With Arsenal preparing to go into the league season in a couple of days, competition for places is at a high. As the players fight for a role in a starting XI which is gunning for the league, Arsène Wenger is set for a dillemma. However, only 11 players can be picked, so here are the players I think will be the Frenchman’s first choice XI, when with a fully-fit squad, in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Goalkeeper: Petr Cech
There looks to be no debate about this selection. The experienced Czech signed for the Gunners this summer in a £11m from rivals Chelsea, putting an end to a glittering 11-year tenure at the Bridge, where he won every major honour and cemented his place as one of English football’s best ever ‘keepers. The 33-year old brings a sense of stability and experience to a team, and the man who can “win you 10 to 15 points a season”, according to former team-mate John Terry, will be vital in challenging for the title. His place in the starting XI appears to be strengthened by the loan-out of Wojciech Szczesny, and the fact David Ospina looks to be the club’s cup ‘keeper. He appears to be a great acquisition by Arsenal, and will look to make a lasting impact on this Gunners side when between the sticks.
Right-back: Hector Bellerín
The young Spaniard burst through the Arsenal ranks when called upon last season, and has impressed the league with his flair, agility and potential. His attacking talent is a stand out – stemming from his tenure as a winger earlier in his career – and he has embraced Arsenal’s style of play well. He looks to be a mainstay of the Gunners back-line for years to come, and is looking to hold down a first-team spot for an entire season. Wenger is a person who repays those who step up to the bill, so expect Bellerín to be awarded with a first-team berth for next season, over 30-year old Mathieu Debuchy.
Centre-back: Per Mertesacker
The tall German experienced a mixed 14-15 campaign, at times getting found out for his lack of agility in a league famed for its exclusive mix of pace and power. His form picked up towards the end of the season – coinciding with a good run of results from Arsenal – and still maintains a fairly strong defensive ability, so it doesn’t look like his Arsenal career is over just yet. With the emergence of Francis Coquelin resulting in the benching of Mikel Arteta, the former Bremen man looks to be the team captain for the season. He’ll face a challenge this season as Gabriel improves and fights for a first team role, and when trying to keep good form as Arsenal fight for the title.
Centre-back: Laurent Koscielny
No debate about this at all. The Frenchman has matured into arguably the Premier League’s best centre-back in his 5 year tenure at N5, and has the right balance of agility and strength to excel in the league that is dependent on those aforementioned factors. This was illustrated only recently, in the 2015 Community Shield against Chelsea, with a magnificent performance that left no box unticked. Especially when facing a rocky beginning in his Arsenal career in 2010, the former Lorient man recovered well and has 2 FA Cup winners’ medals to go with it. He looks to have a pivotal role as part of an Arsenal spine which is looking to win their first league title in over a decade.
Left-back: Nacho Monreal
The Spaniard had a fantastic 14/15 campaign, adopting the supposed “cursed” #18 shirt and banishing any negative undertones which came with that squad number. Partnering Hector Bellerin on opposite flanks, it was found to be a great balance, as Bellerin contributed to the attack, Monreal would stay back and assist Koscielny and Mertesacker as part of a 3-man defence. The former Malaga player was consistent, solid in both attacking and defensive departments – with his highlight perhaps coming in his goal at Old Trafford in the 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final win, proving that he was fit to wear the Arsenal shirt after bouncing back from a perhaps rocky first part of his Arsenal career. This season, challenges will arise from if he can prove he’s not just a “one season wonder”, and that age and injury problems won’t start to take a hold on the latter stage of his career. If he can combat this well, his reputation will be firmly stamped on the current squad.
Defensive midfielder: Francis Coquelin
Francis Coquelin has been an exact revelation since arriving back at Arsenal at just past the half-way mark of last season. The Frenchman, seemingly destined for a career of insignificance, burst into the first team and produced great, first-team performances at a time when the team desperately needed them, helping to propel the club up the league title, and to successive FA Cup victories. He offers something a little different to a man who you’d expect to play that position for the Arsenal today – a player who doesn’t like to go up the field, and chooses to pass the ball on quickly, in return offering a hard tackle and a sense of real stability in front of the back four. In a midfield known for its flair and quality, Coquelin offers the opposite – chalk and cheese, if you will. This sort of balance in a midfield is necessary to a title challenge in a league as diverse as England’s top tier, and there will be no doubt that as a result, he’ll play a key role in Arsenal’s league position this
season, if he can prove his importance over a 38 game season.
