How Arsenal could line up next season

RAM: Mesut Özil

Mesut Özil created 99 chances in 33 Premier League games last season

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

Danny Welbeck only played 746 minutes in the Premier League last season

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

Lacazette scored 37 goals in all competitions last season

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.