The 2022/23 season may well have concluded in predictable fashion, but boy, it was one heck of a ride.
Arsenal entered the campaign tinged with optimism, but very few foreshadowed the majestic season they’d embark on. Sure, the title wasn’t secured, but they certainly gave Manchester City an almighty scare.
Many believe this is just the start for Mikel Arteta’s Gunners given their rise under the Spaniard following his appointment in 2019. Arsenal had enjoyed a steady incline before their recent exponential growth thrust them into the conversation of being the best team in the country.
Special days lie ahead, and it’s time we looked back upon the club’s brilliant season by handing out some awards.
PITA’s 2022/23 Arsenal End-of-Season awards
Our writing team here at PITA has each racked their brains and dished out their 2022/23 End-of-Season awards.
Arsenal won at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the very first time. (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)
Adam Schultz
Player of the Season: Martin Odegaard – A real coming-of-age season for the Norwegian as he led the Gunners on the pitch superbly. His goal-scoring returns were of a high level (15 in the Premier League) and had seven assists as well. His energy and desire to harass opponents coupled with his deft touches and ability to set up his teammates was world-class.
Performance of the season: Tottenham 0-2 Arsenal – A ground that doesn’t have many happy memories for Arsenal, but this season, they flipped the script. The utter beatdown they laid on Spurs in their building was a sight to behold and gave fans hope that this title challenge might be the real deal.
Goal of the season: Reiss Nelson vs Bournemouth – Hard to look past this one for a host of reasons. First was the actual goal itself as Nelson’s touch was superb before lashing home. The second was what is meant in the context of Arsenal’s season. It was eerily similar to Danny Welbeck’s goal against Leicester in 2016, but unfortunately, the end of the season was the same.
Signing of the Season: William Saliba – Not a ‘signing’ as such but he felt like a new arrival following years out on loan and he transformed the Gunners’ backline into a colossal unit. Once he was out injured, we saw the gaping chasm that it created and, ultimately, Arsenal’s title run started and died with Saliba.
Season rating: 9/10 – The main goal was top four and Arsenal easily achieved that. While the failed title challenge no doubt stings, the season can’t be anything other than an overwhelming success as the steps taken in 2022/23 could be looked back on as the year that Arsenal finally emerged from the shadows.
Continued on the next slide…
pic.twitter.com/w53YEFlvOn
<p>— Gunners (@Gunnersc0m) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/31/pitas-2022-23-arsenal-end-season-awards/"https://twitter.com/Gunnersc0m/status/1663591239092957186?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>May 30, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Goal of the Season: Nelson vs Bournemouth –</strong> The touch, the strike, the timing… Everything was perfect about the goal and it kept our title charge alive, all while providing us with a moment we will never forget, even if the season didn’t end the way we’d hoped.</p>
<p><strong>Signing of the Season: Oleksandr Zinchenko –</strong> His addition allowed us to control games in a way we haven’t done before, and his unicorn abilities have made me and many others see the game differently.</p>
<p><strong>Season rating: 8/10 –</strong> Our goal was top four, and we not only achieved that, but remained top for much of the season, and cemented ourselves as the second-best team in the league with our young players all developing further and building the foundations for the next stage.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/31/pitas-2022-23-arsenal-end-season-awards/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Kenneth Daly's awards </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-129472" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/31/pitas-2022-23-arsenal-end-season-awards/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2029,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1243323017.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2029" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1243323017.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1243323017-768x487.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Fabio Vieira scored his first Arsenal goal in a convincing win at Brentford. (Photo by IAN KINGTON/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Kenneth Daly</h2>
<p><strong>Player of the Season: Odegaard –</strong> An obvious and worthy choice. The captain flourished once again in the creative role and added a clinical touch that so often made a crucial difference during our title charge.</p>
<p><strong>Performance of the Season: Brentford 0-3 Arsenal –</strong> A brilliant 3-0 win at Brentford exorcised the demons from our dreadful 2021/22 visit. On an individual level, <strong>Aaron Ramsdale’s fantastic display against Sp*rs</strong> in January made the game much more comfortable than it might have been and helped secure a first Arsenal victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.</p>
<p><strong>Goal of the Season: Nelson vs Bournemouth –</strong> The timing and game state alone probably justify this selection, but the technique Nelson showed to execute a weak-footed volley means the goal itself deserves acclaim.</p>
<p><strong>Signing of the Season: Zinchenko –</strong> Although he went a little off the boil towards the end, Zinchenko excelled for much of the season and brought greater control and penetration to our build-up phases, as well as welcome leadership qualities to a young dressing room.</p>
<p><strong>Season rating: 7/10 –</strong> Arsenal enjoyed their strongest campaign in many years, finally achieved a top-four finish and look set for another title challenge next term. However, a hugely disappointing conclusion detracts from the progress we made and it all ultimately ended without any silverware.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/31/pitas-2022-23-arsenal-end-season-awards/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Mitch Peotter's awards </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-134800" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/31/pitas-2022-23-arsenal-end-season-awards/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1706,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1258250113-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1706" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1258250113-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1258250113-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1258250113-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1258250113-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Oleksandr Zinchenko has been an excellent signing. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Mitch Peotter</h2>
