Arteta’s debut full season starts today

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Today is the first day of the 2020/21 season, with the traditional Community Shield season opener

This season will be a defining one for Mikel Arteta. It is the young Manger’s first time taking charge for an entire season.

Everything we have seen from Arteta so far displays clarity of thought and decisive execution of plans. This is how he made us effective in the FA Cup run, ending with a trophy after just 7 months as a manager. Impressive stuff, which means we can assume that despite the unique lack of preseason, Mikel will have a clear plan on how he wants the season to go for is. Whatever happens, I think this means we can be extremely excited for the upcoming season.

It appears Arsenal have every intention of giving the Manager the tools that he needs to get back into the Champions League. Of course we’ve all been burned before and know, you can’t be sure with Arsenal until the transfer window is closed. With Gabriel’s arrival, the Brazilian CB from Lille, to be imminently announced, Arteta is after specific pieces to fit his jigsaw.

With Gabriel, Saliba and Mari(when back from injury), Arteta will have added height, power, passing range, and speed in the middle of defence. This should provide him with the flexibility to move between having three CBs or two.

The midfield is definitely the area where we have the most question marks about what Arteta wants us to look like in the new season. It’s no secret Arsenal are on the hunt for additions in the midfield. The stats for last season show the lack of creativity from the middle of the park.

The eye test has also told us for years that we lack stature, bite, control and aggression in our central midfield. For Arsenal to get back into the top for and challenge the best teams in England, this needs to be addressed.

For now, we still have yet to make space available and get cash in by selling. It remains to be seen the exact midfield specialists Arteta will have to pick from this season, but it is vital they give us the stability and balance to play the way Arteta wants to play.

With the likes of Elneny, Torreira and Guendouzi potential departing the club, will we be replenishing the midfield with the right profile of player.

Will Arteta still see Granit Xhaka as a nailed on starter?

Xhaka was relied upon by Arteta last season, its clear there is a lot of trust there.

Arteta is an intelligent man, he’ll be well aware of Xhaka’s glaring weaknesses. This makes it interesting to see how he plans to use Xhaka, the fans won’t accept his lack of mobility and handsy nature taking centre stage in the new season.

We’ve all seen it too many times and now we’re pinning are hopes on Arteta to really address these problems, tactically and with brave selections.

Another engaging element of Artetas first full season, is that he gets to hopefully benefit from Pepe having got his debut year in England out the way.

Arsenals record signing ended the season with a great performance in the FA Cup Final and will no doubt be anxious to kick on and fulfill his undoubted potential. It is Arteta’s job to make sure our best players are given a platform to thrive.

It seems Pepe has bought into the project and can be motivated to do the hard work in addition to proving quality in the final third. Now the fans want to see it consistently. Arteta appears to be a man with a plan, and intense and motivating figure.

We can eagerly await to see Arteta’s Arsenal revolution in full effect this season

Myles

Who are the fringe players set to leave Arsenal and the superstars set to replace them?

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Earlier this week we spoke about Arsenal’s task this summer being to sell fringe players, those who have been at the club for some time and are not quite good enough, and replace them with first teamers.

So who could be gone? And who would replace them?

Ainsley Maitland-Niles is set to be the first out of the door. He has already been replaced as back-up full back by Cedric Soares. Selling Maitland-Niles, who is not really a right back (he plays well at right wing back) for £20million and replacing him with Cedric who has played 300 games at right back internationally and domestically in the top flights in Portugal, Italy and England feels like good business.

Sokratis is off to Italy, Napoli leading the way for him. He has already been replaced in the squad by Pablo Mari who provides a second senior option alongside the two new young guns.

Rob Holding is a very popular member of the team, but he has yet to start 10 Premier League games in a single season. He turns 25 soon and its time we stopped speaking about his “potential”. Replacing him with 22-year-old Gabriel, who looks first team ready, is great business.

Finally at centre back, one of Shkodran Mustafi or Calum Chambers will leave this transfer window, to be replaced by William Saliba.

Moving forward into the midfield, Lucas Torreira is set to return to Italy. As Mikel Arteta moves to a midfield 3, replacing the Uruguayan with Thomas Partey, who is a world class performer, seems a no brainer.

Matteo Guendouzi is another who could well be out the door. His replacement is not quite clear. Although bringing in Houssem Aouar would certainly add creativity in the middle.

Finally we have Dani Ceballos. The hope is Arsenal will extend his loan deal. So Dani Ceballos comes in for him.

Upfront we might see Alexandre Lacazette leave, but not replaced. Expected Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to replace him up front with Willian being the option alongside Bukayo Saka on the wing.

On top of those mentioned, the likes of Saed Kolasinac, Mesut Ozil and one of the goal keepers could all leave if the price is right.

There really is no discussion to be had.

Those leaving have proved themselves over some time to not really be up to scratch, whilst those coming in are a mixture of world class performers, experienced Premier League performers and exciting youngsters.

It is going to be a good transfer window for Arsenal I feel.

Keenos

Arsenal’s midfield hopes and woes

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Tuesday night saw Arsenal take on MK dons in their penultimate game before the community shield against Liverpool on Saturday.

Last night saw the return of Mohamed Elneny who started and scored the opening goal in the 4-1 win at Stadium MK.

The Egyptian international made his first appearance for the Gunners since May 2019, having spent last season on loan at Besiktas, before returning to the Emirates last week.

Yet Elneny’s return to North London could prove to be short-lived, as boss Mikel Arteta looks to reshape his midfield. The midfielder is likely to return to Turkey sooner rather than later.

Lucas Torreira is rumoured to be ‘top of the list’ for Milan this summer, followed by reports this morning that 21 year old Matteo Guendouzi is being lined up for a possible move to the French capital with PSG.

Versatile Ainsley Maitland-Niles is also set to join Wolves.

Where does this leave Arsenal’s midfield?

With the only Granit Xhaka and Joe Willock suitable for the central midfield position, Arteta and Arsenal need to make some additions to the side before the transfer window shuts on October 4th.

With the start of a new Premier League season only weeks away, Arsenal need to move quickly.

But with lockdown restrictions imposed both abroad and here in the UK only time will tell what business can get done.

Arsenal were rumoured to be keen on landing Atletico midfielder Thomas Partey, however according to reports this morning that deal seems to be dead in the water.

Lyon reportedly rejecting Arsenals bid for Houssem Aouar.

With so many outgoings, it leaves Arsenal vulnerable in the middle of the park.

Its appears Arteta needs to move players out before new names come in but times running out to fill what seems and ever widening void.

If Arsenal are to start challenging at the top table of English football again, we need structure.

The trimming down of scouts and the departure of Raul Sanllehi can only be viewed as positive steps.

Arteta and Edu have the strangle hold on who comes in and out the door at the Emirates. The impending and drawn out arrival of Gabriel from Lille will strengthen a new look back line. But it is the midfield where Arsenal are extremely light.

The midfield is the engine of the team.

It needs to be moving the ball from defence to attack in seconds as was a given in the late 90’s early 2000s under Wenger.

The next few weeks are key and who walks through and out the door is more important now then in recent memory.

Dave