We’ve now come to the end of my fourth season at Arsenal.
2024/2025 started with high hopes that we could overtake Liverpool and win the Premier League, but inconsistent finishing was ultimately our downfall. Our hopes of major silverware rested on the FA Cup, which… well, you can read about that in the previous chapter.
Today, I’ll wrap up the season with a bumper season review, looking at various stats to try and figure out what went wrong. I’ll also look at our whole squad to help me decide which players to keep, sell or promote over the summer.
[Advance warning: this will be the longest chapter of the series so far, so get comfortable…]
2024/2025 SEASON REVIEW
| Fans’ Player of the Season | Martin Ødegaard |
| Young Player of the Season | Yunus Musah |
| Signing of the Season | Michael Olise |
| Goal of the Season | Amario Cozier-Duberry (vs Bournemouth, 5 January) |
| Top Goalscorer | Eddie Nketiah (28) |
| Most Assists | Emile Smith Rowe (14) |
| Most Player of the Match Awards | Eddie Nketiah & Martin Ødegaard (8) |
| Highest Average Rating | Yunus Musah (7.35) |
The 2024/2025 season saw Arsenal finish just five points behind Premier League champions Liverpool and win two trophies. Taken out of context, you might call that a pretty decent season.
And yet I feel like we should have won more than just an FA Cup and a Community Shield. We started and finished the league season with four consecutive victories… but we failed to win nearly half the matches in between them.
After scoring a record 107 PL goals last season, we found the net ‘only’ 75 times in a much less consistent campaign. There were nine games in which we scored at least four goals, but there were another six where we did not score at all. 7th-placed Leeds even shut us out twice, and we also failed to beat Southampton (who came 16th) or Brentford (who were RELEGATED in 18th).
On the xG table, we finished 5.2 goals behind our xG. Having a similar conversion rate and shots per game ratio to both Manchester United and Liverpool doesn’t look so bad, but I’d really like us to be more like Manchester City – more clinical from fewer chances. Quality over quantity.
On the plus side, we’re incredibly stable defensively, conceding just under 6% of our opposition shots this season. In fact, Southampton, Leeds and Manchester United were the only teams to score multiple Premier League goals against us. Our tally of 18 goals conceded was only three more than the PL record set by José Mourinho’s Chelsea in 2004/2005.
As well as having the highest xG and lowest xGA, we also had nearly six more ‘expected points’ than Liverpool. We’ve definitely got it in us to win the Premier League next season – we just need to rediscover our ruthlessness.
Eddie Nketiah led the way in scoring once again with 28 goals – including 21 in the PL, where he had an impressive 23% conversion rate. Three other homegrown players reached double figures for goals. Most impressively, Emile Smith Rowe got 13 goals and 14 assists in what was his best season yet!
Nearly all the Hale End boys who played regularly for us this season got an average rating of 7.00 or higher. The only one who didn’t was Charlie Patino, on a mere 6.92. When it comes to FM, playmakers rarely register high ratings if they don’t get any goal contributions, and while Charlie had a quiet season on that front, I’m still satisfied with his passing accuracy and build-up play.
I’ve written a full squad report below, where I discuss all our other players in a bit more detail. But first…
LET’S TALK TACTICS (AGAIN)
Finding some tactical consistency would probably help. Throughout this save, I’ve switched back and forth between using a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-3-3, and that tinkering has been especially prevalent this season.
These are the current versions of the tactics I’m using. The 4-3-3 is my primary system, based loosely on vertical tiki-taka, but slightly less intense and more defensively stable. When we’re up against stronger teams, I typically drop the mentality down to ‘Balanced’ and lower our defensive line, and maybe turn off ‘Pass Into Space’ as well.
While I prefer the flexibility and the stability that the 4-3-3 brings, the 4-2-3-1 is very effective at launching quick, devastating attacks to break apart even the most stubborn defence. It’s my go-to tactic for home games against lesser opposition, and a handy Plan B for whenever we’re having to chase a game.
Whenever we’ve started a match playing a 4-3-3, we’ve scored an average of 1.75 goals – slightly below our average xG of 1.83. By contrast, starting with the more offensive 4-2-3-1 has given us an average of 2.77 goals from 2.53 xG, while our opponents’ attacking stats are much worse virtually across the board.
Of course, these stats are rather skewed by the fact that we usually field the 4-2-3-1 against weaker opponents. The only time I used it against a ‘Big Six’ rival was in the home game against Chelsea, where we had loads of shots and barely won 1-0.
What this does tell me, though, is that the 4-2-3-1 is actually working very well, especially against those weaker teams who try to park the bus. By contrast, we won barely half our matches with the 4-3-3, where we sometimes struggle to retain possession or counter-attack effectively. I guess it’s back to the tactics board…
I hinted some time ago that I was considering flipping the 4-3-3 around, which should ideally give our counter-attacks a bit more bite. The main idea is to get our right inverted winger more involved and give him better crossing opportunities. It also gives us the chance to put our left-footed playmakers on their stronger side.
