If we go by the rules, a Premier League side can register 25 players along with any number of U21 players. 8 out of these 25 players must be home-grown i.e. should have been registered at least for 3 years before turning 21. I am just leaving out these complexities for now to keep things simple. This was our last season’s team that played in Premier League.
GK – Ramsdale, Turner, Karl Hein
RB – Ben White, Tomiyasu
CB – Gabriel, Saliba, Kiwior, Holding
LB – Kieran Tierney, Zinchenko
DM – Partey, Elneny, Jorginho
AM – Vieira, Xhaka
CM – Odegaard, ESR
RW – Bukayo Saka, Nelson
LW – Martinelli, Trossard
CF – Jesus, Nketiah
There is no chance of any changes to our GK position. Ramsdale will be our #1 and Turner will be given game time against weaker opponents and when Ramsdale needs a rest.
For RB, we struggled last season due to Tomiyasu’s injury. We could have been in a much worse condition if we had to play 2 games a week, White did well but any injuries to either one of them can jeopardize our upcoming season. Hence, we are pursuing Jurrien Timber from Ajax. He is a CB, who can play equally well at RB and is probably going to play the inverted right back, similar to what Zinchenko does at the left side.
RB – Ben White, Tomiyasu, Jurrien Timber
Our Centre Back position is going to remain same. Holding signed a contract extension with the club till 2027, so he is not leaving. We are not going to sell anyone else.
LB – Zinchenko is going to be the starter, Tierney will deputize.
DM – talk of the town. We have, an injury prone but magnificent when in form, Thomas Partey, Jorginho and Elneny. We are going to submit the second bid for Declan Rice, and are also interested in 19-year old Roméo Lavia from Southampton. We are serious for both of them, and if they arrive, I could imagine some shifting. Rumours says we are fine to let go of Partey if a substantial bid come. Personally, I feel we shouldn’t and task him to mentor Rice and a young Lavia. Partey is immense, he was probably the best midfielder in Premier League last season and still have 2 years left on his contract. We can utilize one of these years for a transitioning.
My expectation – Partey, Rice, Lavia
Most likely – Rice, Jorginho, Lavia
Xhaka had a great season, his best with us since he joined. He is now off to Leverkusen and we will most likely get Kai Havertz from Chelsea in his place. I have given up on Vieira but not Mikel.
AM – Havertz, Vieira
There is going to be no changes at the top. We have the LW, RW, CF and CM position sorted for some time. Though I would like to see Balogun included in the list.
Here’s the thing. We have two important cups to play for – Premier League and Champions League. Positions like GK and CB can play twice a week if the need be, but other positions will require rotation. We also have to factor in any injuries. If we go into the season with Jesus and Nketiah as our only option at CF, and one of them is out injured, do you expect the other to cover 2 games a week without any drop in performance? I don’t. I know we can play Trossard and Martinelli at CF but you get the gist of it.
With the expected addition of Rice, Lavia and Havertz in midfield and Xhaka leaving, we would have to get rid of 2, Elneny and Jorginho are my choices. We will see though as Partey rumours are pretty strong.
A good thing about Arteta is, that he don’t get versatile player just for the namesake. Ben White has adapted really well at RB, Trossard has played at both LW and as a CF, and there wasn’t any drop in quality. Tomiyasu can play on either side and at CB. Timber will be added to this list. Our defence gets sorted, our wingers are set and fixing midfield is in progress.
Here’s my predication with some caveat –
Caveat being, Partey! We might end up with a midfield of Rice + Jorginho + Lavia/Elneny. We might also see Balogun replacing Eddie at CF.
There could be some more changes in the starting positions. Nelson plays well at LW too, Martinelli is equally good at RW and Jesus can cover too. Personally, this is what I am expecting at the end of this transfer window, without going into the details of whether Havertz is a good signing for us or now. If Mikel wants him, he can get him – I will look forward to the results.
–
Right, that’s all for today. What changes do you see (or expect) from the above line up?
I think you’ve pretty much nailed it Ambarish.
Couple of small changes, move Kiwior to Holding’s spot( surely to be sold), Timber to RCB and ESR arguably to the left rather than right(pedantic, apologies). Also Juninho more likely than Partey.
Tierney will be sold – I can’t see him be happy with another season as backup. I also don’t think for one second White being able to play at RB was a consideration in buying him. He was bought to be first choice CB (his early matches at RB weren’t anything to get excited about) only for Arteta to realise what everyone else knew – Saliba is top top quality. Arteta was therefore faced with a problem of having spent £50 million on a player who was going to be back up or stick the better player on the bench.
