Arsenal

How Arsenal could line up next season

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 17 March 2020

With several incomings and outgoings expected at Arsenal during the summer transfer window, Sports Mole assesses how the Gunners could line up next season.

Having being named as the new Arsenal manager during December, Mikel Arteta wasted no time in making changes to his first-team squad in the transfer window.

However, while Cedric Soares and Pablo Mari arrived at the Emirates Stadium in January, it represented just the first stage of Arteta's intended transformation of an inconsistent squad.

As well as the uncertainty over the remaining games to be played in the Premier League and FA Cup, the Spaniard also has doubts over whether several high-profile players will be remaining in North London.

With that in mind, Sports Mole takes a look at the Gunners could begin the next campaign, whenever it gets underway.

Although he has made some notable errors in the past, goalkeeper Bernd Leno has also saved Arsenal on many occasions, ensuring that the German should remain the club's number one for the foreseeable future.

Soares has been brought in as competition for Hector Bellerin, but the latter is likely to hold down a place at right-back once he has shaken off a persistent groin problem.

On the opposite side, Kieran Tierney will likely get the nod over Bukayo Saka now that he has gotten over a shoulder injury, and we expect a fresh look at the middle of the backline.

Once he has adjusted to life in the Premier League, Mari is expected to hold down a regular spot in the centre, potentially alongside William Saliba who will finally link up with Arsenal in the summer after his loan spell at Saint-Etienne.

Wary of making too making too many changes at one time, Arteta may be prepared to persist with a midfield double-act of Granit Xhaka and Lucas Torreira, although they could be supported by a fresh face.

RB Leipzig midfielder Marcel Sabitzer has been tipped as a potential arrival, and the playmaker would be able to slot into a midfield three or take the place of Mesut Ozil in the number 10 role.

As it stands, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will almost certainly be sold later in 2020, a development which would have significant implications for the rest of the attack given his versatility.

After having had a season in English football, Gabriel Martinelli could be trusted down the left flank, especially if Sabitzer can add more resilience in the middle of the pitch.

Arkadiusz Milik, currently at Napoli, is in contention to replace Aubameyang, with the Poland international a better fit down the middle than Alexandre Lacazette.