Sam TigheNov 20, 2025, 03:52 AM ETCloseSam is a writer, broadcaster and podcaster for ESPN. He will write on the Premier League, scouting and transfers.Follow on X
play1:12Laurens: Losing Gabriel Magalhães is the last thing Arsenal wantJulien Laurens gives an update on Gabriel Magalhães’ fitness as the Arsenal defender was taken off during Brazil’s game vs. Senegal.
play1:48Should Estêvão be starting for Chelsea?The ESPN FC TV crew debate if Estêvão should be starting for Chelsea after coming off the bench to help Chelsea beat Wolverhampton 3-0.
play0:55Nicol: If Liverpool don’t play well, Wirtz doesn’t play wellSteve Nicol believes that Liverpool will only get the best out of Florian Wirtz when the whole team improves around him.
play1:55Why Erling Haaland is Man City’s ‘key’ to chase the titleShaka Hislop reflects on Erling Haaland’s contribution to Manchester City and why he’s the “key” for chasing Arsenal in the title race.
play1:12Are Manchester United getting smarter with their transfer deals?Mark Ogden explains why there’s optimism around Manchester United’s transfer strategy after turning down the chance to sign Chelsea’s Roméo Lavia.
Laurens: Losing Gabriel Magalhães is the last thing Arsenal wantJulien Laurens gives an update on Gabriel Magalhães’ fitness as the Arsenal defender was taken off during Brazil’s game vs. Senegal.
Julien Laurens gives an update on Gabriel Magalhães’ fitness as the Arsenal defender was taken off during Brazil’s game vs. Senegal.
Should Estêvão be starting for Chelsea?The ESPN FC TV crew debate if Estêvão should be starting for Chelsea after coming off the bench to help Chelsea beat Wolverhampton 3-0.
The ESPN FC TV crew debate if Estêvão should be starting for Chelsea after coming off the bench to help Chelsea beat Wolverhampton 3-0.
Nicol: If Liverpool don’t play well, Wirtz doesn’t play wellSteve Nicol believes that Liverpool will only get the best out of Florian Wirtz when the whole team improves around him.
Steve Nicol believes that Liverpool will only get the best out of Florian Wirtz when the whole team improves around him.
Why Erling Haaland is Man City’s ‘key’ to chase the titleShaka Hislop reflects on Erling Haaland’s contribution to Manchester City and why he’s the “key” for chasing Arsenal in the title race.
Shaka Hislop reflects on Erling Haaland’s contribution to Manchester City and why he’s the “key” for chasing Arsenal in the title race.
Are Manchester United getting smarter with their transfer deals?Mark Ogden explains why there’s optimism around Manchester United’s transfer strategy after turning down the chance to sign Chelsea’s Roméo Lavia.
Mark Ogden explains why there’s optimism around Manchester United’s transfer strategy after turning down the chance to sign Chelsea’s Roméo Lavia.
In March 2025, we delivered the fourth installment of our Premier League MVP rankings, aimed at tackling a mighty question: Which players rank as the most important at the division’s top clubs?
We used a simple combination of ability and tactical factors to assess how crucial the players were to their teams and ranked the top 15 accordingly. Naturally, the best, most consistent and most present players filtered toward the top, while also allowing room for the most tactically crucial individuals to receive credit, too.
Now we’ve revisited the subject for a fifth installment, intrigued to see how things have changed. Football teams have to weather plenty of storms over the course of half a year, often changing, tweaking and recalibrating around injuries, absences and fluctuations in form.
Why 15? Well, with 11 first-team players starting any given match, this should allow for those squad positions that aren’t 100% cemented. Any long-term injury absences will be noted separately and not considered for the ranking.
How did you rate the players? A ranking like this will always be somewhat subjective, but efforts were made to consult experts on each club to help shape the rankings in accordance with our methodology.
Are stats involved? Statistics proved a powerful tool in backing up our assertions, with Opta’s data used throughout and Gradient Sports’ grades and physical data aiding the process, too. Please note that unless stated otherwise, all referenced statistics such as minutes played, goal contributions and tackles, etc. are a combination of Premier League and Champions League play.
How hard is it? Some of the decisions are glaringly obvious, but others not so much. Comparing players across different position groups is a difficult task. Within the context of a squad, though, it’s possible to get a feel for who is the most integral.
I disagree wholeheartedly with your decision to put X below Y. Will you change it? Of course people will disagree, and a lot of this is subjective, but it’s only a bit of fun.
