EPL 2017/18: How Arsenal could line up this season

Defence – Shkodran Mustafi, Laurent Koscielny and Nacho Monreal

With Arsenal shifting to three-at-the-back, the need for having full-backs in the lineup is completely eliminated and this allows Wenger to field Monreal – who has slowly but surely lost a yard of pace – in his back line alongside Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi.

Koscielny has long been Arsenal’s best defender and is also entrusted with the captain’s armband if and when Per Mertesacker doesn’t make it to the starting lineup. With the German already announcing that he will be retiring at the end of the season, it is expected that he will be playing only a bit-part role this season.

Mustafi arrived at the Emirates Stadium outfit in a deal which cost the Gunners in excess of £35 million and although he enjoyed a decent start to the season, he struggled with injuries towards the latter part of the season and failed to help the team qualify for the Champions League.

Gabriel is another option that Arsene Wenger has and the Brazilian had shown signs of improvement towards the end of last season before suffering a ligament injury. Rob Holding is another option that the North London outfit have and he can be expected to deputize for Koscielny if and when the Frenchman needs to be rested or is unavailable.