Arsenal's 2022-23 player power rankings: Saka and Odegaard on fire, but Smith Rowe and Kiwior need game time

The £20 million ($25m) signing from Spezia has made just one start for Arsenal since arriving in January and that was a far from convincing display against Sporting in the Europa League.

But given his lack of game time, it’s no real surprise that the centre-back looked rusty during that outing in Portugal.

He did make a late substitute appearance in the win against Palace before the international break and could still come in useful during the run-in.

Another player who has seen his season decimated by injury.

Smith Rowe has at least now returned following a four-month absence and is fully fit.

The playmaker has had limited opportunities, however, since returning to the squad and will be hoping to get a chance to make his mark over the final 10 games.

It’s been a difficult campaign for Elneny.

The experienced midfielder only made eight appearances in all competitions before suffering a nasty knee injury in training in January.

He has since undergone an operation and will be out for the remainder of the season.

Elneny has been handed a new one-year contract, however, and that shows how much he is still valued by the club.

The United States international has only made two appearances since the World Cup and neither of them have been in the league.

He looked nervous on both occasions, particularly in the away game at Sporting CP, where he really struggled with the ball at his feet and was at fault for the hosts' opening goal.

Turner was left out for the second leg, with Arteta instead starting Aaaron Ramsdale, which must have been a major blow to the American.

Holding has been used sparingly throughout the season, but has performed well when called upon.

He made his first Premier League start of the campaign in the win against Crystal Palace and produced a fine performance in the absence of the injured William Saliba.

The centre-back may have found minutes difficult to come by this season, but he remains a vital part of Arteta’s squad.

It’s not been a season Tierney will look back on fondly.

Having lost his place to Oleksandr Zinchenko, the Scotland international has had to bide his time to get some minutes with the first team.

When those minutes do arrive, he never lets anyone down. But it’s impossible not to think that we are watching the last few months of Tierney’s Arsenal career. 

There have been flashes of quality from Vieira since his summer move from Porto, but the jury is still out on the playmaker.

He has had plenty of opportunities to impress, especially in the Europa League, but has struggled to take advantage of many of them.

There is clearly a talented player there; he showed it in the away game at Sporting Lisbon recently and with his goal at Brentford. 

But the challenge for Vieira is to hit that level on a consistent basis and so far he’s been unable to do that.

The Italy international has done everything Arsenal would have wanted from him when they signed him from Chelsea in January.

He hasn’t featured that much, but he was never supposed to.

The whole reason for signing him was to bring in some much needed cover for Thomas Partey, and Jorginho has provided that, stepping in whenever needed.

When Partey dropped out through injury, Jorginho came in and produced a huge moment late on to seal the win at Aston Villa.

It was a massive goal, one that could prove so crucial come the end of the season.

The player who has arguably produced the moment of the season so far.

Few will ever forget Reiss Nelson’s injury-time winner against Bournemouth and the scenes that followed it.

Title wins are defined by goals like that and Arsenal will hope they will look back on that sweet strike at the end of the campaign as one of the defining moments of the season.

Another player who is unfortunately sidelined due to injury.

Tomiyasu will not play again this season following surgery on his knee, but he has more than played his part in Arsenal’s success so far.

Whether it's from the start or as a substitute, the Japan international has stepped up whenever called upon by Arteta.

He has looked rusty at times, which is no surprise given his lack of regular game time, but he's remained a dependable performer.

Nketiah deserves huge credit for the way he filled in for Gabriel Jesus.

The young striker came into the team and helped Arsenal continue to set the pace at the top of the Premier League.

He scored some big goals, including the last-minute winner against Manchester United, and showed his all-round game had improved immensely.

Unfortunately, injury has left him on the sidelines of late, but hopefully he will be back to play his part over the final 10 games.

After such a superb start to life at Arsenal, the injury that Jesus suffered at the World Cup with Brazil was a hammer blow.

But he has just returned and could still play a massive part in Arsenal winning their first league title since 2004.

Despite being out for three months, he looked pretty lively in his brief appearances before the international break and Arteta will be hoping to have his star striker back to his very best for this final push.

