It’s time for the normal Arseblog season preview submit, and as we do yearly we’ve acquired a few different Arseblog regulars to offer us their ten cents.
All of those have been written independently of one another, so there’s no cross-contamination. So, that is what myself, Andrew Allen and Tim Stillman consider the squad – because it stands, absolutely conscious the switch window is open till August thirtieth – and its readiness for the brand new season.
Beginning, as at all times, with:
ANDREW MANGAN
David Raya is the clear number one, but the goalkeeping scenario stays sophisticated. If Aaron Ramsdale stays, we in all probability have the very best quantity 2 goalkeeper within the league, however I don’t suppose that’s what he desires.
The issue is, the place is he going to go? Who’s going to pay what Arsenal need, and tackle the substantial wage the membership gave him once we handed him a brand new deal final Could? It’s an sad scenario for Ramsdale, and one with out a simple resolution. If he stays, will that unhappiness be a problem, or can he put it to 1 aspect and fulfill himself with the cup video games … if he will get them?
If he does go, Arsenal will want a longtime back-up alternative, as Karl Hein will spend the season on mortgage in Spain. Efforts to usher in Wolves’ Dan Bentley appear to have been unsuccessful, so we’ll have to attend and see what occurs. It’s not essentially an enormous problem within the grand scheme of issues, nevertheless it at all times looks like there’s one thing occurring within the goalkeeping division and a few stability could be helpful.
TIM STILLMAN
There are a few areas that also really feel a bit unsettled forward of the season (and looking out throughout the Premier League, it appears to be very typical that golf equipment are going into the season with enterprise nonetheless to do) and goalkeeper is definitely one. In some ways, I’m not positive a event summer season the place he didn’t play was the very best factor for Aaron Ramsdale within the absolute quick time period.
It feels as if that has kicked his future into the lengthy grass considerably when we’ve got all recognized since final winter {that a} transfer was going to be probably. Raya will clearly be Arsenal’s number one however beneath that, Arsenal haven’t been in a position to safe a second and even third alternative goalkeeper after the provide of a curly wurly and a few coaching bibs for Dan Bentley was knocked again.
I believe all of this shall be resolved within the ultimate days of the window and, not less than, there’s little or no doubt over who our number one goalkeeper is and I feel Raya actually has added one other dimension to how Arsenal play. Shopping for again up goalkeepers is at all times a little bit of a crap shoot, I shall be to see whether or not we’re in a position to get a Raya sort as again up, so not less than Arsenal’s model doesn’t change an excessive amount of.
ANDREW ALLEN
This time final yr, Arsenal followers have been in the dead of night when it got here to Mikel Arteta’s plans for David Raya and Aaron Ramsdale. Most of us assumed there could be a power-sharing settlement of some kind with one getting minutes within the league and the opposite taking part in in Europe. It didn’t pan out that manner.
By the tip of September, it was clear Raya was Arteta’s man even when the knowledge of that call remained open for debate. By Christmas, the dialog was over. Raya’s qualities on the ball, his commanding presence within the field and his calm manner had received over nearly all of supporters and, regardless of a couple of particular person errors, the information backed him up. When Ramsdale did get recreation time, his performances in opposition to Brentford (when Raya was thrice ineligible) highlighted the unlikeliness of an Arteta u-turn.
Forward of the brand new season, the massive query is who will present backup to Raya. Clearly, Ramsdale isn’t going to play second fiddle for one more season and with Karl Hein finishing a season-long mortgage transfer to Actual Valladolid we’re one harm from calling upon teenage arrivals Tommy Setford and Lucas Nygaard (though he’s simply damaged his thumb). The uncertainty on this entrance, which has been a yr within the making, is much from ultimate.
Whether or not Ramsdale leaves on mortgage or completely (extra probably the previous for my part), it’s laborious to consider we’ll be in a stronger place on the keeper entrance than a yr in the past. There have been hyperlinks with Wolves’ Dan Bentley and Espanyol’s Joan Garcia however the considered counting on gamers with so little high degree expertise undoubtedly makes me nervous. On the identical time, I recognise it’s laborious promoting life as a bench-warmer to a participant within the prime of his profession.
