Arsenal 2021/22 season ratings: Saka 9, Odegaard 8, Pepe 3, Aubameyang 2

Gunners place fifth in the Premier League after a season of overall progress under Arteta

• 

  ARSENAL 2021/22 SEASON RATINGS: (Manager) Mikel Arteta 7.5: Oversaw a disastrous start to the season but steadied the ship - including parting ways with an unsettled Aubameyang - to guide Arsenal to the brink of the top four. The Gunners may have missed out having stuttered at the worst possible time, but the club appears to be heading in the right direction under Arteta. AFP

• 

  (Goalkeepers) Aaron Ramsdale: 7. A few eyebrows were raised when he arrived from relegated Sheffield United for £30m last summer, but the England keeper has become the club's undisputed No 1. Superb when he first came into the team but produced some shaky displays towards the end of the season as Arsenal faltered. Getty

• 

  Bernd Leno: 5. Replaced as Arsenal's first-choice keeper early in the season after a series of unconvincing performances. Took the gloves in the cup competitions but the German will unlikely be interested in remaining a No 2 for another season so the exit appears imminent. Reuters

• 

  (Defenders) Ben White: 7: Another big-money, eyebrow-raising arrival last summer but White has provided a much-needed upgrade at the heart of Arsenal's defence. Took some time to settle and had some less than stellar showings but the Gunners are a more sturdy side with White in the team. AFP

• 

  Gabriel: 7. A mainstay in central defence, the Brazilian had another good season for Arsenal. Chipped in with a few important goals, too. EPA

• 

  Rob Holding 5: Very much a squad player but was given a chance to impress in Arsenal's biggest league game of the season and proceeded to get sent off against rivals Tottenham, who went on to win 3-0 and usurp the Gunners in the top four race. Getty

• 

  Kieran Tierney: 7. One of Arsenal's most important players but the Scottish full-back was hit by injuries yet again. Tierney's absence for the final 11 games no doubt contributed to the club narrowly missing out on top four. Getty

• 

  Nuno Tavares: 6. Overall an encouraging, if inconsistent, debut season from the 22-year-old full-back. The Portuguese was at times erratic and error-prone but also capable of strong performances. Plenty to build on for next season. Getty

• 

  Takehiro Tomiyasu: 8. Arrived under the radar last summer but quickly cemented his place as Arsenal's first-choice right-back following a series of impressive performances. A strong debut campaign was disrupted by a calf injury earlier this year but Arsenal have unearthed a gem. Getty

• 

  Cedric Soares: 6. A squad player who got a run in the starting line-up following Tomiyasu's injury absence. Can never fault the Portuguese's commitment but is not on the same level as his Japanese teammate. Getty

• 

  (Midfielders) Thomas Partey: 8. No surprise that Arsenal's worst spells of the season occurred when Partey was out injured. The Ghanaian provided structure, leadership, and quality to the Arsenal midfield. The Gunners just need him fit as much as possible. AFP

• 

  Granit Xhaka: 5. Few players divide opinion quite like Xhaka, and it was another streaky season from the Swiss midfielder. Played plenty of matches, despite looking destined for the exit last summer, and it's difficult to see what he brings to the team. Often outclassed against the big teams. Getty

• 

  Mohamed Elneny: 7. After making just one Premier League start up to April, the Egyptian became undroppable for the final seven games. Partey's absence played a part in that but Elneny took his chance, and on that evidence probably deserved to play more. AP

• 

  Albert Sambi Lokonga: 6. The 22-year-old Portuguese midfielder looks like he could be a talent and showed glimpses during his debut season. Used as a squad player and his game time was limited during the second half of the campaign. AFP

• 

  Bukayo Saka: 9. Sensational season for the England winger, who scored 12 goals and provided seven assists in all competitions. Arsenal, quite simply, would have been nowhere near the top four without Saka. Still only 20, he is fast on his way to earning legend status at Arsenal. Getty

• 

  Martin Odegaard: 8. Showed during his half-season loan spell what he was capable of and quickly became a key player in his debut campaign as a permanent Arsenal player. Provided the creativity and guile that had been missing since the prime Mesut Ozil years. AFP

• 

  Emile Smith Rowe: 8. Arguably Arsenal's best player for the first half of the campaign, scoring eight goals before the end of December. His productivity waned during the second half of the season and he was in and out of the team, but a very good campaign overall. Getty

• 

  (Forwards) Gabriel Martinelli: 6. The Brazilian is a serious talent capable of destroying teams but six goals and seven assists for a player of his ability is below par. Still, Martinelli is only 20 and has a massive future. EPA

• 

  Nicolas Pepe: 3. Arsenal's record signing looks further away than ever of justifying the €70m the club paid Lille in 2019. Limited to eight starts in all competitions and didn't start a Premier League game beyond October. Scored a solitary league goal and a further two in the League Cup. Surely headed for the exit this summer. EPA

• 

  Alexandre Lacazette: 5. Clearly a positive influence and trusted leader after taking the armband following Aubameyang's move to Barcelona, but a return of six goals in 35 appearances is nowhere near good enough. PA

• 

  Eddie Nketiah: 7. Only given a proper chance in the starting line-up at the back end of the season and took it convincingly. Showed he can score goals and lead the line. Will surely get many more opportunities next season. AP

• 

  Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: 2. Started the season encouragingly with four goals in his first eight games but that was as good as it got. Disciplinary problems and a falling out with Arteta threatened to derail Arsenal's season and the club cancelled his contract in January. EPA

After three matches, most Arsenal fans would have taken fifth place come the end of the 2021/22 Premier League season. The Gunners were rooted to the bottom of the table with no points and no goals, and a crisis looked to be closing in on Mikel Arteta and his players.

However, context is everything and instead fifth place came with the deflated sense of what might have been. Arsenal were pipped to fourth – and with it the last of the Champions League places – by none other than Tottenham after a late season collapse, which involved a table-turning defeat to their fiercest rivals.

Still, it was a season of progress for Arsenal, who achieved their best league finish in three years and will return to the Europa League after missing out on European football last season as a consequence of placing eighth.

Arteta will also be pleased with how most of his new signings have settled. Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and centre-back Ben White have provided upgrades in both positions, and playmaker Martin Odegaard - signed permanently from Real Madrid after spending the second half of last season on loan - has quickly become a key player. Meanwhile, full-back Takehiro Tomiyasu has been a revelation.

The season was also defined by departures as Arteta attempts to shape the club's future. Willian agreed to cancel his contract two years early after struggling to hit the same heights he did at Chelsea, while Hector Bellerin, Lucas Torreira, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Matteo Guendouzi, and Pablo Mari all secured loan moves away and are not expected to be in Arteta's plans moving forward.

Then there was the January exit of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who was dropped, stripped of the captaincy, and ultimately joined Barcelona on a free transfer after falling out with Arteta over a series of disciplinary issues.

There may have been setbacks and disappointments along the way but there is plenty for Arteta and his squad to build on for next season and beyond.

Before the focus switches to next season, check out the Arsenal player ratings for the 2021/22 season in the photo gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.