Risers: Arsenal have lost both games since the last update, so the risers in the rankings are more to do with consistent performances rather than individual brilliance. With that in mind, Zinchenko is up three places into the top 5 for the first time this season. His importance in the team is well represented in this latest update. His defensive qualities have shone more than many expected in recent weeks.
The same can be said for Gabriel, who after making a few mistakes before Christmas, is becoming one of Arsenal’s most consistent players. For all the press and hype around William Saliba, it is Gabriel that is impressing the most right now.
Fallers: After consecutive goals fired him up the rankings, two blanks on the bounce has Eddie Nketiah dropping right down to ninth, this highlights how his impact is closely correlated to his goal output.
Gabriel Martinelli is also out of the top five for the first time since we started reporting, he’s had a very tame start to 2023 and perhaps Leandro Trossard’s arrival will see him drop out of the side when Arsenal face Brentford on Saturday.
It’s no surprise that after failing to score in two games on the bounce, Arsenal’s forwards are dropping down the rankings, but Bukayo Saka remains in top spot after arguably being Arsenal’s best player at Everton. Mikel Arteta will hope that Gabriel Jesus comes back into this sqaud as soon as possible.
Elsewhere, ‘Mr.consistent’ Ben White has fallen out of the top 10, after appearing in the top five in most weeks in 2023. He was poor in the win against Manchester United and again quite withdrawn against Everton. His usual composure is absent right now and his competition for the right-back slot in Tomiyasu has edged ahead of him in the rankings, is that a change Arteta might make against Brentford?