For the time being, it’s a minor downside. However it may grow to be a significant one within the blink of a watch if we signal the flawed man and find yourself needing them. Right here’s hoping Raya stays match.
ANDREW MANGAN
I mentioned final yr that ‘I feel this may be probably the most full set of defenders I can bear in mind at Arsenal’, a remark made after the signing of Jurrien Timber. Sadly, his opening day harm robbed us of his high quality, and accidents for Takehiro Tomiyasu (in addition to a world absence), meant it wasn’t fairly as robust as we’d first hoped.
Nevertheless, we have been nonetheless so strong, conceding simply 29 objectives within the Premier League, and in Ben White, William Saliba, and Gabriel, we had a trio of high-performing defenders who have been mainly obtainable all season. Left-back was a little bit of a problem, one which may be mounted when Riccardo Calafiori will get on top of things, and Timber’s presence this season ought to give us larger depth.
I don’t see a problem by way of numbers if you add Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jakub Kiwior and even Kieran Tierney to the combination, however will probably be attention-grabbing to see how a lot Arteta is ready to rotate on the again – that’s the one space the place he has constructed foundations based mostly on the consistency of choice and efficiency from his important males.
TIM STILLMAN
That is the world I’ve the least doubts over as a result of I don’t suppose we have to add any extra gamers right here. I believe Jakub Kiwior will depart within the ultimate days of the window however I feel we’ve got a very superb bunch of defenders. Not simply by way of high quality however adaptability. White, Timber, Calafiori, Tomiyasu and (for now) Kiwior can all play centrally or at full-back.
Ideally I would really like for Gabriel and Saliba to have the ability to play each recreation collectively once more however, within the occasion they can’t, I’ve far fewer anxieties right here than I did final season, not least as a result of, in Timber in addition to Calafiori, we’ve got successfully added two defenders to the group now. Calafiori coming in if Gabriel is injured and Timber or White if Saliba is strikes me as a robust scenario.
I additionally suspect we are going to see larger rotation within the full-back roles in accordance on how we need to play and in order that we don’t need to run Ben White into the bottom once more. Whereas Arsenal look good and strong as a defensive unit, Arteta views defenders in accordance with their capability to construct play too and I feel Timber and Calafiori add optionality there. I believe Arsenal would have been open to promoting Zinchenko however I additionally suppose we are going to see loads of him at left-back, not each week, however I see him being a extra vital participant than individuals suppose he shall be.
ANDREW ALLEN
Arsenal might have had the meanest defence final season however Mikel Arteta admitted not too long ago he was fortunate to have the ability to name upon first-choice centre-back duo Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba each week. In shopping for Italy worldwide Riccardo Calafiori he goals to mitigate threat by upgrading on Jakub Kiwior whereas additionally providing additional depth at left-back ought to Oleksandr Zinchenko’s ‘decline’ show terminal.
Jurrien Timber’s return from ACL surgical procedure means Ben White may also get the occasional breather at right-back; no unhealthy factor given he was nursing a knee problem in the direction of the tip of final season. Chuck (a match) Takehiro Tomiyasu within the combine and it’s a robust line-up. I repeat what I mentioned final yr: “I’m struggling to recall an Arsenal squad with a set of defenders as bodily imposing and versatile as these at present on the books.”
Through the course of final season, even on the finish of video games that have been already received, Arsenal gamers took to celebrating defensive actions like they have been objectives. There’s a ardour for defending – not dissimilar to the Tony Adams clenched fist days of yore – and it supplies us with the foundations we’d like for one more title problem. Groups that don’t concede, don’t lose. It’s that mindset that has in all probability led Arteta to spend twice as a lot on defenders as he has on attackers since he took over within the dugout in December 2019.
On the identical time, the present crop of defenders are as able to unlocking a victory as these in midfield and assault. I’m excited to see how we evolve and range our play now that we’ve got 5 gamers able to inverting from full-back and I’m hopeful our energy and prowess within the air ends in much more set piece objectives.
ANDREW MANGAN
On the time of writing, we’re down one from final season with the sale of Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham – however that’s to not say we don’t have choices.
