Premier League team introductions: Young Arsenal want Champions League, exciting and promising signings should help

Last year Arsenal missed the Champions League in the penultimate round, this year after a decent strengthening of the squad the most prestigious competition may be a realistic target. What team will the Gunners go into the new season with?

The realisation team

Despite the birth pains, Mikel Arteta has won the fans over in his two and a half years at Arsenal and they believe in him. Although the Champions League ultimately failed last year, the Gunners’ fifth-placed supporters have embraced it and are looking forward to the cups.

Arteta has managed to rejuvenate the squad considerably, the players are also acting much more like a group, last summer’s transfers were successful, with four reinforcements starting regularly in the starting eleven and strengthening the defence.

Goalkeeper

Few clubs have as good a goalkeeping duo as Arsenal. Bernd Leno was the number one for many years, but Aaron Ramsdale had a great start after his transfer last year, quickly won over the fans and according to many was the best goalkeeper in the entire Premier League.

With Leno being counted on for the Europa League, the management would probably not be averse to a possible sale.

Defenders

The defence has been a long-standing problem for Arsenal, but last year it wasn’t bad at all. At least until mainstay Kieran Tierney got injured. He is unlikely to make the start of the season, but reinforcement Oleksandr Zinchenko can replace him.

The center is held by the talented duo of Gabriel, Ben White. The former is strong in duels, the latter in the midfield. William Saliba is more than a quality number three stopper, Rob Holding or Pablo Mari are options for a tough schedule.

The right side will be sharpened by Takehiro Tomiyasu. When he came in last year, fans questioned who he was and why he was coming. However, the hard-working Japanese has caught on and is the clear number one on the right side. He’ll be backed up by Cedric Soares.

Midfielders

The centre pairing is a big topic. It’s one thing to have several options, it’s another that each one is mediocre. Thomas Partey hasn’t convinced in the British Isles so far, Granit Xhaka makes fumbles and can’t be relied upon in the long term, with Fabio Vieira the question is what English football will do with him.

The experienced Partey, Xhaka pairing is on offer for at least the start, but if Vieira catches on, he can attack the base in peace. Sambi Lokonga and Mohamed Elneny are again players for the English and European cups.

Martin Odegaard has taken the number ten spot for himself. He works, he thinks, he organises, he takes responsibility. Not for nothing is he one of the captains after a year and a half at the club. Emile Smith-Rowe is a great talent, but he has to settle for the wing.

Forwards

Bukayo Saka is the clear leader on the right wing, with Smith-Rowe and Gabriel Martinelli operating on the left. The England international is in a slightly better position. Up to the fourth winger is Nicolas Pepe, the most expensive signing in Gunners history.

The tip belongs to Arsenal’s biggest summer signing. Gabriel Jesus is firing after arriving from Manchester City already in training and Eddie Nketiah knows he will be at his best again as a second striker. The versatile Martinelli could also be an alternative here.

Ideal line-up:

Ramsdale

Tierney – Gabriel – White – Tomiyasu

Xhaka – Partey

Odegaard

Smith-Rowe – Jesus – Saka

Placing tip:: 4th place

Source: Arsenal FC