Player of the Season: Second spot for Saka

Bukayo Saka has been named as runner-up in our men's Player of the Season vote for 2022/23.

The recipient of the award for the past two seasons, Bukayo enjoyed a brilliant season in our colours, netting a career-high 15 goals in all competitions to finish as our joint-top scorer. 14 of those came in the Premier League, where he also registered 11 assists and was one of just two players in the division to achieve the feat last term.

Those 11 assists and his 25 goal involvements were also the highest in our squad last term, while he was involved in all 38 league games - it’s the second season in a row he’s not missed a single league game for us - the last Arsenal player to do that across back-to-back seasons was David Seaman in 1990/91 and 1991/92. 

Bukayo also played in both of our FA Cup games and every Europa League fixture, only missing just our Carabao Cup tie against Brighton & Hove Albion. He also starred for England at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar during their run to the quarter-finals.

After he got on the scoresheet against Manchester United at the start of September, that kickstarted a run of eight goal involvements in nine league matches before the World Cup. There, he scored three times in four appearances for England to be one of the brightest young players at the tournament.

Upon his return from Qatar, he scored in each of his first two games upon the resumption of the Premier League against West Ham United and Brighton, and continued that form right up until the end of the campaign, signing off with a final day strike against Wolves.

The Hale End graduate’s excellent season has also seen recognition from elsewhere, as he won the Football London Young Player of the Year award, as well as finishing third in the Football Writer’s Association Player of the Year voting. He was also nominated for both the Premier League’s Player and Young Player of the Season.

Take a look at Bukayo's best bits from the season by pressing play on the video above