Central midfielder: Santi Cazorla
A couple of seasons ago, it would have been perceived as a hipster-esque comment to suggest that Santi Czorla could play in the heart of midfield to effect, as well as even a play-making defensive midfielder. However, last season marked a dramatic turnaround for the the Spaniard. The former Malaga player switched from a perhaps declining winger with eventually decreasing impact on the game, to playing in the centre of the park, and using his creative influence and fantastic technical ability to control the game there. This was uniquely demonstrated at the Etihad last season, where Arsenal cruised to a 2-0 win thanks to, in part, a Santi Cazorla penalty. The “little magician”, as he is affectionately known through the Gunners fanbase, should play a key connecting role in an Arsenal side famed for its passing play and possession game.
Right-wing: Aaron Ramsey
It’s important to note that when it says on the starting line-up that Aaron Ramsey will be not particularly play the role of a right-winger in an attacking midfield trio, and therefore will be not be constantly whipping in crosses and taking on his man. In fact, I envisage him dropping deep to form a central midfield three with him, Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin – resulting in Mesut Özil and Alexis Sánchez providing the team’s width on the left and right respectively. The Welshman, with his box-to-box playstyle, will provide the gel between the defence and attack of the team, as well as scoring goals (most likely via his driving runs into the opposition box). Hindered by injury last season, if the former Cardiff City player can stay fit for the majority of a season he will play one of the most important roles in the team, similar to his 13-14 effect – it’s no coincidence that as he became injured in that season, Arsenal dropped from pole position in the league. A key player in the Arsenal formula, and one that will play a pivotal role when given the chance.
Attacking midfielder: Mesut Özil
The hub of the team, and the focal point of the midfield. The German play-maker is set to have a stellar third season, if he can manage consistency and injuries correctly. The former Los Blancos player is unrivalled by many in terms of his vision and passing ability, and will play a key role in connecting up the dots of the Arsenal puzzle. There have been obvious showcases of his talent in the past 2 seasons, although there are doubts to be raised whether he can achieve a good level of performance over a whole season. However, as he becomes stronger and adjusts to the pace and power of the English game, and the quality of the personnel around him increase, I believe he is a better position than ever before in the past 24 months to deliver on expectation set by the ravenous English media, who so seemingly demand an energetic personality and statistics to severely enforce that as well. It’s an interesting situation, and one I should expect Mesut Özil to solve over the course of the coming campaign.
Left-wing: Alexis Sánchez
Fighter, dribbler, goalscorer – the three words to describe Arsenal talent Alexis Sánchez, via Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger. Scoring 25 goals in your first season in English football must set an already massive weight of expectation on your shoulders even heavier. However, Alexis Sánchez simply doesn’t seem to care. The Chilean appears genuinely excited when he steps onto the pitch, the little boy from Tocopilla bursting out of that red and white kit, with one aim in mind – scoring. And boy, can he do that. From examples of quick-witted thinking in the box, e.g. his first goal vs Reading in the FA Cup semi-final, to long-range thunderous shots against teams like Liverpool and Aston Villa. The former Barça player is a great finisher, and can be relied upon to tuck away a good goal. He looks set to replicate his feats of the past 12 months, and as a result will be an undisputed starter in the Gunners first XI.
Striker: Olivier Giroud
Perhaps the most debatable decision right now, over who Arsène Wenger will choose to lead the line next season. Whilst Theo Walcott started last week’s Community Shield clash, he didn’t look effective as a striker, and arguably doesn’t contribute significantly to team play. In comparison, Olivier Giroud’s left boot worked well last season, notching 14 league goals. Also, his link-up play is fantastic, holding up the ball and creating space for his fellow team-mates. For what he brings to the team in that respect, I believe he should be first choice striker, with Walcott as a different option of forward on the bench, ready to come on if Giroud isn’t working well with the opposition defenders. Whilst I believe a striker of a high calibre is needed in order to mount a serious, consistent title challenge, with less than a month to go of this summer’s window – and Benzema appearing our only target, albeit appearing an incredibly unrealistic transfer – it looks like Giroud will front the attack going into the next season.
It must be noted that this side, like last season, will shuffle around tenfold. However, I believe that judging off pre-season and last season, this will be Wenger’s first choice XI when everyone is available. It remains to be seen whether this side can bring success, although past memories have suggested it most certainly can.
