Arsenal: Outstanding Mikel Arteta can still improve as Ethan Nwaneri challenge set | OneFootball

Arsenal were pipped to the Premier League title by Manchester City on the final day.

But it was still an impressive season for the Gunners, who also reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2010.

They finished the Premier League season with the best defence in the division and a club-record number of goals and wins.

Here, Simon Collings assesses their 2023-24 campaign…

The season in one word

Promising.

Star of the show

Declan Rice. Signed for £105million, he took his game to another level under Mikel Arteta.

Biggest let down

Gabriel Martinelli. Top scorer the previous season but never got going this time. Injuries didn’t help but he struggled being doubled up on by opposition defenders.

Gabriel Martinelli struggled at times for Arsenal

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Most improved player

Kai Havertz. Signed as a midfielder but ended the season as Arsenal’s No9. Scored 14 goals and had seven assists, his best season in England.

Game to remember

Luton 3-4 Arsenal: A truly bonkers match. Rice the hero with a 97th-minute winner that summed up his stunning debut season.

Game to forget

Fulham 2-1 Arsenal: Arsenal’s worst performance of the campaign. The side look shattered and defeat meant they missed out on being top on New Year’s Day.

Ethan Nwaneri. The 17-year-old signed his first professional deal and has been challenged by Arteta to break into the first team next season.

Manager verdict

Continues to do an outstanding job. A few areas to improve on, such as rotating his squad better at times.

Fans’ mood

Optimistic. Arsenal did not collapse last season and are growing with belief each year.

Grade: A