Arsenal’s ‘legend in the making’ is their best player since Wenger retired

While things may not have ended as well as they could have, there are few more legendary figures in Arsenal history than Arsene Wenger.

The Frenchman ushered in a period of immense success in the late 1990s and early 2000s, which the club has failed to even match since.

However, with how things are going this season, that could soon change.

Additionally, it would be fair to say that Mikel Arteta now has a star in his team who is undoubtedly the best player Arsenal have had since Wenger retired.

Arsenal’s best players since Wenger retired

When looking at the best players signed or developed by Arsenal since Wenger left management, there are more than a handful of names you can choose from.

For example, for all he did wrong, Unai Emery signed the transfer William Saliba in the summer of 2019, then a year later Arteta made his best defensive acquisition by bringing in Gabriel Magalhães from LOSC Lille.

Together the centre-back duo have been nothing short of exceptional over the last few years and as things stand this season have only conceded three goals in all competitions and if they win it could become the best defensive partnership in Premier League history.

Moving to the middle of the park, and, in this conversation, it’s impossible to ignore club record signing Declan Rice.

The former West Ham United captain traveled to the Emirates under enormous pressure, but from his first game until today he has proven he is worth every penny.

With his ability to break up play, carry the ball deep, score important goals and throw the ball with pinpoint precision from set pieces, he is without a shadow of a doubt a ‘world class’ midfielder.

Staying in midfield, and despite having a difficult season last year and having terrible luck with injuries this season, Martin Odegaard deserves to be in this conversation.

The Norway international was named club captain in the summer of 2023, has won back-to-back Player of the Season awards and, at his best, can be utterly fascinating to watch with the ball.

However, that said, when it comes to the club’s best player since Wenger’s departure, there is one star who stands head and shoulders above the rest.

Arsenal’s greatest player since Wenger retired

Although fans will have their own favorite players, it would be hard to deny that, as things stand, Bukayo Saka is the best player Arsenal have had since Wenger retired.

The Hale End icon made his first team debut under Emery in a Europa League match against Vorskla Poltava in November 2018, then earned his first start at home to Qarabağ FK a month later.

However, it was under Arteta that the Englishman transformed from a versatile utility player who often appeared at left-back to one of the best right wingers in world football.

Not only that, but the game-changing 24-year-old has become the club’s talisman and face of its rejuvenation in recent years.

It shouldn’t have come as much of a surprise that, following his hamstring injury and surgery last season, the Gunners became much less potent in attack.

In his career to date, the North Londoners’ ‘legend in the making’, dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has scored 74 goals and provided 72 assists in 274 first-team appearances, totaling 20,713 minutes.

This equates to a sensational average of goal involvement every 1.87 games, or every 141.86 minutes, which is all the more impressive given he has made 21 appearances at left back.

As if his club record wasn’t enough, he also won 46 senior caps for England, during which he scored 13 goals, provided nine assists and was named player of the year twice.

Ultimately, there is still a lot to come from Saka, but based on his already stunning record and the fact that he has become the club’s poster child, it is clear that he is Arsenal’s best player since Wenger left the dugout.