Laurens: Losing Gabriel Magalhães is the last thing Arsenal want
Arsenal went big in the summer transfer window, spending approximately £250 million on eight new signings in a bid to ramp up the title pressure on Liverpool and Manchester City. Mikel Arteta’s core squad remains the same, but it’s now supported by a deep cast of superb options that gives this list a very different look to last time.
Mosquera was signed with one eye on the future, as Arsenal’s center back duo of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães is impenetrable when fit. But some early-season injury niggles for Saliba have opened the door for Mosquera to play over 400 minutes — 85 of which came at Anfield in September — and he generally has acquitted himself very well when needed.
A two-month knee injury disrupted what was a very promising start to Arsenal life for Madueke. The winger stepped in ably on the left flank and then on the right, delivering a particularly excellent performance in the 3-0 demolition of Nottingham Forest in September. He’ll be fit again soon and eager to pick up where he left off.
Due to some minor injury issues and increased competition for places, Martinelli’s grasp on a starting berth has loosened considerably. That results in a massive drop in the rankings, from sixth to 13th, which is representative of the fact he is now seen as more of a pacey, impact substitute than a key starter.
Perhaps last summer’s most heartwarming signing — Eze stated he has “unfinished business” at Arsenal, having been released by the club at age 13 — the England midfielder has made a solid if understated start. His tally of one goal and two assists so far won’t grab any headlines, but he has been able to assume Ødegaard’s mantle and keep the Gunners moving forward.
Merino has arguably taken up the honor of “ultimate squad player” for Arsenal, as his ability and willingness to play such a variety of positions makes him so valuable to Arteta. Already this season he has played several different roles in midfield and stepped in up front, just as he did last term. He’s athletic, tactically intelligent and a huge threat from set pieces.
In contrast to Martinelli, Trossard has raised his game in response to Arsenal signing new forwards — and, as a result, Arteta continues to turn to him, no matter the occasion. His seven goal contributions lead the team, highlighting his ability to step up and deliver; he’s also a willing tactical mind, able to carry out any instruction the manager gives him.
Arsenal finally made their big move in the striker market last summer, signing Gyökeres from Sporting CP for a fee of €63 million plus add-ons. It’s a hefty amount that creates expectation, and an honest assessment would be that the Sweden international hasn’t delivered on that just yet. Six goals in 13 games is respectable enough, but there are levels Gyökeres can reach — both in goal scoring and in open-play impact — that he’s falling short of for now.
If Raya were to read this ranking, he might legitimately ask how on earth he ended up falling down to eighth. He is, after all, one of the Premier League’s best goalkeepers and in good form. His problem is simple: Seven Arsenal outfielders are in imperious form, including the entire back four that keeps his goal so safe.
The idea that a keeper has a quiet afternoon if he doesn’t make any saves is a myth, but Raya’s just not getting the opportunity to grab the headlines right now.
Timber has been the outstanding fullback not just in this Arsenal squad, but across the entire Premier League so far this season. He rampages up and down the right flank, bringing intensity to everything the Gunners do. His 51 tackles and interceptions lead the team by a distance and he’s a positive in attack too, netting two goals and assisting once.
The early evidence suggests that Zubimendi is Arsenal’s long-awaited missing piece in midfield. He can do it all. Only the two center backs have completed more passes than his 785, and his pass mastery has proved crucial in seeing out a number of tight games already. Zubimendi has covered the most distance of any Arsenal player so far this season (147.27km, per Gradient Sports), only Timber (51) has made more tackles and interceptions (38), and he has scored a couple of goals.
Saliba dropping a spot despite Ødegaard’s absence might look odd at first, but it comes down to two simple things. First, he has had a slightly disrupted start to the season due to injuries, preventing him from gaining steam and finding his best form. Second, his central defensive partner has leapt above him because he has marked himself out as especially crucial in other areas. That leaves the France international in fourth at this stage — low by his standards but still very high overall.
Arteta recently labeled Rice a “total footballer,” reveling in the expanded influence the England international now has in midfield for Arsenal. Rice’s exceptional set-piece delivery speaks for itself, but Arteta was likely referencing the fact the player has become a more impactful passer in midfield — possibly compensating for Ødegaard’s absence.
The 26-year-old tops the team for progressive passes (133), chances created (27), and is joint top for assists (4). He’s also a willing defender (30 tackles and interceptions) and a physical force, covering 146.1km, the second most on the team (per Gradient Sports).