So you gave your verdict on the starting XI, now let us see what happens on our bench. Arguable, our lack of depth cost us some points in the last stretch last season so we need to make sure next season to have a well rounded squad to make up for injuries, dips in form or fatigue…
- GK: Turner, Hein.
- Not convinced by Turner at all. I would suggest moving him on and bringing in a more reliable GK. I likeMaignan from Milan, Mendy from Chelsea, Lafont from Nantes, Meslier from Leeds but they ll probably want to be starters to why not make a move for Mats Selz from Strasbourg. He is a very good GK, highly underrated or Hradecky from Leverkusen.
- Hein, the jury is out
- RB: Tomyasu, AMN
- I think Tomy should be kept because he allows us to play in different set-up so I would keep him and I d loan out Kiwior (see below). That said, he may want to be a starter so let us see…Also, if we buy a RB to compete with White, things may change…
- AMN should be moved on
- CB: Holding, Kiwior, Trusty, Mari
- Kiwior and Trusty should be loaned out.
- Holding is a tough one because he is now a club player. He is not great but he is a good squad player. If we buy a new CB to compete with Saliba and Gabriel, then I think he should be sold and thanked for good services. It would be a bit like saying good bye to Chambers.
- Mari to be moved on
- LB: Tierney, Cedric, Tavares
- He is a definite keeper for me. I d hate to lose him especially to Newcastle – they would have Trippier on the right and Tierney on the left, it would be a disaster for the rest of the EPL given their crossing abilities…
- Cedric – not sure about his contract situation but he should be moved on.
- Tavares – another loan would help him out. I d say Italy would be best for him. He is great going forward but needs to be more disciplined defensively. Lecce or Atalanta would be good destinations.
- DM/CM: Jorginho, El Neny, Lokonga
- Jorginho and El Neny would be kept.
- Lokonga – seems the EPL is a bit too much for him yet. He can be sold or loaned out.
- Xhaka – I d keep him in the squad even if we get Rice. An experienced and valuable player.
- AM: ESR, Vieira
- ESR, plagued by injury but needs to be kept because when he is fit, he is lethal.
- Vieira – a tough year for him but he ll get better. A loan in the EPL would do him good. What about Forest?
- RW: Nelson, Marquinhos, Pepe
- Nelson about to sign a long term contract again. He can be a useful player so I d say sign him up for long and then loan him out again. He needs more game time.
- Marquinhos – another loan but at EPL level is required.
- Pepe – the end of the road for our most expensive signing. He had an OK season at Nice. He d do well at Marseilles, Benfica, Leverkusen…Sad it did not work out.
- LW: Trossard,
- Instant impact and then faded but good to have him on the squad. Must be kept.
- FW: Nketiah, Balogun
- Two good forwards. Nketiah helped us really well when Jesus was injured and Balogun had a breakthrough season in France.
- Nketiah and Balogun are both highly rated at home and away. Id hate to sell any of them but maybe we may have to part with one. I can’t decide.
So here are my keepers: Hein, Tomy, Tierney, Jorginho, El Neny, ESR, Nketiah or Balogun. Also interested in keeping Xhaka even if Rice joins us. Here is my back-up team:
SELS – White, Tomy, TARKOWSKI (or Gabriel if we upgrade at CB), Tierney – Jorginho, Xhaka – BOWEN (or Mbeumo, Barnes or Harrisson or Chukwuze or N. Williams or even Rafinha), ESR, Trossard – Nketiah or Balogun
I need to add 3: Hein or Okunkwo, El Neny and Taylor-Hart.
Of course, if Xhaka leaves, we will need a back up CM/DM: Ward-Prowse.
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
So building also on last post, here is my squad for next year:
Ramsdale – Frimpong, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko – Rice (since Caicedo is off), Partey – Saka, Ode, Martinelli – G. Jesus
Sels – White, Tomy, Tarkowski, Tierney – Jorginho, Xhaka (or Ward Prowse)- Bowen, ESR, Trossard – Nketiah (or Balogun)
COYG!
Recruits: Sels, Frimpong, Tarkowski, Rice, Bowen and Ward-Prowse (if Xhaka leaves). Doable?
Tarkowski that made ne chuckle I remember tarkowski was for sale at Burnley and we went an nut sokratis and Lewis
Want to wish AMN all the best could have had such a great career
[…] Fuente del artículo […]
Rumour: With Rice coming in, Partey and Arsenal may be tempted to see the Ghana international leave the club. A return to Spain or a move to Italy may be on the card. Strange as we thought that the arrival of Rice and/or Caicedo would be bad news for Xhaka…Anyways, let us see
Rc78 I see psg tried to temp arteta away lol
It’s rumoured that Arsenal are prepared to let Thomas Partey leave this summer, also that Arteta wants Tierney to stay and that Arsenal are prepared to offer him a new, improved contract?
There also seems to be interest in young Latvia from Southampton, possibly a less developed but more reasonably priced option to Caicedo?
Lavia of course, I’m sure that Latvia is a nice place to visit all the same.
Hmm actually thought sambi would have given more game time this season
Sambi most likely to leave…
PSG is desperate for a coach…Apparently Luis Enrique is the one but to be honest, if it is to get Luis Enrique, we are better off with the current coach…
What has happened to all the French coaches?
There are only 2 very good ones at the moment: Deschamps and Zidane.
That said, there are two that are also very interesting coaches (on top of Laurent Blanc): Haise from Lens and Genesio at Rennes…I think both of these coaches would do well with second tier teams like Brighton, Everton…Their teams play good football and their players usually improve and maximize their potential.
