{"id":327236,"date":"2018-12-28T13:48:56","date_gmt":"2018-12-28T18:48:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonfootball.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=327236"},"modified":"2018-12-28T13:48:56","modified_gmt":"2018-12-28T18:48:56","slug":"arsenals-midseason-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2018\/12\/28\/arsenals-midseason-awards\/","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal’s Midseason Awards"},"content":{"rendered":"

Arsenal’s<\/a> season is officially halfway over. There have been both highs and lows along the way for a club still rebuilding after the Arsene Wenger years. To celebrate the midway point of the campaign, here are Arsenal’s midseason awards.<\/p>\n

Arsenal’s Midseason Awards 2018\/2019<\/h1>\n

Best Young Player<\/h2>\n

He’s only played five times for the first team, but every fan remembers his name already; Emile Smith Rowe<\/a>. The Englishman prefers to play as a creative midfielder, however, can also go on the wing.<\/p>\n

Smith Rowe has yet to get a Premier League minute to his name, however, already has three goals for the senior squad. He’s also doing well for the U23 side, starting four matches and netting twice in the Premier League 2.<\/p>\n

While it may take time to break into the first team regularly, keep an eye on this young starlet.<\/p>\n

Best New Signing<\/h2>\n

Perhaps the most obvious of Arsenal’s midseason awards as one new face has shone brighter than any other, Lucas Torreira<\/a>. The Uruguayan moved to the Emirates in the summer for a reported\u00a0\u20ac30 million, which looks like a bargain by now.<\/p>\n

Despite his diminutive stature, the midfielder has been a rock in the midfield for the Gunners. He’s played in every league match this season, although came off the bench for six of them.<\/p>\n

So far, Torreira is averaging 2.1<\/a> tackles, 1.4<\/a> interceptions and 1.1<\/a> clearances per match. The player is also tidy on the ball, completing 89.5<\/a>%<\/a> of his passes and bagging two assists.<\/p>\n

Lucas Torreira<\/a> also steps up when it counts in front of goal. He has scored twice in the league this season; the fourth goal against Tottenham<\/a>\u00a0secured the result and the lone strike against Huddersfield<\/a> not long after proved to be the winner.<\/p>\n

Perhaps best of all is that he is still just 22-years-old and has plenty of time to improve at Arsenal. No doubt the club has a real gem on their hands.<\/p>\n

Most Improved Player<\/h2>\n

Unai Emery<\/a> has undoubtedly improved the squad since his arrival. The likes of Hector Bellerin<\/a>, Granit Xhaka<\/a> and Alex Iwobi<\/a> have all taken strides to improve their game over the past few months.<\/p>\n

However, one player stood out among the others; Rob Holding<\/a>. The centre-back’s season is over already after a horrific ACL injury, but when fit he was one of the first names on the team sheet.<\/p>\n

While the likes of Shkodran\u00a0Mustafi and Sokratis Papastathopoulos<\/a> have had their ups and downs, Holding always seemed to put in a consistent\u00a0performance. Whether in a back four or three, Emery trusted the player to steady the ranks.<\/p>\n

In addition to defensive ability, the player is also steady in possession. This is not only an admirable trait, but it is also one that will make him fit into Emery’s system almost straight away when he does eventually return to fitness.<\/p>\n

Best Performance<\/h2>\n

Nothing is more satisfying for a football club than beating their biggest rivals. That’s just what Arsenal did to Tottenham in the first north\u00a0London derby<\/a> of the season. As an added bonus it was also the best performance of the campaign thus far for the Gunners.<\/p>\n

There was plenty of drama throughout the match as after Arsenal scored the opening goal, Spurs netted twice before the interval. On the stroke of halftime, however, Emery made two substitutions to put the match on its head.<\/p>\n

Three second-half goals followed, not to mention some good defensive play, to put the score at 4-2 and claim bragging rights.<\/p>\n

Best Goal<\/h2>\n

This was one of Arsenal’s midseason awards that really was easy to select. In the 66th minute against Leicester City, the Gunners found themselves up by one goal.<\/p>\n

As they counter-attacked Mesut Ozil<\/a> played an audacious flick-on to Guendouzi, starting what would become a screamer of a team goal.<\/p>\n