After a tough start, Arsenal are finally back on track with two wins in a row. Last season was a huge disappointment as the Gunners finished in eighth place and did not qualify for any European football as a result.
That prompted the club to make an investment in the squad, the kind of which we have never seen before. The north Londoners ended up spending close to 140 million GBP on new signings. This is why despite a poor start; the best betting companies are excited about Arsenal.
Team Preparation
This summer saw a lot of activity at the Emirates as the Gunners brought in six new players. The most expensive out of this was the £50m($69m) that was shelled out for centre back Ben White from Brighton and Hove Albion. The Englishman is expected to be a mainstay in the defence for years to come. Another significant purchase was made further up the pitch as the north Londoners brought in Martin Odegaard on a permanent deal.
A common theme among all the players that were signed is their age, as they are young and full of potential. This can be seen in Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares who have already managed to impress. The Gunners’ spending spree also included the arrivals of Aaron Ramsdale and Takehiro Tomiyasu and both have been pushed into the starting XI already.
The Line-up For 2021/22
Midway through last season, manager Mikel Arteta decided to make the shift to a 4-2-3-1 formation, and it has paid off. Though this can also morph into a 4-3-3, more often than not, this is the setup the Gunners like to have. Even if the personnel changes, the system remains the same and that helps build stability among the squad.
The position of the goalkeeper is one that is up for grabs as Aaron Ramsdale appears to have usurped Bernd Leno, at least for now. Going forward, it will be interesting to see which of these shot-stoppers is preferred by the club.
As for the defence, we are starting to see the four that form the best combination. This has Takehiro Tomiyasu as the right-back with Kieran Tierney on the left. And in the middle, it is this summer’s blockbuster signing White along with Gabriel. These four have qualities that complement each other and more importantly, are able to play the style that Arteta wants.
The good news for the Gunners is that they have a backup in each of these positions and this wasn’t the case last season. Cedric and Calum Chambers can fill in at right-back with Tavares deputising for Tierney. There is also the presence of Rob Holding and Pablo Mari who can play at centre back when needed.
In central midfield, the north Londoners have a few interesting options to choose from. Right now, the first-choice pairing is that of Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka which might change soon given how well Lokonga has fitted in. As for backups in this area, the squad does have Mohamed Elneny and Ainsley Maitland Niles who are useful in their own way.
Arteta has quite a few options to play around within the attacking department. The emergence of Emile Smith Rowe was one of the bright spots of last season and he is sure to have a big role to play. The youngster has been given the No. 10 which is a real show of faith. And in Bukayo Saka, the north Londoners have one of the best young players in the world. The re-signing of Odegaard is crucial in helping the club deal with creative issues that were apparent in 2020/21.
Then there is the mercurial presence of Nicolas Pepe who had his best season last year and could be a game-changer for the Gunners. Arteta will also be happy in having exciting talents like Gabriel Martinelli and Folarin Balogun to support the attack.
Upfront, Arsenal have the experience of captain and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and his close friend Alexandre Lacazette. There is also the option of using Eddie Nketiah should the situation demand it. The captain in particular would want to make amends for being below par last season.
These options give the manager the ability to change the balance of the team depending on the opposition. All in all, the north Londoners have a strong, talented and exciting squad that should finish higher up the table this season.