Arteta is able to fielding numerous strong, completely different midfields with Declan Rice, Jorginho, Thomas Partey, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard at his disposal, nevertheless it does really feel like we’re lacking one thing on this space of the pitch. Fabio Vieira is an possibility on paper, however performed solely on the right-wing in pre-season, and whereas Ethan Nwaneri impressed over the summer season, it is a supervisor who is usually cautious about introducing younger expertise earlier than he feels they’re prepared.
On that foundation, the continuing hyperlinks to twenty-eight yr previous Mikel Merino make quite a lot of sense. His expertise and high quality could be very helpful, not least as a result of as somebody who would probably function primarily within the ‘left 8’ place, it offers you a bit extra depth at 6 as that’s the place you’ll deploy Rice.
I’ve some worries in regards to the two veterans. Not a lot about their capability on the ball, however how they’ve struggled off it because the legs get a bit older and a bit slower. Perhaps over the course of the season Rice turns into an increasing number of the anchor to the midfield, with Havertz/Merino sharing the job forward of him.
As has been the case since his everlasting arrival, a lot includes Odegaard. The skipper is simply such an vital participant, and will probably be fascinating to see how groups try to negate his affect on the way in which we play. It’s not at all times true to say that we play properly when he performs properly, nevertheless it’s additionally not unreasonable to counsel that if he’s stored quiet, we discover life a bit tougher.
I feel that’s one thing the supervisor can have given some thought to.
TIM STILLMAN
I’ve to say I’m stunned by the hyperlinks to Merino just because I believed that Arsenal may prioritise a youthful Partey / Jorginho prototype. As with Zinchenko, I believe that Arsenal would have been have been open to promoting Thomas Partey however the market had different concepts. I’ve some issues over Partey and Jorginho job sharing the deep mendacity function.
It makes me suppose that Rice will not be but performed because the deepest participant however, I received’t lie, I actually preferred him within the extra box-to-box function final season. But when Arsenal do signal Merino, I believe it’s as a result of Arteta trusts him to play extra minutes than Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira have in current seasons and it offers us a good diploma of optionality as we’ve got in defence.
We’ll see loads of Kai Havertz in midfield too, which is okay by me. I feel selection and unpredictability are going to be a giant a part of Arteta’s want checklist for this season. I’ve a degree of belief within the supervisor and the membership to attend and see what they’ve deliberate, particularly as Arteta has a giant capability to pleasantly shock. However when you had requested me in Could, I’d have mentioned a deeper, passing midfielder would have been near the highest of my procuring checklist and hoped that Arsenal would actually push to maneuver Thomas Partey on.
ANDREW ALLEN
Is Declan Rice a quantity 6 or a quantity 8? Is Kai Havertz a quantity 8 or a quantity 9? After 102 appearances (and 38 purpose involvements) between them of their first season as Gunners, it seems they’ll be no matter Mikel Arteta desires them to be relying on accidents, opposition and recreation state. Personally, I’m superb with that, they’re ok to not be pigeonholed.
Judging by our reported curiosity in Actual Sociedad’s Mikel Merino, Arteta wouldn’t thoughts including to the versatile brigade. The Spain worldwide is one other participant skilled in juggling obligations and will variously play behind / alongside Rice or as an alternative / behind Havertz. Both manner, he’d characterize a chance for Arteta to wind down residual reliance on Thomas Partey and Jorginho.
Whereas the Italian was not too long ago awarded a contract extension, I’m positive he is aware of to count on extra time on the bench than on the pitch. As for the Ghana worldwide, his repeated health points imply he can’t be trusted/anticipated to play week in, week out. Have been Partey open to a transfer, Edu would drive him to the airport tomorrow. Alas, it appears like he’s completely happy to see out the ultimate 12 months of his contract.
Whereas there aren’t any issues in regards to the high quality of Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka – the inventive heartbeat of our group – you possibly can harbour doubts in regards to the readiness of the person sitting behind them within the pecking order.
