Who is Arsenal's player of the season?

Who, after four months and 25 games, has been Arsenal’s player of the season?

After Sunday’s wonder-goal, some might say Andrei Arshavin. From that position, on his right-foot, Arshavin will score four times out of five. It wasn’t hit and hope. It was hit and admire.

That’s why the 2-1 win wasn’t lucky: Arsenal’s world-class player is in form, and played well. Liverpool’s two world-class players didn’t.

But, despite that goal, Arshavin hasn’t been brilliant this season. Too often, he’s been stuck on the left-wing; sulking like an unhappy 17-year-old at home on Saturday night.

The fact that, still, he’s scored eight goals in 16 starts proves what a special player he is. Eduardo, Tomas Rosicky, Samir Nasri, and Theo Walcott have fewer goals in total, despite 25 starts between them.

Robin van Persie would be a contender, had he played in the past month. Or, for that matter, the first month. He didn’t score until Emmanuel Adebayor stamped on his head, and he only scored in September and October.

Some might say Thomas Vermaelen has been Arsenal’s player of the year. The Man With The Bandaged Hand has the best leap, and the best left foot, in the Premiership.

If Arsenal had more than two centre-halves, he could play in Alex Song’s role when Song leaves for Africa. He’s quick, he wins headers, he tackles, and - most of all - he’s single-minded.

He won’t lose his temper, or his concentration, easily. He’s a 32-year-old 24-year-old, who will be Arsenal’s next captain.

But Vermaelen has made mistakes. His five goals - more than anyone but Arshavin, van Persie, and Cesc Fabregas - have made him immune from criticism.

He missed the corner Wolves scored from; he watched, helpless, as Darren Bent struck at Sunderland; and he shouldn’t have scored the own goal against Chelsea. He’s had an eight out of ten season. The man next to him, however, has been - at least - nine out of ten.

William Gallas has become, at last, the defender he was alongside John Terry at Chelsea. He’s 32, but, as Arsene Wenger revealed today, he’s getting a new contract. Will Wenger’s one-year rule for the over-30s apply? Doubtful.

The difference between Gallas this season, and Gallas last, is his partner. Centre-halves work in pairs, and Vermaelen - like Terry - can be trusted. Kolo Toure couldn’t.

Gallas can leave the left-side of the pitch alone, whether the ball comes long, or comes short. The Belgian has, in effect, halved Gallas’s workload. In turn, he’s become twice the player.

Last season - especially as captain - Gallas felt responsible for the left side, as he played then, and the right side. Like Arsene Wenger, he didn’t trust Toure. Gallas was on a one-man mission, and it didn’t work. It never could.

Free from Toure - who’s only been successful alongside Sol Campbell - Gallas has been the complete defender. He’s quick as ever - notice how he caught Tuncay against Stoke - but he’s braver. He’s barely six foot, but Gallas is no worse in the air than - say - Martin Keown in his prime.

And, most of all, he hasn’t made mistakes. He isn’t baby-sitting Toure, and he isn’t baby-sitting the team.

Arsenal’s defensive record - 19 goals in 15 games - is still poor. But that’s because only one midfielder tackles, and the keeper’s hopeless. Without Vermaelen and Gallas, it would be far worse.

Now he's not captain, Gallas is playing like a captain. At this rate, he'll be in the PFA Team of the Year for the third time (after 2003 and 2006). And, if the season ended now, he'd be Arsenal's player of the season.