Ray Parlour Arsenal awards: Player of the Year, Unsung Hero & Most Improved Star

Ray Parlour has handed out end of season awards to five Arsenal players following an impressive 2022-23 campaign for the north Londoners.

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The Gunners spent the season locked in a Premier League title race with Manchester City, with Mikel Arteta’s side eventually finishing as runners-up despite leading the table for 248 days.

It was an unexcepted title challenge from Arsenal, with some pundits tipping them to finish outside the top four in the summer before a ball was kicked.

At one point, Arsenal had an eight-point lead over Pep Guardiola’s men as they looked to secure their first top-flight title since 2004 but ultimately fell short.

Despite finishing the season trophyless, the Gunners have made tremendous progress and former Arsenal star Parlour has singled out their best performers.

Arsenal’s Young Player of the Season – Bukayo Saka

‘He went off the ball a little bit towards the end of the season but if you’re going to look at the whole picture, I think it has got to be Saka, I really have,’ Parlour told Metro.co.uk.

‘He’s been excellent, he’s played every week. It was probably too many games in the end, but he’s a young lad and still improving. Martinelli has been excellent as well on the left-hand side but if I had to pick one, it would be Saka.

‘He’s been a revelation, he’ll be a massive player going forward, not just for Arsenal but for England as well. If they’re going to have any chance of winning trophies – Arsenal or England – you want Saka in your side.’

Arsenal’s Player of the Season – Martin Odegaard

‘There’s been a lot of good performances. If you look at the centre-backs, there is William Saliba, but if I had to pick one player, Martin Odegaard has been excellent.

‘He’s always on the ball, he has a good attitude during training. I like the way he plays. He always wants the ball, he is never injured, I think he’s been an excellent player.

‘It looks like everyone looks up to him. He’s always involved in the best [attacking] moves. Odegaard would be my pick.’

Arsenal’s Most Improved Player – Gabriel Martinelli

‘I’d say Martinelli. He deserves recognition as he has been excellent off the left. He took his chance when Emile Smith Rowe got injured. He was a bit-part player really, but after getting his opportunity, he has really improved.

‘The way he runs at players and his goals. You need goals from both wingers in a 4-2-3-1. Ben White has also been good, right-back is probably not his preferred position but he has done a great job for the team.

‘But Martinelli would be my pick after stamping his authority on that left-hand side. He is one of the first names on the team sheet now.’

Arsenal’s Unsung Hero of the Season – Ben White

‘I’d go with Ben White. He’s put in a good shift wherever he has played. He’s a good defender and has always done the best he could, has never moaned and has got on with it.

‘He’s been very good at right-back. He was doing the team a favour this season, out of his natural position.

‘Especially with the way Arsenal play – when Zinchenko drifts into midfield – White can also come across and play at centre-back, that’s how the team play. I think he has done really well.’

Arsenal’s Signing of the Season – Jorginho

‘Jorginho has done a good job in midfield. He’s got good experience for the money [Arsenal paid]. I’m going off the value of the players signed. Trossard has also been an excellent signing. Jesus leads the line very well.

‘But probably for the money they spent and the experience they got, which they needed, as well as a back-up in midfield, I would go for Jorginho. For the last two or three games he has been really good.

‘You can’t buy experience. He knows what needs to be done to win trophies. Zinchenko has been excellent as well.’

Ray Parlour was speaking to Metro on behalf of NetBet Casino.

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