Arsenal’s goalkeeper has kept 12 clean sheets this season and is level with Newcastle’s Nick Pope in the race for the golden glove.

He’s had one or two difficult moments this season, but he has been largely excellent and has made some big saves when needed.

His ability with the ball at his feet is so vital to how Arsenal play and whenever he is not in the team, you can really notice the difference.

Arsenal’s Mr. Consistent.

Despite playing at right-back all season, White has barely put a foot wrong for Arsenal.

His understanding with Saka down that side of the pitch has brought so much success, with his display against Palace before the International break arguably his best yet.

White may not get as many headlines as some of his team-mates, but that makes him no less important to Arteta.

Xhaka’s performance levels may have dipped slightly from the incredible way he started the season, but he has still been a key player for Arsenal.

And the fact he scored two goals in two games just before the international break is a real positive going into the crucial end-of-season run-in.

Xhaka’s redemption has been one of the stories of the season.

He’s a vital part of Arteta’s team and continues to produce excellent performances in the heart of the midfield.

What a piece of January business Trossard has proven to be.

The Belgium international has done exactly what has been asked of him since his arrival from Brighton.

He has chalked up six assists already, which is three more than any other Premier League player in the same timeframe.

If Arsenal do go on to win the title, they will look back at the decision to bring Trossard in as a big reason why.

Saliba is enjoying a dream debut season in the Premier League.

He started the campaign with some questioning whether he would be able to cut it in England... Well, he’s answered those questions and more with his level of performance.

Prior to the Palace game, which he missed due to injury, Saliba had started every league game and formed a formidable partnership with Gabriel at the heart of the Arsenal defence.

He did have a slight dip in form after the World Cup, but he quickly recovered from that and has belatedly shown he has everything needed to be a huge success in England.

One half of Arsenal’s magnificent centre-back pairing.

Gabriel had a couple of nervy moments earlier in the season, but other than that he has been immense and he has taken his game to a new level since the World Cup break.

He has started every single Premier League game, helping Arsenal to 12 clean sheets from 28. 

The big Brazilian defender has also played a huge role at the other end of the pitch, scoring crucial goals, including the winners against Fulham and Chelsea.

What a signing!

Zinchenko’s arrival from Manchester City this season has transformed Arsenal from a tactical point of view.

He brings so much to the team, not just on the pitch but off it as well, where he has become a real leader.

His performances in big games, such as away at Spurs and home to Manchester United, have been right out of the top drawer.

Arsenal’s top scorer in the league so far. If Saka won’t get you on one side, then Martinelli will on the other.

The young Brazilian has bagged 13 league goals so far and chipped in with two assists.

He has developed from the raw teenager who arrived in north London to a genuine top-class performer who is delivering on a weekly basis.

He has had the odd dip in form, which is to be expected, but it’s still been a superb season for the winger.

Partey has always been one of Arsenal’s most influential players and this year is no different.

In fact, this has comfortably been his most consistent season for the Gunners because he has largely been able to stay injury-free.

The midfielder is such a crucial member of Arteta’s team and when he plays well, Arsenal play well.

The biggest compliment you can pay Arsenal is that when Partey doesn’t start a game, you never feel confident that they will be able to play to the same level.

His performances since the restart after the World Cup have been exceptional.

Arsenal’s captain fantastic.

Odegaard has just got better and better as the season has gone on and has been one of the Premier League’s stand out performers.

His creative ability has never been in doubt, but there were questions about whether he scored enough goals for a player who gets in so many good positions.

He has answered those questions this season, however, reaching double figures in league to add to his six assists.

It’s been an exceptional campaign so far from Odegaard, who has proven to be a £30m ($37m) bargain from Real Madrid.

What more can you say about Bukayo Saka?

Arsenal’s young winger has been in exceptional form and continues to lead from the front for Mikel Arteta’s side.

He has 12 goals and 10 assists in 28 league appearances so far this season and has come up clutch in so many moments for his team.

Saka is a real leader for Arsenal, despite being just 21, and has to be in contention for the Premier League player of the season award.