Meanwhile, our club is apparently trying hard to sign:
– Timber (CB)
– Rice (DM/CM)
– Havertz (AM/FW)
Timber would come in for Kiwior or Holding and would definitely give a run for his money to Saliba and/or Gabriel.
Rice would be an upgrade at midfield, either Partey or Xhaka.
Havertz – I am not sure the rationale behind this purchase to be honest except that he is very hard working and technical players but what would that mean for ESR, Nketiah, Balogun, Vieira?
PSG will turn to Luis Enrique to improve their fortunes in the L1 and Champions’ League…Luis Enrique will be announced as the new PSG’s Headchoach this week, most likely by Wednesday.
With Enrique at the realm of PSG, PSG is expected to play in a 4312 set up with:
Donna – Haki, Skri, Marqui, Nuno – Ugarte?, Verratti?, Rabiot? – Neymar – Lukaku?, Mbappe
The midfield may be totally revamped to suit Enrique’s needs…
Asensio already agreed terms with PSG. He may not be a starter but he will be part of the squad.
Mbappe asking for a “Giroud/Kane/Lawandowsky” type of players up front next to him and apparently upset that Thuram is moving to Inter Milan…Lukaku hence being monitored too.
? – Pembele, Mukiele, Kimpembe, ? – Zaire Emery, Danilo, Ruiz – Vitinha – Asensio, Ekitike
What you all think about letting partey go find it strange
I guess Fred that it depends on who we bring in?
A fit Thomas Partey is a wonderful thing to behold but TP’s fitness or reliability is probably the main reason that Arteta is prepared to let him leave, if he in fact does…
I wouldn’t like to see Partey leave but if we get Rice, is Rice-Xhaka more reliable than Partey-Rice as a double pivot? Tough question to answer…If Rice is asked to mostly carry the ball, then it is better to keep Partey but if he is asked to mostly protect the back 4, then maybe it is better to keep Xhaka…
Timber – Rice – Havertz all being closely watched by out club…
If Havertz come, I think we would need to get prepared to see Nketiah and Balogun leave and potentially ESR. All 3 are academy players so maybe not the best move to bring in Havertz but let us see.
ESR having a good Euro so far
Frimpong, Dumfries also good options at RB
Yea if partey goes who would be that person bacup
Looks as if Man City have pulled out of the chase for Declan Rice following Arsenal’s recent bid of £105m including add-ons…
The last time Arsenal held the English transfer record was for £220,000 and Alan Ball, if I recall correctly?
Is rice really worth that over partey
If we end up with Xhaka and Partey leaving (as is being reported) then I’ll be interested to see if Arteta looks to move to a similar system that City employed for the second half of last season. It would probably mean Zinchenko playing much more as a DM player and Jorginho starting a lot more games, and could probably explain why Tierney might go. Looking at the (potential) signings, and the existing players we have, I think it makes more sense than sticking with the 4231. Alternatively, we could continue with our current system, but then another body (Lavia) would need to be brought in to be back up behind Rice and Jorginho, and Tierney would probably have to stay as LB cover.
It also appears that Havertz has been brought in to play in midfield areas rather than as a CF, although he can operate anywhere across the front if needed.
Tbh, I think our team sheet will probably read something like this week in week out:-
Ramsdale
White Saliba Gabriel Zinchenko
Rice Havertz
Saka Odegaard Martinelli
Jesus
But, as we saw lots last season, when we have the ball on the pitch it will probably look more like this:-
Ramsdale
White Saliba Gabriel
Rice Zinchenko
Saka Odegaard Havertz Martinelli
Jesus
This would be our back up team:-
Turner
Timber Kiwior Tomiyasu
Elneny Jorginho
Nelson ESR Vieira Trossard
Nketiah
I have no issue with paying £100m for Rice, as he’s basically our midfield for the next 5-10 years, and he’s English, but I do worry about the number of players we are planning to go into next season with. We have a CL campaign to add to the schedule, and if Havertz, Rice and Timber are the only incomings, then can we really afford to let Xhaka, Partey and Tierney go???
Squad
Ramsdale Turner
White Tomiyasu Timber
Saliba Gabriel Kiwior Holding
Zinchenko
Rice Jorginho Elneny Vieira
Odegaard Havertz ESR
Saka Nelson
Martinelli Trossard
Jesus Nketiah Balogun
Unsure
Hein Holding Mari Tavares Tierney Cedric Xhaka Partey Lokonga Marquinhos Pepe
Last season Saliba, Saka and Martinelli were all classified as U21’s and thus weren’t included in our squad of 25, this season they’re all in the 25 which means less room.
This is pretty much how I see our squad list at the moment based on players that have to be registered due to age and potential incomings and outgoings (Assuming that Xhaka leaves and last seasons loan players are sold/loaned out and we manage to bring in Rice & Timber)….
Ramsdale*
Turner
Timber
Tomiyasu
Tierney
Zinchenko
Gabriel
White*
Saliba*
Kiwior
Holding*
Jorginho
Elneny
Partey
Rice*
Vieira
ESR*
Odegaard
Trossard
Havertz
Nelson*
Saka*
Martinelli*
Nketiah*
Jesus
That’s a list of 25 with 10 home grown players.
We only need 8 HG players so there would still be plenty of room for ins and outs looking at that list. Partey, Holding, Tierney and Nketiah have all been linked with moves, and then of course we can supplement the team with the likes of Balogun and other U21 players.