Following Emile Smith Rowe’s departure, all eyes are on Fabio Vieira. If final season was speculated to be a defining one for the Portuguese, this yr he’s very a lot within the final likelihood saloon. Clearly we’ve stored him round for a purpose (you sense Arteta is taking his lack of improvement personally) however he has to show he can ship when he’s given alternatives. The stress is on. If he doesn’t, Hale Finish duo Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly shall be snapping at his heels.
ANDREW MANGAN
When Arteta spoke about how his first job is to get extra out of the gamers he has obtainable to him, the 2 that spring to thoughts are Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus. Each had disappointing seasons by way of their numbers/finish product final day trip, and there’s important room for enchancment from each.
Leandro Trossard could be very succesful, each from the left and the centre the place he’s typically deployed; Kai Havertz seems to be properly settled and built-in, and whether or not he’s up high or additional again I count on him to proceed producing; whereas what can we are saying about Bukayo Saka? His consistency and end-product will increase yearly, and if he can do this once more this season, he’ll be a match-winner regularly.
For me the massive query mark is what we do with Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah. I hope for each their sakes they transfer on, as a result of they’ve grow to be bit-part gamers on this model of Arsenal, and if you have a look at how we improve this squad, they’re the 2 who you instantly consider.
I feel it’s clear Arsenal need one thing else in assault, the pre-Euros try to usher in Benjamin Sesko is proof of that, and I do count on a signing to be made on this space to offer us a bit extra high quality and depth. I do not know who, and no thought when precisely, however I’d be massively stunned if we didn’t make an attacking addition earlier than the window closes.
TIM STILLMAN
Assuming Nketiah and Nelson are bought and Havertz and Jesus have a rotation of types upfront, I’m proud of the gathering of forwards we’ve got and hope that we are able to juice extra from Martinelli and Jesus subsequent season, whereas hoping the likes of Trossard and Havertz proceed to contribute with finish product.
However the very first thing that Arsenal tried to do that summer season was to purchase Benjamin Sesko, which tells you that the membership are in all probability pondering what many people are pondering: we’d like yet another ahead. I very a lot doubt absolutely the gold plated 30 purpose a season possibility is in the marketplace, however yet another ahead – be it a striker or a large participant – is basically wanted for my part.
Arsenal have a robust defensive and bodily aura now however they failed to attain in 5 Premier League video games final season. They didn’t rating from open play away at Bayern Munich, Porto, Liverpool (scored from a set-piece), Manchester Metropolis, Newcastle or Aston Villa. In reality, we didn’t actually appear to be scoring at any of these grounds both.
Arsenal must have the power to energy up the assault from the bench and make groups sweat over the standard of the attacking substitutions. If we’re speaking about gaining among the superb margins wanted to win the Premier League and / or Champions League, that is the obvious place to seek out that edge.
I shall be disenchanted if one other attacker doesn’t are available in earlier than August thirtieth.
ANDREW ALLEN
Scripting this a couple of days earlier than the beginning of the season, I’m stunned extra attacking gamers haven’t been linked with Arsenal in current months. Gabriel Jesus’ harm points have been well-documented, Bukayo Saka (250+ video games for membership and nation in 5 years) continues to play on the sting of potential burnout and Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson need to go away the membership.
Certain, we are able to lean on Havertz as a striker, Jesus may play off the flank and Martinelli and Trossard present respectable depth on the left, however with video games each three days for a lot of the season parachuting one other high-class attacking prospect into the combination wouldn’t go amiss. The failed pursuit of Benjamin Sesko suggests the membership aren’t resistant to the concept, even when our try and lure him from RB Leipzig was predominantly pushed by opportunism.
Whereas it’s true this crop of gamers has set new club-record purpose tallies in consecutive Premier League seasons, Arteta rightly emphasises a have to be extra environment friendly within the field. Objectives in video games already received are all properly and good (who didn’t take pleasure in that run of away video games in opposition to West Ham, Burnley and Sheffield United?!), however objectives in tighter video games are one other matter.
At residence final season, factors have been left on the desk as a consequence of hapless ending in opposition to Fulham, West Ham and Aston Villa. In Europe, we practically got here unstuck in opposition to Porto earlier than Bayern acquired the higher of us. Small margins. Huge value paid.
