Who have been Arsenal’s unsung heroes this season?

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During a hugely disappointing campaign, Arsenal have had a few shining lights who have often gone unnoticed during a turbulent season. The lack of leadership in the dressing room is evident, but these players have really stepped up during difficult times. Arsene Wenger’s recent switch to 3-4-3 is a change that screams both desperation and desire. He seems more willing to adapt and try new things, and with three wins on the bounce, things around the club do seem slightly more positive. Arsenal have an FA Cup final to look forward to, and are just six points off of Liverpool, with two games in hand. Hopes of top four are not completely doomed just yet.

Nacho Monreal has had another consistent season for the Gunners, and has shown real qualities of leadership during a period where many of the players have shied away. His passion and desire to win is unquestionable, and he has blossomed in a more attacking role in a 3-4-3 formation. There is no doubt that he has had a torrid time in certain games during the season defensively. He can struggle against more direct wingers – Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace is a good example of this – but he is always a threat going in the other direction, and when he is brave, he can pin back wingers and full-backs with his well timed runs and dangerous link up play with Arsenal talisman Alexis Sanchez, who has undoubtedly been the best player for the Emirates club this season.

Another player who is finally beginning to live up to their promising career as a young starlet is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The versatile Englishman has had outstanding performances out-wide, in central midfield and now as a right wing-back. If the revolutionary 3-4-3 formation is to continue to be utilised by Arsene Wenger then the Ox may have finally found a position that he can hold down. He has shown bite and character throughout the year, and has registered an 82.6% pass rate in the league so far this season – a statistic which can easily be overlooked. It is important to remember that Chamberlain’s game involves far riskier passes than the likes of Granit Xhaka, who usually picks the simple option. The 23-year-old has been one of the few Arsenal players who can be proud of their progress this year.

Another player who may be slightly overlooked is Theo Walcott. Undoubtedly his form has dipped, but during the first half of the season he looked to have finally found the killer blow which he appeared to have lost in recent seasons. However, the problem with Walcott is obvious for a lot of people to see. When the team are playing well, so does he. However, when the going gets tough and you look towards one of your more experienced Arsenal players to show some leadership, he seems to fade away. He fails to take games by the scruff of the neck and is too often unable to carry his beloved Arsenal side over the line.

The biggest problem is that most of the Arsenal side were looking extremely confident and consistent in the first half of the season. However, since the defeat to Everton at Goodison Park, the team’s form has dipped dramatically. Even superstars like Mesut Özil and Alexis have faded since the turn of the year. While Sanchez still has ruthlessness pumping in his veins, performances like the one against West Ham in December have been few and far between. While the manager surely has to take some blame, the players must take huge responsibility for their dip in form because it is the same side that looked formidable in the early goings of the season.

While this article highlights Arsenal’s unsung heroes, it is key to note that there simply aren’t enough of them. Despite the best efforts of Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck, Arsenal aren’t firing like they have been known to do, and although Laurent Koscielny has largely been pivotal, his back four (or three) has never looked as vulnerable as it does this year.