As usual Arteta tripped over a solution rather than managing anything clever.
Marc, one person’s flexible thinking is another’s happy accident. Wouldn’t expect you to be anything less than certain in your view.
Supposedly Tierney has been having talks about staying. – this could just be a ruse to extract more from a buyer.
Marc, have you not noticed that Arteta usually prefers a player who is capable of playing in more than one position. Do you not think that he was unaware that White had successfully played RB at Brighton? That’s quite an assumption if you do.
‘Do you think he was unaware….’
Ambarish
I don’t think you have any choice but to put Viera and Havertz for the #8 position. Personally, I don’t think either can play 8 for next season. The season after maybe and it’s a big maybe. I’d rather Smith Rowe stay at your preferred CM, as he used to have an almost telepathic link with Saka who he’s played with for so many years. Put Ode at 8 and Havertz at 9 to use his height where Havertz is likely to keep KT at the club for his crosses from the left and Havertz will, likely get 45 a game as Mikel loves his crosses.
Seriously for £60+m & £210k a week, I think there is far better out there than Havertz who wasn’t prolific at BL.
Not for me.
Marc,
We need 2 personnel at LB to manage our season. Tierney will get enough game time, Zinchenko is not a Ben White in fitness unfortunately.
Bob,
Oh yep, Kiwior for Holding; Timber is covering both RB and RCB.
I don’t see Arteta developing ESR as a no 8, I didn’t think of anything other than to put him as a Ode competition.
Tony,
Odegaard at #8 will not be any better than Havertz. We need imposing midfield, not light weights. Vieira is technical but lack that physicality and we have seen how it panned out.
A tough one that is, for Mikel and us.
Ambarish
I’m not saying I want Tierney to go I just think he will.
Bob
You think Arteta bought White with a long term view of playing him at RB?
Marc,
From the previous post, yes we lot can never be AFTV, because we do sensible arguments, ‘sensible’ being the key. I have a friend who did a college paper on how social media elevates the negativity and sexualism, and even if we complain about it, we are the only ones consuming it. All these fox news, and republic TVs are example. Every field has one.
May be I had put it wrongly, but fights might discourage new readers to join us. It’s alright if you two are okay with each other.
Marc, I have no idea whether he planned to play him at RB rather than RCB. The point is that Arteta has shown he likes versatility in a player so knowing White had capably RB at times in his career, he must have considered that he would be able to play him there if he needed to. He did. He’s played well there. When Saliba returned, he clearly realised he could get them both in the starting line up if he pushed White to RB.
Your suggestion that Arteta somehow accidentally lucked out does have a hint of agenda!
Did anyone read the ESR inteview recently where he said he likes to play ‘inside’ where Arteta has been encouraging him to improve his defensive contribution. Sounds like an 8 to me
Ambarish, I think you’ll find Havertz a lightweight, too, like Vieira – just a taller version. I think you’ll also find Kiwior is a lefty and bought as a back up for Gabs. Havertz complaints i’ve read is he’s lazy and doesn’t do defending – similar to Pepe.
Bob, I agree ESL has the right build for an 8, but to date his best output is on the right linking with Saka. We still need an 8 and I don’t feel Havertz or Rice naturally fit that position’s nuances. ESR always struggled on the left, but I will concede ESR has past Chios injury issues, not that I see as those issues would just impede playing left or right being a groin problem.
Mikel has a propensity to shoehorn players into positions, why can’t he just buy the players for their best positions. Multi-positional players tend to be a jack of all trades unless elite.
Ambarish, whether 7 (RCM) or 8 (LCM) Ode has always been a bit lightweight but he has a fierce attack to his game being the winner he will go on to be.
So, it makes no difference in a 3-man midfield if Ode plays 8 or 7 for his body musculature.
Tony, take your point, Jack of all trades, master of none’ but as you allude to, ‘unless elite’.
I’m no expert on Havertz but Arseblog was discussing him with Gunnerblog and the feeling from Chelsea supporters is that he could bang if he plays in his best position, AM – Chelsea misused him as a false 9.
Agree about ESR and Saka combining really well but I’d argue that those combinations happened wherever, sometimes Saka came over to the centre to combine with ESR who usually started on the left.
If Odegaard was unavailable, Havertz could obviously play there too.
9 CF or 10 AM I would have said fitted Havertz skills set best, just not convinced he’s the player of the caliber you’re hoping for that can elevate us to really challenging Pep and Klopp next season.
Always happy to be wrong with my football critiques.
Bob, what’re your thoughts on Bolagun? I’d prefer him to Eddie if I’m honest.