Arsenal

Arsenal's strongest XI with Takehiro Tomiyasu, Martin Odegaard

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 03 September 2021

Following the completion of the summer transfer window, Sports Mole takes a look at Arsenal's strongest XI with their new arrivals.

As the biggest Premier League spenders of the summer transfer window, expectation will be high among Arsenal fans for their side to deliver in the remainder of the season following their abysmal start to the 2021-22 campaign.

Waving goodbye to the likes of Joe Willock and Willian, six new arrivals in Nuno Tavares, Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Martin Odegaard and deadline-day signing Takehiro Tomiyasu now seek to turn Arsenal's fortunes around.

Mikel Arteta's side may still lack squad depth in key areas as they battle injuries and coronavirus-enforced absences, but each and every one of their summer arrivals are set to stake their claim for regular first-team spots this season.

With that in mind, Sports Mole takes a look at Arsenal's strongest XI following the completion of the summer transfer window.

ARS STRONGEST XI

Aaron Ramsdale's debut for Arsenal saw him barely tested during a routine 6-0 EFL Cup thrashing of a youthful West Bromwich Albion side, and despite forking out the big bucks to sign him from Sheffield United, the Englishman will play second fiddle to Bernd Leno for now.

With Hector Bellerin back in Spain with Real Betis while Calum Chambers and Cedric Soares flatter to deceive, the versatile Tomiyasu is a sure-fire starter in the right-back spot but will happily fill in at centre-back if needed.

Injuries and illness have prevented Arsenal fans from witnessing Gabriel Magalhaes and Ben White link up in the middle, but Rob Holding and Pablo Mari will certainly be displaced once their teammates are fit again.

Nuno Tavares has looked bright during his early cameos for the Gunners but is still some way off consistently challenging Kieran Tierney for a regular starting role, while Sead Kolasinac could still leave in the coming days.

From a seemingly inevitable departure to a new contract and subsequent red card against Manchester City, it is inconceivable to some that Granit Xhaka - who recently tested positive for coronavirus after refusing the vaccine - remains on the books at Arsenal, while Mohamed Elneny could still be offloaded to Turkey.

Albert Sambi Lokonga has already caught the eye and is worthy of a starting berth in midfield alongside Thomas Partey, whose Arsenal career is yet to take off following a plethora of injuries.

The re-capture of Martin Odegaard proved a major coup for Arsenal, with the ex-Real Madrid man an undisputed starter in the number 10 role - in turn shifting Emile Smith Rowe out to the left - while record signing Nicolas Pepe prepares to watch Bukayo Saka from the bench.

A new striker may not have been secured during the summer window, but Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - who opened their accounts for the season at West Brom - remain on the books, and the former leads the line in our strongest XI following mixed results in a wide role.