If Martinelli can rediscover his type of the 22/23 marketing campaign that may assist, however I nonetheless suppose one other attacker needs to be a precedence if Nketiah departs. Do I feel that can occur? With the clock ticking, I’d be stunned. However it could be a critical declaration of intent. Over to you Edu.
ANDREW MANGAN
Whereas I nonetheless suppose we’d like a few additions to actually give the squad the type of depth we’d like throughout the Premier League, expanded Champions League, and two cup competitions, we additionally need to do not forget that this bunch of gamers acquired us to inside a whisker of the title final season. I feel this group want some tangible success, so having a squad deep sufficient and ok to proceed a title push whereas being critical in regards to the cups is vital.
This can be a excellent group although, and I feel we should always count on them to problem once more. It’s going to be laborious to copy what we did final day trip, and we’d even must do higher, however I’ve no issues about our motivation or need to compete. The troublesome begin, if you additionally add into the equation truncated holidays for key gamers like Saka, Rice and Saliba, is a little bit of a fear however you need to play these video games a while.
My hope is that it’s third time fortunate by way of the title, however after all it received’t be luck. It will likely be laborious work, organisation, self-discipline, and all the opposite issues Mikel Arteta has instilled to make this top-of-the-line groups round. Now we have the power to win the league, it’s about how we handle key moments, and maybe what we’ve discovered from the final two seasons will stand us in good stead.
TIM STILLMAN
Arsenal nonetheless have a bit of labor to do in midfield, upfront and sorting the supporting goalkeeping solid. However we’ve got the identical core as final season, coming in the direction of its prime years with one other yr’s expertise across the course underneath their belts. Arsenal are going to be actually robust once more this season, I’ve little question about that.
They nonetheless want one other attacker to actually push the dial for my part and I shall be actually curious to see what our midfield most sometimes seems to be like subsequent season. I believe we shall be strong and troublesome to play in opposition to once more. Arsenal may have just about the very same season with the identical gamers once more and win the league comfortably. However there are only a couple extra particulars I feel that have to be taken care of earlier than August 30 to ensure that we’re pushing each margin conceivable to recover from the road this time.
ANDREW ALLEN
Arsenal will not be only a good soccer group, we’re top-of-the-line groups in Europe. It’s incredible with the ability to commit that assertion to paper and imply it.
The subsequent problem for Arteta is securing silverware and a long-overdue open-top bus journey across the streets of Islington. The 2020 FA Cup success was a second to cherish however in opposition to the backdrop of the pandemic, it feels prefer it belongs to a different period. A lot has occurred to rebuild the membership on and off the pitch within the final 4 years that the supervisor shall be determined for a hit that displays the trouble put in by all people who ‘trusted the method’, together with the supporters.
After twice operating Manchester Metropolis shut, it’s going to take relentless excellence from his gamers to recover from the road. Do we’ve got the numbers, expertise and high quality to stability the weekly calls for of Premier League soccer with an expanded Champions League schedule? Will we additionally go hell for leather-based within the home cups as a result of they’re comparatively low-hanging fruit? Time will inform.
I consider we are able to win the league. However we’ll definitely want luck on the harm entrance and to grasp our feelings throughout the season’s ordinary highs and lows. No extra ‘Newcastle’ meltdowns, Mikel. We additionally know from expertise that poor performances and outcomes can’t be allowed to fester as one unhealthy week may kill us on a number of fronts. Bear in mind, there’s no room on this yr’s calendar for a restorative mid-season jaunt to Dubai.
All the identical, I stay assured. And a part of that’s right down to the state of our opponents. I don’t know what the temper is like at Metropolis in the intervening time however with 115 costs hanging over them, Guardiola hinting at a departure subsequent summer season and a few of their greatest gamers already eyeing the following chapter of their careers, I’m hoping the noise across the Etihad proves to be a distraction.
What’s extra, the opposite ‘Huge Six’ golf equipment are in such a state of flux that it’s laborious to guage how they’ll fare. Now we have to benefit from the very fact their foundations aren’t as robust as ours.