<p><strong>Player of the Season: Bukayo Saka –</strong> Martin Ødegaard gave him a run for his money this season but Saka is the POTS. He led the team with 25 G/A and came up big in crucial games like Liverpool (H) and United (H). He’s Arsenal’s best player and <a title="3 key talking points from Bukayo Saka’s contract extension" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/31/pitas-2022-23-arsenal-end-season-awards/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/23/3-points-bukayo-saka-new-contract/" rel="">worth every bit of that new deal</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Performance of the Season: Tottenham 0-2 Arsenal –</strong> Arsenal hadn’t won an away North London Derby in years and we changed that in style this year.</p>
<p><strong>Goal of the Season: Nelson vs Bournemouth –</strong> I really don’t see how it could be anything else. Not only was the context of the goal incredible, but it’s an insane shot from Reiss on his weaker foot. I was knee-sliding in my apartment when that went in. One of my favourite goals ever.</p>
<p><strong>Signing of the Season: Zinchenko –</strong> This probably would have been Gabriel Jesus had he not gotten injured but Zinchenko was an incredible signing. He allowed Arsenal to completely change the way they play and control matches. By inverting, it created a whole new dynamic for the squad that took us from top four hopefuls to title challengers.</p>
<p><strong>Season rating: 9/10 –</strong> Ultimately it hurts to have not won the title but what a season this has been. We were projected to be a part of the top four race but instead battled City for the title until May. There’s so much to be happy about this season and where the team can go. It’s been my favourite season supporting Arsenal and I can’t wait for next year to be even better.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/31/pitas-2022-23-arsenal-end-season-awards/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Harry Dowsett's awards </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-134801" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/31/pitas-2022-23-arsenal-end-season-awards/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1650,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1488223663-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1650" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1488223663-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1488223663-768x495.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1488223663-1536x990.jpeg 1536w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1488223663-2048x1320.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Martin Odegaard was many of our writers’ pick for Player of the Season. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Harry Dowsett</h2>
<p><strong>Player of the season: Odegaard –</strong> Rose to the responsibility of being our captain and has really kicked on this season. He’s always been fantastic creatively and he’s added goals to that too.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
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<p><strong>Performance of the season: Brentford 0-3 Arsenal –</strong> Possibly a performance that went under the radar as the season developed, but this performance highlighted how much we’d improved. Dominated the match, away from home against a good side, and scored some great goals as well.</p>
<p><strong>Goal of the season: Nelson vs Bournemouth –</strong> A few contenders but I’d go with Reiss Nelson’s strike against Bournemouth. Somewhat of a bittersweet memory now, but the technique of the shot, the timing, the circumstances, and what we all thought it meant – they all combined to make it one of the best moments of the season.</p>
<p><strong>Signing of the season: Leandro Trossard –</strong> Could easily go to either Gabriel Jesus or Oleksandr Zinchenko, but I think Trossard was crucial to our form between January and March time. For the price we paid, he has been fantastic.</p>
<p><strong>Season rating: 8/10 –</strong> Another end-of-season collapse is concerning, but the progress we have made is incredible. We have gone from missing out on the top four to missing out on the title, and if we maintain that trajectory, then success will come.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/31/pitas-2022-23-arsenal-end-season-awards/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Lucas Chambers' awards </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-134802" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/31/pitas-2022-23-arsenal-end-season-awards/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1247721819.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1247721819.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1247721819-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1247721819-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">When we all believed… (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Lucas Chambers</h2>
<p><strong>Player of the Season: Odegaard –</strong> For me, it’s between Ødegaard and Saka but the captain just edges it. From the leadership he shows to the flair that gets everyone standing up at the Emirates. It could be seen as me just trying to be quirky and not going for the starboy but Odegaard has been consistent throughout the whole season.</p>
<p><strong>Performance of the Season: Newcastle 0-2 Arsenal –</strong> If you are looking for a game, after the three draws and loss in April, to go to St James Park and <a title="Arsenal produced their best performance of the season in Newcastle win" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/31/pitas-2022-23-arsenal-end-season-awards/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/08/arsenal-produced-best-performance-season-newcastle-win/" rel="">stun them with that performance </a>was incredible to see. Arteta got his subs right, we had the right balance and we dominated the midfield. A very good game which saw Newcastle lose their fourth-ever PL home game under Eddie Howe and made the fans believe again – albeit briefly.</p>
<p><strong>Goal of the Season: Nelson vs Bournemouth –</strong> Hale End’s own Reiss Nelson, completing the <em>remontada</em>. Coming on with 20 minutes to go, after providing an assist, he nestles one sweetly into the top left corner from a corner. Crowd? Wild. Players? Amazed. It showed what Arsenal could do when we believed and it was a moment that won’t be forgotten for a long time, despite it amounting to very little in the long run.</p>
<p><strong>Signing of the Season: Zinchenko –</strong> The Ukrainian has single-handedly allowed Arteta to use his desired tactic, which involves the use of an inverted full-back. His passion is unmatched and his ability on the ball has been a main factor in Arsenal’s improved capacity to play out from the back, while also providing attacking options.</p>
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<p><strong>Season rating: 8/10 – </strong>Only winning the league would make this season at 10, but in context, this season bought so much to the club. I give it an 8, as this season has bought the passion back to the club and despite losing out in all cup competitions, the league performances were convincing and a clear plan was shown. It has also given us a great foundation for the summer and beyond as we can now <a title="Arsenal Transfers: German giants making move for Gunners’ priority target" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/31/pitas-2022-23-arsenal-end-season-awards/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/30/bayern-move-arsenal-target-rice/" rel="">attract talents like Declan Rice</a>.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
