Arsenal’s ‘legend in the making’ is the best player after Wenger retires

Things may not have ended the way he wanted, but there are few figures in Arsenal’s history as legendary as Arsene Wenger.

The Frenchman ushered in an era of great success in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but since then the club has not even been able to match it.

However, given the circumstances of this season, that may soon change.

Furthermore, it is no exaggeration to say that Mikel Arteta now has a star player in his team who is arguably the best player Arsenal have had since Wenger retired.

Arsenal’s best players after Wenger retired

If you look at the best players Arsenal have signed or developed since Wenger left as manager, there are countless names that come to mind.

For example, Unai Emery approved the transfer of William Saliba in the summer of 2019, but just a year later, Arteta made the signing of his best defensive player by signing Gabriel Magalhães from LOSC Lille.

This centre-back/center-back duo has been particularly impressive in recent years, conceding just three goals in all competitions so far this season, and if they win, they could go down as one of the best defensive partnerships in Premier League history.

Moved to the middle of the park, club record signing Declan Rice cannot be ignored in this conversation.

The former West Ham United captain came to the Emirates under a lot of pressure, but from the first game until today he has proven to be worth every penny.

With his ability to break up play, carry the ball from deep, score important goals and deliver the ball with pinpoint accuracy from set-pieces, he is undoubtedly a ‘world class’ midfielder.

Martin Odegaard deserves to be included in this conversation, despite being stuck in the midfield, having a slump last year and having some bad luck with injuries this term.

The Norwegian international was appointed captain of the club in the summer of 2023, has won back-to-back Player of the Season awards and, at his best, is completely mesmerizing to watch play ball.

But that being said, there is one star who stands head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to the club’s best players since Wenger left.

Arsenal’s greatest player since Wenger retired

Every fan will have their favorite players, but as things stand, it’s hard to deny that Bukayo Saka is the best player Arsenal have had since Wenger retired.

The Hale End icon made his first-team debut under Emery in a Europa League game away to Vorskla Poltava in November 2018, before making his first start a month later at home to Karabakh FK.

But it was under Arteta that the Englishman transformed from a versatile utility player who often played at left-back to one of the best right-wingers in world football.

But more than that, the 24-year-old game-changer has been the club’s talisman and the face of the club’s rejuvenation in recent years.

After last season’s hamstring injury and surgery, it wasn’t all that surprising that the Gunners’ attacking power dropped significantly.

Dubbed by talent scout Jacek Krig, the North London ‘legend in the making’ has so far made 274 first-team appearances, totaling 20,713 minutes, and has scored 74 goals and provided 72 assists.

This works out to be a sensational average of being involved in a goal every 1.87 games, or every 141.86 minutes, which is made even more impressive by the fact that he has appeared in 21 games as a left-back.

As if his achievements at club level weren’t enough, he also made 46 senior caps for England, scoring 13 goals and providing nine assists, and was named Player of the Year twice.

At the end of the day, Saka still has a lot left to do, but given his already incredible form and the fact that he has become the club’s marquee player, it’s clear that Saka is Arsenal’s best player since Wenger left the dugout.