Mikel Arteta’s dream Arsenal XI with four new signings on first day of next season
Arsenal has already been associated with several talented players in anticipation of the upcoming 2023/24 season. The team had a successful campaign last year, securing a second-place finish under the management of Mikel Arteta.
Although they fell short of winning the Premier League title, there is a positive outlook as they look ahead to the next season.
The trend of Arsenal being associated with high-profile players has persisted as the transfer window approaches.
ArsenallBrief Football examines the most recent rumors and speculates on how the team could potentially shape up on the first day of the upcoming season.
Following his impressive performance with 14 clean sheets in the Premier League, it is highly probable that Aaron Ramsdale will maintain his position as the goalkeeper for Arsenal. He has recently signed a new contract with the club, indicating his long-term commitment.
The defensive line in front of Ramsdale is expected to have a sense of familiarity. Oleksandr Zinchenko will likely take up the left-back position, with Kieran Tierney playing ahead of him. Gabriel Magalhaes is anticipated to be part of a formidable center-back duo.
Despite ongoing injury concerns and reported interest from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), William Saliba is likely to retain his place as a key figure in Arsenal’s defense. However, there might be a minor change beside him.
In an ideal scenario, Arsenal would make another acquisition from Manchester City by securing the services of Portuguese defender Joao Cancelo. There have been rumors linking Arsenal to Cancelo, especially since Bayern Munich is not interested in signing him permanently after his loan spell.
Cancelo, who has been named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year twice, would be a significant improvement over Ben White at right-back, making it understandable for him to take White’s place in the starting lineup.
Arsenal would be actively looking to strengthen their midfield options. Granit Xhaka is reportedly close to joining Bayer Leverkusen in Germany, while Thomas Partey has not lived up to the high expectations placed on him since his arrival at the club.
As a result, Arsenal may look to bring in two new midfielders to bolster their squad. Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi has indicated that Moises Caicedo, a previous target for Arsenal, could depart the club in the summer. Arsenal might consider reigniting their interest in Caicedo, having had a previous bid rejected during the winter transfer window.
Additionally, Declan Rice has been a long-standing target for Mikel Arteta. However, signing Rice could prove challenging due to West Ham’s high asking price and interest from Bayern Munich. Nevertheless, there remains hope that Arteta can assemble a strong midfield by potentially acquiring both Caicedo and Rice.
Captain Martin Odegaard, who had an outstanding campaign and was even nominated for the Premier League Young Player and Player of the Season awards, is expected to continue leading the team in the upcoming season. Meanwhile, Bukayo Saka, a product of the Arsenal academy, is highly likely to retain his position in the squad following his impressive performances.
The 21-year-old Bukayo Saka had a remarkable season, scoring 14 goals and providing 11 assists in the Premier League. Similar to Ramsdale, he has committed his future to Arsenal by signing a new contract. Another player expected to retain his place in the squad is Gabriel Martinelli, who enjoyed his most productive season to date.
Although Arsenal fans may desire to see fellow Brazilian Gabriel Jesus play alongside Martinelli, there have been rumors suggesting that the Gunners might pursue another striker. It is possible that a previous transfer target could prove to be very useful in fulfilling that role.
According to The Telegraph, there are indications that Roma might be compelled to sell Tammy Abraham in order to comply with UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. Arsenal has shown interest in the player in the past, and a potential new bid for Abraham would not come as a significant surprise.
Mikel Arteta’s dream Arsenal XI with four new signings on first day of next season