#31 - The 2023/24 squad review: Goalkeepers and defenders
Grading the Arsenal goalkeepers and defenders seasons and assessing their next steps
The 2023/24 season is over and what a season it has been. The return of Champions League football saw Arsenal reach the quarter finals for the first time in more than 10 years and push the title to the very last day. Ultimately we are trophyless, but the progress is so clear and with a young squad at the heart of this side, the best is yet to come.
Aaron Ramsdale
Season rating: 6/10 - It feels a bit harsh to grade Ramsdale but I’m going with the British average of ‘6’. He didn’t do a lot wrong to lose his place, but I think Raya has come in and shown that he is indeed an upgrade and ultimately that’ll prove fatal for Aaron in this squad.
Next steps: Sell. He’s too good to be on the bench and deserves a move. Arsenal could also benefit from a cash injection from his sale, allowing them to bring in a less expensive number 2.
David Raya
Season rating: 8/10 - Raya raised a lot of eyebrows when he joined but with trust and time he has proven to be the correct choice between the sticks. He’s not been perfect (who is?), but he’s played his part in one of Arsenal’s best defensive Premier League performances.
Next steps: Keep as our number one. He grew in confidence and performance once he was established. With another season at number one, with the nerves and uncertainty out the crowd, I think he will keep getting better. He’s only 28, which is young for a keeper and this was his first season in the Champions League.
Karl Hein
Season rating: N/A
Next steps: If he’s happy to stick at third choice, we’ll keep him for that role, but I expect he’ll be keen to play some football next season.
William Saliba
Season rating: 9.5/10 - Much has been said about the signings of Rice, Raya and Havertz in the summer, but the contract extension of Saliba was just as big. He’s been huge for Arsenal this season and I’m sure the club will soon be looking to sign him up to an even longer deal.
Next steps: Keep, at all costs!
Gabriel
Season rating: 9.5/10 - My unsung hero for the season in my BBC piece for this week. The Brazilian has been just as important as Saliba for Arsenal. He’s the perfect partner to the Frenchman, allowing him to flourish and the duo have a bit of everything.
Next steps: Keep, and no Saudi rumours to cause any uncertainty in pre-season please!
Ben White
Season rating: 9/10 - White has been brilliant again for this team, proving to be worth every penny of the £50million Arsenal spent on him. Adapting to a new right-back role in the last two seasons, he’s become one of the very best in that position. Only giving him slightly less than the two centre-halves due to a slight dip in form in December/January, where I expect minutes overload were to blame.
Next steps: Of course, keep. He’s one of Arsenal’s most professional and senior players now, despite being just 26. I think he will benefit from the return to fitness of Jurrien Timber. The Dutch international will both push White to produce his best form, but also allow him to rest when not at 100%.
Oleksandr Zinchenko
Season rating: 4/10 - This might seem a bit harsh to those who really rate Zinchenko, but I think he has to be marked below average. Of course at times he was brilliant, but ultimately his inability to stay fit (again) and inconsistencies in performances, particularly at key moments, really cost Arsenal. And in a title race where the small margins really matter, his inconsistency in performance and availability was poor. The rating is also relative to his importance and anticipated performance at the start of the season.
Next steps: I think he’s a useful weapon to have in the squad, but I’m not sure he’ll be happy to be second or third choice and if Arsenal were to get a good offer in, I’m sure they’d consider it.
Takehiro Tomiyasu
Season rating: 6/10 - A fit Tomiyasu is excellent. He had some great games for Arsenal this season, but to get higher marks he needs to be fit more often. Hopefully, he can put the struggles of the last couple of years behind him and push on next season.
Next steps: Has to be available more often. Even if not from the start, Tomiyasu is a very valuable asset to have from the bench. I’d be keeping him around and his recent new contract indicates that’s exactly what the club will do. He’s our Swiss army knife.
Jakub Kiwior
Season rating: 6/10 - He really grew into his role in the early 2024 months after struggling early on, playing his part in a sensational run of form for Arsenal. But ultimately he wasn’t of high enough quality to retain his place in the team and with Timber and Tomiyasu back fit, minutes were hard to come by in the final games. I think he deserves credit for playing pretty much all his minutes in not his favoured position.
Next steps: With rumoured interest in the likes of Jorrel Hato (a young defender who can play left centre back and left back), Kiwior’s long-term future may be up for debate. If Arsenal were to receive a testing bid I think it’d be interesting to see what they did, but I do think Kiwior is a solid squad player and if he is happy with that role, I would keep him around.
Jurrien Timber
Season rating: N/A - Having played in just two games due to his serious knee injury, it would be unfair to give him a rating, but after an exciting pre-season where he was perhaps Arsenal’s standout player, it will be exciting to have him back in the squad next year as very much a ‘new signing’.
Next steps: It’s going to be interesting to see if Arsenal sign a left back this summer or not. If they don’t, I think Jurrien could be earmarked to start the season in that role, but if they do, then I’m sure he will compete with the new arrival as well as White, for a starting spot.
Cedric
Season rating: 0/10
Next steps: Leave! Contract is up and his departure will free up some wage expenditure.
Thanks for reading. Next week I will look at the midfielders and forwards, so make sure you’re subscribed below (it’s free!). Now the summers back, I’ll also be looking to do more videos over on the YouTube channel. Logistically the podcast has become impossible to do as regularly as we’d like, but we’ll still drop the odd episode for some bonus listening.