if they don’t get drafted by the NWSL.

Goalkeeper – Sari van Veenendaal

I think everyone at the club is happy to have found a quality successor to Emma Byrne between the sticks. Obviously no goalkeeper is perfect and they all make mistakes, but Sari is a reliable player, and has a commanding presence in her penalty area.

Let alone being a quality shot-stopper. The Dutch international goes to ground very quickly despite being very tall, and has saved many one-on-one situations, which will have saved the club many points.

Veenendaal also won the European Championships with the Netherlands in the summer, and this improved her confidence even more I felt. She’s deservedly in second place for my top Arsenal players of the year, and here’s hoping she can be as successful in goal as her glorious predecessor.

Midfielder – Jordan Nobbs

No surprises here. Nobbs has been a cut above for Arsenal, in my opinion, and is my player of the year as a result.

What strikes you when you watch the England international is her natural leadership on the pitch. Even when she came in as an 18-year-old, she had that drive and desire to lead and organise a team full of senior players.

The Arsenal midfielder has scored important goals, like the winning free-kick against Manchester City away in the Spring Series, as well as making some excellent assists.

But what makes her so different from others is that she does not hide and will always demand the ball. If the team is struggling, she will take the ball and combine with other players to make things happen.

Nobbs is very vocal in organising the players around her, and is always a step ahead of others. Combined with her excellent fitness levels, Arsenal have a world-class No.8. type.