What would you do if you were in my shoes? I’m always happy to hear any advice, so feel free to drop a comment below or tweet me @Fuller_FM.
FULL SQUAD REPORT
I now have only two seasons left in which I have to win either the Premier League or the Champions League with a mostly homegrown team. Filling my self-imposed academy quota gets even tougher from next season, when I must always have FIVE academy players in the starting line-up.
Some difficult choices will have to be made over the summer, as I must decide which stars need to move on to free up space for homegrown talents… and also which players I should promote in their places. It’s time to look closer at my whole squad, and plan for the final phase of this challenge.
GK: Sweeper Keeper
Aaron Ramsdale is England’s number 1, has three PL Golden Boots, and had an 88% save percentage in the league this season. Ignore the star rating; he’s world-class and irreplaceable.
I’ve not been convinced with Mark Travers‘ performances as our backup keeper. I might even sell the Irishman and replace him with young James Trafford, who was ever-present on loan at Birmingham and is now close to PL level.
England Under-21s goalie Gavin Moth is next in line and could go out on loan next season. Of our homegrown keepers, Evren Meral is perhaps the one to watch, having developed steadily on loan at League Two Stockport after some early teething problems.
DL: Full/Wing-Back
Vice-captain Kieran Tierney has had perhaps his best season so far, registering 8 assists and a 7.19 average rating. The 27-year-old Scotsman is one of our most experienced players and is now coming into his prime.
There is a fair bit of competition to be Tierney’s backup. Tyrick Mitchell is currently in that role and has done well, but he’s coming under pressure from 19-year-old Sean Fallon. Though Mitchell is still much better technically, Fallon has massively developed his physique after a fine season at Swansea and may even be ready for a first-team promotion.
Mitchell could be sold in the summer, and so could Hugo Montañana, who just hasn’t improved since arriving from Valencia in 2022. Unfortunately, we don’t have any other exciting left-backs coming through the ranks right now.
DC: Central Defender
Gabriel is a very strong centre-half with a great Perfectionist personality, but he’s hardly indispensable. The Brazilian sometimes struggles to keep his cool, and this season was probably his worst in terms of consistency. If a major club offered us £100million, I’d probably sell him.
If Gabriel leaves, Daniel Ballard looks set to become a regular starter. Though the stars don’t say much, the Northern Irishman’s important attributes are all 13+, he regularly wins his headers, and his form is solid as anything. Dan’s only issue is his tendency to dive into tackles, which cost us dear against Barcelona in the Champions League.
The talented but unambitious Riccardo Murolo made his PL debut on the final day, but probably needs to gain more firs-team experience out on loan. While 16-year-old Ed Crittenden is an intriguing long-term prospect, Taylor Foran never built on his early promise and will be released.
DC: Ball-Playing Defender
Fikayo Tomori is a resolute elite centre-back who is rock-solid in defence and occasionally lethal at corners. Despite a few injury issues, the England star will remain vital to the Gunners next season, especially if William Saliba leaves.
Saliba had his best ever season, recording a a 7.35 average rating and also earning a first France cap. I’m conscious that a 24-year-old player of his quality will want guaranteed starts at a top club, and if anyone comes in with a huge offer, it might make sense to let him move on.
Libor Šilhan enjoyed an encouraging first season with the Under-23s before unfortunately breaking his leg in January. After some post-season rehab, the Czech teenager will be especially eager to restart his career – perhaps on loan in the Championship.
DR: Full/Wing-Back
Takehiro Tomiyasu was one of our top performers in this campaign, registering nine assists from right-back. The Japanese workhorse is performing at the peak of his powers – and boy has he needed to, because Calvin Ramsay has also had an excellent season.
At just 21, Ramsay is now an established Scottish international who’s proven that he can perform consistently well. He’s not quite the finished article, but a full season in the starting XI could catapult him to world-class status, which is a key reason why I’m open to selling Tomiyasu.
Another is the emergence of Brooke Norton-Cuffy and Jeremie Labuthie as homegrown right-back options. While BNC hasn’t quite developed as well as expected, he excelled on his full PL debut against Norwich and could be a solid backup next term. That said, Jeremie has almost caught up ability-wise and could be a better long-term choice.
DM: Defensive Midfielder
Declan Rice is our captain and a world-class defensive midfielder who has just agreed a new £180,000-per-week contract. He is not going anywhere.
Backup Scott McTominay is our oldest player at 28, and despite being a fantastic servant who works his socks off, he only made 25 appearances this season. Scott rejected a £50million transfer to Napoli last summer, but he might have to move on eventually, so that younger prospects can come in to challenge Rice.
Dutch destroyer Youri Regeer could take McTominay’s place at least in the short term, though Irish teen Jordan Ward has had a development spurt on loan at Wigan and may not be too far off. I’ll also shout out 20-year-old academy boy Bradley Ibrahim, who has flown under the radar is now a League One-level DM with top-flight potential.
