In the 2017/18 season, Arsène Wenger will still be in the Arsenal hot seat, but not all will be the same. For the first time in over two decades, the Gunners will be playing Europa League football. A competition the fans once looked down upon, now they must embrace and enjoy it.
On top of all that, the Premier League season is set to be at its most competitive in recent memory. The top four teams have strengthened their squads from last season, as everybody wants to win the league title.
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With that being said, it’s time to analyse how Arsenal will look going into the 2017/18 season.
Formation: 3-4-3
GK: Wojciech Szczesny
After two successful years on loan at Roma, Wojciech Szczesny is now primed and ready to take his rightful place as no.1 at the Emirates. Arsène Wenger has always had faith in the Polish keeper and it now looks as though he will be getting his deserved chance.
At Roma, the Polish keeper kept 22 clean sheets in 72 Serie A games, a statistic only matched by few other goalkeepers in Europe. Szczesny gained valuable playing time in a continental league as well as playing European football at a high level.
RWB: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
For the first time in his career, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain may have found his best position. When Arsenal switched to a 3-4-2-1 at the tail end of last season, the Englishman looked like a new player in the right wing-back position. Up and down the right flank the 23-year old ensures he maintains width at all times as well as acting as the spare attacking option in the build-up.
His performances have also figuratively put a nail in the coffin of Hector Bellerín’s starting career. The Spaniard has been making more noise from the bench than he has on the pitch, all while the Ox has been making the position his very own. Though Chamberlain has been linked with an exit, the change in formation means he is likely to see more gametime next season and could stay at the Emirates for next season.
CB: Shkodran Mustafi
After a shaky first year in English football, Shkodran Mustafi will be looking to cement his place at the heart of Arsenal’s defence. The world cup winner arrived for £35m and there was pressure on him to perform. After a slow start, he is now fully acclimatised to the physicality of the Premier League and we’ll see the best of Mustafi next season.
CB: Laurent Koscielny
Leader, Legend and rock of defence, Laurent Koscielny’s place in Arsenal’s starting XI will forever be secure with Arsène Wenger at the helm. The 31-year old is largely considered by many as the best centre-back in the Premier League and as long as he’s fit, he’ll be leading the Gunners at the back.
CB: Rob Holding
After one of the best breakout seasons in recent memory, Rob Holding is the name on every Arsenal fan’s lips. The youngster reminded many of a young Tony Adams in the way he commanded the backline and sprayed the ball with confidence. His handling of Diego Costa in the FA Cup final was beyond magnificent and reassured fans that he’d be a match for any striker in the league next season.
LWB: Sead Kolašinac
As Arsenal’s newest acquisition, there will be a lot of pressure on the shoulders of Sead Kolašinac. As fans cry for change, the Serbian will be the first component of a new Arsenal to head into the new season.
The Serbian is a hard tackler, robust in man-marking and tireless in his work rate. He’ll displace Nacho Monreal and Kieran Gibbs as the left wing-back in Wenger’s 3-4-2-1.
DM: Granit Xhaka
With Santi Cazorla injury, Granit Xhaka adopted the full responsibility of creative duties in the midfield. The Swiss international became notorious last season for his varied long-range passing that offered so many problems for the opposition.
In the first few months of the season, Xhaka was labelled as a thug that couldn’t adjust to the pace of the league, but his overall gameplay has improved. Xhaka will only continue to grow into his role as the Gunners have finally found a system that offers him enough protection to control the game.
CM: Aaron Ramsey
No matter what injury he faces or what poor form he showcases, Aaron Ramsey will always be the apple of Arsène Wenger’s eye. The Welshman has been able to maintain his place in Wenger’s starting XI whenever fit and next year will be no different.
With the returning injury-prone Jack Wilshere, perhaps there may be a little competition for the box-to-box role alongside Xhaka. To maintain his role in the team, Ramsey would have to tirelessly run up and down, joining his teammates in both the attacking and defensive phases.
RAM: Mesut Özil
His future may not be clear, but for the sheer fact that no big team seems to be pursuing Mesut Özil, I’ll hazard a guess that he’ll be in an Arsenal shirt next season. Regardless of that, the German has never shied away from his admiration of the club and the manager.
Ivan Gazidis promised a few years ago that Arsenal would be able to compete with Europe’s elite, he wasn’t really talking about on pitch performances, he was talking about financial power. Now is the time for the club to prove that as they must make Özil one of the highest paid players in the league to retain his services for years to come.
LAM: Danny Welbeck
After the missing the majority of the 2016/17 campaign, Danny Welbeck came back with vengeance halfway through it. He not only revitalised Arsenal’s attack, he galvanised the whole team through his tireless work rate. On the left side of a narrow front three, Welbeck would act as a winger and a forward at the same time, thus allowing the Gunners to overload opposing defences. 2017/18 is the season that Danny Welbeck turns into the powerhouse he was touted to be.
ST: Alexandre Lacazette
Let’s face it, Alexis Sánchez is all but confirmed to not be an Arsenal player next season. Every one of Europe’s elite are after the Chilean and he seems no closer to signing a new contract at Arsenal. With that in mind, Arsène Wenger has gone full steam ahead with several French targets, including, Kylian Mbappé, Alexandre Lacazette and Thomas Lemar. As Mbappé will cost in excess of £100m, Alexandre Lacazette looks like the most viable option for the Gunners.
The 26-year old is one of the last remaining strikers on the market that’s affordable and not at a big club. Arsenal tried to get him last summer but with Wenger’s back firmly against the wall, this will be the summer he lands him.
Lacazette is a striker capable of also playing on the wing, meaning he has the versatility to stretch defences with his blistering pace. Wenger will welcome his elusive runs off the ball that will constantly give Mesut Özil the option to feed him through passes. Alexandre Lacazette could truly be the signing that turns Arsenal from pretenders into contenders.
