football.london takes a look at Mikel Arteta’s dream starting line-up for next season
Arsenal are currently riding the high of a monumental victory over Atletico Madrid. A 1-0 win at home in Tuesday’s nail-biting Champions League semi-final second-leg secured a 2-1 victory on aggregate and booked their place in the tournament’s final for the first time since 2006, making it one of the most memorable nights in the club’s history.
It carried over the electric energy from the thumping 3-0 Premier League win over Fulham last weekend. Each player’s performance, as well as the contribution of the fans, suggest everything is falling into place for Mikel Arteta’s side as they look to make history with just four games remaining across the two biggest competitions.
In the league, three wins from three games would secure their first title since 2004, while Budapest later this month marks an opportunity to secure a European cup for the first time in the club’s long history.
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Looking back at both the high points and areas for improvement across an undoubtedly successful campaign, football.london now looks at how Arteta should line up next season with everyone fit and signings made.
Goalkeeper – David Raya
The Spaniard has quietly become one of the best goalkeepers on the planet. Raya brings calmness when opposition teams press high and is able to play it short or go long with accuracy. This season has seen him make some astonishing acrobatic saves at crucial moments on his way to securing a deserved third successive Premier League Golden Glove award. He remains one of the first names on the team sheet.
Right-back – Jurrien Timber
Despite his injury struggles over the past month or so, no one should forget just how monstrous Timber was in the first half of the season especially. He remains one of the best one-vs-one defenders in the squad and formed part of the back-line which went several games without conceding a shot on target. Fatigue meant his form slightly tailed off after Christmas but the Dutchman is still one of the best players in his position in the country.
Centre-backs – William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes
Saliba and Gabriel have deservedly cemented their status as the best central defensive partnership in European football over the past few years. Saliba goes about his business effortlessly to the point you barely notice his defensive contributions, while Gabriel is the beating heart of the backline, imposing himself with crunching tackles and towering headers. Arsenal will hope to keep the pair together for many years to come, with only trophies now stopping them from enjoying the fame and reverence that Steve Bould and Tony Adams enjoyed.
Left-back – Riccardo Calafiori
There’s a reason Arteta persists with the Italian despite all of his injury problems. When available, Calafiori is a complete unicorn, capable of playing as a marauding left back, a robust centre-back or a technician drifting into the middle. While Piero Hincapie is perhaps a slight improvement defensively, Calafiori’s attacking threat makes him the clear first-choice option at left-back.
Central midfielders – Declan Rice and Myles Lewis-Skelly
Arsenal’s midfield balance has looked off for much of the season. As the campaign has worn on, it has become evident that, for all of his defensive qualities, summer arrival Martin Zubimendi is not the No. 6 many expected. The Spaniard excels when he’s breaking up play all over the pitch or roaming into the opposition penalty box unmarked – he is not Arsenal’s answer to Rodri in the sense that he doesn’t dictate tempo or play line-breaking passes.
For that reason, partnering him with Rice, who possesses an incredible engine and is secure on the ball, but doesn’t look to play penetrative balls either, meant the Gunners this season often lacked creativity in midfield. However, Arteta over the past two games seems to have realised the need for someone who can play more forward passes and is more confident in taking on opposition midfielders. That someone is Lewis-Skelly, who was thrown into the deep end against both Fulham and Atletico, playing his first senior minutes in midfield in two of the most high pressure games of the season, only to receive an ovation for his masterful displays.
No. 10 – Eberechi Eze
Eze’s game-changing qualities have become clearer throughout the season. He has added more tenacity to his game in the press to go alongside his ability to glide past defenders. That makes him crucial to the Arsenal team, given he is one of the only players capable of dribbling against low-blocks and creating overloads. Eze’s eye for goal is another hugely useful skill, as he has demonstrated in big moments this season.
Given Eze’s inclusion would mean dropping the out-of-form Martin Odegaard to the bench, Arsenal would have to select a new captain. Saka is the current vice-captain, but Rice has stepped up in his absence this season to lead the team both on and off the pitch at crucial moments. It only makes sense therefore to hand the midfield dynamo the permanent captaincy going forward.
Right-wing – Bukayo Saka
Saka’s performances may not have been to the level everyone expected this season, but the Arsenal fan-favourite has reminded everyone of just how good he is when fit in recent games. An Achilles problem continues to cause the winger discomfort, meaning his minutes have to be managed going forward. Yet, he remains one of the best in the business in terms of his decision-making, nearly always playing the right pass or choosing the correct moment to embarrass his marker.
Striker – Viktor Gyokeres
The debate surrounding Gyokeres has raged on all season. There is no doubt that his back to goal play and on ball qualities have left plenty to be desired at times. But, in the last few weeks, it seems everything has come together for the Swede, who is now playing like the No. 9 the Arsenal faithful were crying out for for several years.
His performance against Atletico was undoubtedly his best in an Arsenal shirt. Gyokeres ran the channels, pressed and linked up with his team-mates, becoming a nuisance to defenders to go along with his ferocious shot power. Of course, there are still games in which Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino’s technical skill makes them the better options. But in terms of a week-in week-out striker, Gyokeres deserves to be in the starting line-up more often than not going forward.
Left-wing – Bradley Barcola
The only position where Arsenal can clearly improve this summer is the left wing. Gabriel Martinelli has contributed crucial goals in the Champions League, while Leandro Trossard has found form in patches this season. But neither player is a truly world class option. Arsenal need a winger who has pace in abundance like the Brazilian but can also dribble effectively like Trossard.
Barcola of Paris Saint-Germain, valued at around £60million by transfermarkt, is therefore the most suitable option on the transfer market. The Frenchman is a cheat code on the counter but can also break low blocks, possessing fluid dribbling and excellent off the ball movement. He is reportedly open to a move this summer given Luis Enrique’s preference for other wingers, and Arsenal should do everything in their power to bring him to N5. Barcola’s inconsistent minutes have hampered his form this season but his true quality was evident last term, when he notched 44 goal contributions in 64 appearances.
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