CM: Advanced Playmaker
Playmaking megastar Martin Ødegaard has made 95 goal contributions in four seasons. The Norwegian is indisputably our best player – but he’s also a huge obstacle to me completing this challenge. If I am to win a PL or CL title with mostly homegrown players, Ødegaard almost certainly has to leave in the near-future.
Of course, I wouldn’t sell a world-beater like Martin for less than £125million – but if I did, Gavi will be ready to slip in. The 20-year-old enjoyed a productive campaign on loan at Lyon, which earned him his first Spain cap. He is a much-improved player from the nervous, inconsistent teenager we had last season.
Gavi coming in as first-choice playmaker wouldn’t be a bad thing, as Patino is perhaps another year of mental development away from becoming a bona-fide starter. Albert Sambi Lokonga wants to leave for more first-team football – and with just 12 months left on the Belgian’s contract, a summer sale look inevitable.
19-year-old Victor Quintyne had a fantastic season at Portsmouth and will probably step up to the Championship for his next loan. Sadly, Miguel Azeez seems to have hit his ceiling at 22 and will probably leave permanently in the summer. Things look more promising for Andrea Tarantino, provided the 16-year-old can make further improvements to his determination.
CM: Central Midfielder
Yunus Musah‘s devastating runs from midfield got him 13 goals before a broken leg curtailed his season in mid-April. The pacey and creative American will be one of the first names on the teamsheet once he recovers, though discussions over a new contract have stalled due to his agent’s unreasonable demands.
Croatian wonderkid Anton Plećaš will step forward to be Musah’s understudy next year, having gained some invaluable experience during a brief loan at Basel. Anton already has 17 Stamina, 16 Passing and 15 Vision. His future looks very bright, as does Breno Bidon‘s after a solid year at Nottingham Forest.
Alan Wilding got plenty of goals and assists at Shrewsbury and may soon be in line for some Championship football, even though he only turns 19 in the off-season. I also have high hopes for the versatile and selfless Ryan Smith, who’s proably the most-improved player from last year’s intake.
AML: Inside-Forward
Smith Rowe had an unforgettable season, excelling not just on the left wing but also occasionally in midfield. ESR has bounced back brilliantly since breaking his leg two years ago, and an overdue first England call-up is surely on the horizon.
Emile’s impressive form has completely overshadowed Reiss Nelson, who has not looked quite the same explosive self since signing a new contract last summer. Despite that, Manchester United have renewed their interest in him, and I’d be more open to a sale this time around.
Nelson leaving would finally allow Marcelo Flores to properly break into our first-team. The Mexican youngster broke his ankle in November and spent the second half of the season on loan at Middlesbrough. In just 18 league matches, Flores produced nine goal contributions – and scored in their Championship Playoff Final win over Blackburn.
AMR: Inverted Winger
Bukayo Saka is undoubtedly an exceptional talent on the right wing. Even so, his form could best be described as “consistently inconsistent”. Making the most of his athleticism and crossing ability while not compromising the rest of the team has been a constant struggle for me.
Saka’s struggles prompted me to sign Michael Olise in January – and the flamboyant Frenchman has certainly shown glimpses of his quality, though not so much in bigger games. Olise has certainly been an upgrade on Harvey Elliott, whose half-season loan at Crystal Palace ended in relegation and a slump in his development. Even at 22, I’m already wondering if Elliott is a write-off.
Issahaku Abdul Fatawu has done okay at Wigan this season, but now may be a good time to cash in and make a healthy profit on our £240,000 signing from 2023. Omari Hutchinson is another candidate for the transfer list, especially with Joaquín Agüero and Amario Cozier-Duberry emerging as younger (and better) homegrown prospects.
FC: Deep-Lying/Advanced Forward
During the first four seasons of this save, Nketiah has scored 106 goals in 171 matches. The spirited striker is now firmly among the world’s elite, with only a certain Norwegian bloke stopping him winning the Premier League’s Golden Boot in the past two seasons. Unsurprisingly, he’s now regularly starting for England ahead of Harry Kane.
Eddie’s understudy Folarin Balogun has struggled to recapture the promise he showed in 2023/2024. The New Yorker bagged 15 goals this season – six fewer than last term, despite playing in eight more matches. Flo still has some work to do to reach the top level, particularly in terms of his composure and team play.
Mika Biereth and Nikolaj Möller are both prolific Championship-level DLFs who share the same drawback in this challenge – they’re both non-academy strikers, trying to displace two top-quality Hale End products. Sadly, it’s hard to see where our next homegrown striker is coming from; even the highly-rated Conor Whitty has barely improved in his first full academy season.
As FM22’s life cycle draws to a close and we anticipate the release of Football Manager 2023, I’ll be looking to wrap this story up over the next month. You’ve probably noted that I’m now releasing two posts a week, and that pace will continue for the final two seasons.
So, I’ll be back with another post on Monday, which will include the 2025/2026 season preview – and a Community Shield rematch with champions Liverpool.
Fuller FM 
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