The Ballon d’Or is probably one of the biggest nights in football for those who don’t already know. Recently, the ceremony took place in France and the winner of the night was Rodri from Man City. This happened due to his elite season wherein he helped City win the Premier League. And also lead Spain to victory in the European Championship. In many ways, though, it was a beaming night for Arsenal fans too. Four Arsenal players feature on the current list of nominees for the Ballon d’Or, and so was one former Gunner sold by Mikel Arteta for a meager £20 million. This former player concluded in an absolute shocker ahead of all the four nominees on the list from Arsenal and is raising eyebrows across the fanbase.
Arsenal Stars On The List
The first name on the list at Arsenal was Declan Rice, joining them at 26. The English midfielder’s move to Arsenal was one of the well-publicized deals for an eventual £105 million. He quickly became a powerhouse of Arsenal. And in his debut season, played 63 games, scoring eight goals and assisting 12 times. Certainly, his impact on the middle of Arsenal has been much, enough to earn him a place in the PFA Team of the Year and runner-up finish for Arsenal’s Player of the Season.
The next ranked player was William Saliba at 24th. Saliba has been one of the bedrocks at Arsenal and was featured in 50 league games last season, where Arsenal posted the best defensive record in the league. His composed nature and ability to shut down opponents made him an absolute necessity for Arteta. Though his fans, probably, felt it should have been a bit higher up the list considering his impact in the defense.
Then there is Bukayo Saka, rated 21st. Saka could be Arsenal’s first face forward. His last campaign was probably his joint best up to now, with 20 goals and 14 assists from 47 matches and a goal contribution in every 1.38 games. So far this season, he has four goals and seven assists coming in from 11 games. He was quite consistent and many fans felt disappointed that he did not even make it to the top ten list of Ballon d’Or.
Martin Odegaard, Arsenal skipper, was highest on the list by the Gunners. His tally of 22 strikes and assists made him Arsenal Player of the Season for the 2023-24 season. He was outstandingly creative in cementing himself as one of Europe’s top central playmakers and field leaders.
The Unexpected Rank Of Former Arsenal Star
Interestingly, the former Arsenal goalkeeper, Emiliano “Emi” Martinez, sold for £20 million to Aston Villa now tops all the current Arsenal stars in Ballon d’Or rankings. Emi may seem like a minor signing as he left the team. But subsequent performances by Martinez make one question Arteta’s decision-making as a manager at an early stage of his tenure. His higher ranking in the Ballon d’Or speaks to the level of talent Arsenal may have overlooked while also underscoring the growth and progress the club has made since his departure. Martinez’s success reminds the world of the quality players Arsenal has built for the next generation.
Conclusion
Arsenal’s performance in the Ballon d’Or proves exactly how much they have made headways and the huge potential that lies ahead. Under Arteta, they already boast of a young ambitious team littered with stars like Saka and Odegaard, and the club just inches closer to joining the elite of the world. Perhaps one day is not too far when one of their players would eventually bag the Ballon d’Or.
For now, however, fans can be proud to see such a strong presence of Arsenal on this year’s Ballon d’Or list. A young team full of promise, armed with the talent needed to win big. Noticing that they keep going straight in the right direction, Arsenal may soon see one of their own lifting football’s most coveted individual trophy.
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