The majority of Arsenal’s first XI are either in or approaching their primes, but a select few players routinely in the squad of 18 on matchdays are approaching regression. Once their bodies start to break down and their technical abilities start to fade, Arsene Wenger, or whoever is at Arsenal’s helm at that point, will have no choice to replace them. Here, I will be doing it for them, either utilizing academy prospects or suggesting that they bring in young talent from other clubs.
Player: Per Mertesacker (30-years-old)
Replacement: Jannik Vestergaard, Denmark & Werder Bremen (23-years-old)
I am not totally sold on the Koscielny-Gabriel partnership when playing against teams with tall target men up front, and the Koscielny-Mertesacker duo has worked well for years, so a Mertesacker-like replacement should be brought in when the Germany international is past his prime. Vestergaard is pretty much Mertesacker 2.0 but with much better hair. The Norway centre-back is built more like an NBA small forward than a centre-back, standing at an identical height to Mertesacker at 6’6″, but weighing in at a more than sturdy 212 pounds. He even scored a header for Bremen last weekend, leading them to a 2-1 win over last year’s UEFA Champions League qualifiers Borussia Moenchengladbach. Also, Mertesacker came to Arsenal from Werder Bremen, so the club would likely know what quality player they would be getting.
Player: Santi Cazorla (30-years-old)
Replacement: Jeff Reine-Adelaide, Arsenal U21’s (17-years-old)
Cazorla’s technique is undeniable and he has only recently peaked as he is still playing at the top level, but in one or two years, he could start to fatigue and break down. Gooners all love the Spanish magician, and they also love the player I would replace him with, and that is Jeff Reine-Adelaide. The most hyped signing of Arsenal’s summer, likely because of the absence of acquired outfield players, Reine-Adelaide quickly jumped into the picture with fantastic performances during the Barclays Asia Trophy tournament and the Emirates Cup. Reine-Adelaide stands at 6’0″, a great height for a midfielder, and if he follows in Cazorla’s footsteps, he will spend time on the wing, as a central attacking midfielder, and as a deep-lying playmaker, all of which he has played at in some point in his short career. Reine-Adelaide has proven he has the skills and pace for those positions, but time will tell if his passing ability is good enough for him to be the successor of the Spanish maestro.
Player: Tomas Rosicky (34-years-old)
Replacement: Dan Crowley, Arsenal U21’s/on loan to Barnsley (18-years-old)
The energy that Tomas Rosicky can inject into a match is a game-changer in itself. Always active and looking for the ball whether his team has it or not, the Czech has created some big moments for Arsenal over the years, so someone with that level of energy is the only rightful heir to the Arsenal midfielder. Dan Crowley has been compared to Jack Wilshere plenty of times, and Wilshere also plays with lots of energy, similar to Rosicky. Crowley has the potential to be a star for Arsenal and England, and if he plays like Rosicky and comes through when needed and is always active, then he should have no trouble with fulfilling that potential.
Player: Mikel Arteta (33-years-old)
Replacement: Marco Verratti, Italy and PSG (22-years-old)
This could end up being merely a pipe dream, but Verratti, a young but seasoned midfield general, would be perfect for sitting beside the destroyer in defensive midfield and helping the attack tick. A few seasons ago, Arteta led the league in completed passes, pass attempts, and was high on the board with the amount of touches of the ball in a season. The Italian international is more than capable of replicating or even exceeding those stats at one point in his career. Verratti is small, standing at a Cazlora-esque height of 5’5″, but his aggression more than makes up for his height, as you can see with the frequency of yellow cards that he gets. That is easily fixable, but it is still not an issue as Arsenal still have Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere, who can play in that position, too. Arsene Wenger was reportedly in Paris trying to sign Verratti on Deadline Day, but it proved too little too late. Hopefully, the Frenchman can bring in the Italian playmaker soon, as he would give the team someone to always look to in matches who is reliable on the ball.
Player: Mathieu Flamini (31-years-old)
Replacement: Glen Kamara (19-years-old)
Mathieu Flamini has had two separate spells at Arsenal, and the two spells have been polar opposite. His first one, he was young, energetic, and eager to destroy opposition’s attacks in midfield. His second one, which is currently happening, has been him pointing to space instead of filling it himself to stop the other team from advancing. Kamara has shown his dominance in midfield recently as he scored and held down the centre of the park well in a 5-0 win for the U21s against West Ham’s U21s at the Emirates on Friday evening. Flamini is relatively useless going forward and does not help the attacks at all, and sometimes he even proves himself as a liability. He certainly has shown himself off as a liability on the Arsenal defence, as the veteran Frenchman’s defensive play is more comparable to a slice of swiss cheese than a brick wall. Kamara is dual footed, big, and athletic; all attributes that are required for top midfielders in today’s game. Kamara’s replacing Flamini could come quickly, as the youngster has yet to feature for the senior side but will soon if he keeps playing like he did on Friday.
