Arsenal Transfer News: Picking a Starting XI to Include Santi Cazorla

Arsenal have announced the official signing of Santi Cazorla from Malaga via their official website—their third big-name signing after picking up Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski earlier in the summer transfer window.

The big question that remains now is how the signing will affect their squad for the upcoming season and more to the point, how will Cazorla fit in with the Gunners' starting side?

We've got an Arsenal XI to include Cazorla, as well as Arsenal's two other big signings of the summer. I'd love to know your thoughts on the squad, so feel free to comment below or even hit me up on Twitter if need be.

Before we begin, two key things to remember—the first of which being that this is a 4-2-3-1 formation, and the second of which being that it only includes official transfers. So yes, for everyone wondering, it will include Robin van Persie.

Let's take a look at how the Gunners will line up with Cazorla.

GK: Wojciech Szczesny

Just 22 years old, Wojciech Szczesny has a bright future ahead of him at the Emirates—especially after an impressive season with the Gunners.

Ranking top five in the league for clean sheets, Szczesny is a clear choice for goalkeeper and one that Arsenal will continue to turn to for many years to come.

LB: Kieran Gibbs

The Arsenal back four is almost as straightforward as it was for the goalkeeper, and we'll start on the left with Kieran Gibbs.

Gibbs started 18 times at left-back last season for the Gunners—ranking in the top five in both tackles and interceptions for the club and consolidating his place in Arsenal's defense for many years to come.

LCB: Thomas Vermaelen

With 28 appearances for Arsenal last season and an average match rating of 6.97, expect Thomas Vermaelen to hold his starting position for the upcoming English Premier League season.

His inclusion is a must for the Gunners—especially given the attacking edge that the Belgian international brings to the squad.

RCB: Laurent Koscielny

Another player who simply has to be included in Arsenal's starting side is Laurent Koscielny, who led all defenders in appearances and average match rating last season.

The 26-year-old has developed into one of the premier defenders in the English Premier League and is poised to have another strong season at the Emirates.

RB: Bacary Sagna

Bacary Sagna was excellent in defense for Arsenal last season—though his year did finish on a sour note with a horrific injury against Norwich.

The defender is believed to be on the road to recovery and is expected to start the Premier League season, according to The London Evening Standard.

If healthy, he's a definite inclusion in Arsenal's side.

DCM: Mikel Arteta

Now we start to get into the players affected by the transfer of Santi Cazorla; but for me, Mikel Arteta cannot be started anywhere other than on the pitch.

The Spanish international finished with the second highest average match rating behind Robin van Persie last season—proving himself to be one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the Premier League.

His defensive work and attacking assistance is simply too good to be wasted by starting him as a substitute—especially now that Cazorla is ahead of him in the lineup.

DCM: Alexandre Song

With Jack Wilshere still a long way away from returning from injury (per The Guardian), I've gone with Song here in the starting lineup—though the England international will certainly push for a starting position once healthy.

Song's attacking ability is excellent—leading the team in assists last season—whilst maintaining an effective relationship with Arteta in the middle of the pitch.

As mentioned, his position is in jeopardy when Wilshere returns, but with that rumored to be around October, Song gets his place in the starting side for now.

LF: Lukas Podolski

First of all, let me point out that I think Lukas Podolski would be better served in the middle of the pitch—behind the striker—but with Robin van Persie, Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud all needing starting positions, the German international finds himself out on the left for now.

The 27-year-old netted 18 goals and seven assists for Cologne in the Bundesliga last season and will be an excellent signing for Arsenal this year. He has proven ability and skill, and with attacking creativity all around him, could find himself with several goals to his name this year.

CF: Robin Van Persie

With 30 English Premier League goals, the Golden Boot Award and the knowledge that he practically carried Arsenal to a top-four spot last season, the inclusion of Robin van Persie isn't a hard one to make.

I think he'll drop back from his striker's role to play behind Giroud, who will act as a better frontman for the club in attack. RVP has plenty of on-ball creativity and will push forward in the attack—giving defenses around the league nightmares about who to pick up in the box.

The 28-year-old looks to be staying at the club for this year, according to The Daily Mirror.

RF: Santi Cazorla

With over 40 appearances for Spain in his career, make no mistake that Santi Cazorla is a big, big signing for Arsenal this summer and one that definitely earns a starting place at the Emirates.

Cazorla's flexibility means that he can really be played anywhere throughout midfield, and although his most ideal position is behind the striker, he is out on the right to accommodate for an attacking quality that already exists.

The 27-year-old can do everything in midfield—defend, create through the middle, play as a winger—and will continue floating there and doing it all for the Gunners. He is the ideal Arsene Wenger midfielder and a huge signing for Arsenal.

ST: Olivier Giroud

Unless you're Chelsea, you don't spend big money on a striker just to plant him on the bench for the entire season (read: Romelu Lukaku), so expect Olivier Giroud to start frequently for the Gunners this year.

The former Montpellier striker netted 23 goals in 37 appearances last season and will be a great boost for Arsenal in attack—especially given all the creativity and talent that will surround him on the pitch.

Giroud brings a much-needed aerial presence in attack for the Gunners, and could form a dynamic relationship with Cazorla should the Spanish international feature down the right like he does in this starting side. The 25-year-old Giroud is another brilliant signing by Wenger and one that will shine this season.

Starting XI and Notable Omissions

As with any starting side, there are going to be some areas of contention and some players do have to miss out—particularly in attack.

Robin van Persie, Olivier Giroud, Lukas Podolski, Santi Cazorla are all must-include players for me. They will start in different positions and at times, as a substitute; but in an ideal world, they all feature in Arsenal's starting side for next season.

Which is nothing against the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott, Gervinho, Aaron Ramsey and Tomas Rosicky—they're just non-starters compared to the myriad of attacking talent that Arsenal currently have in their lineup.

The same goes for Per Metersaker, Andre Santos and Francis Coquelin—all solid, strong players but hard to have at the expense of any of the four player mentioned in this article.

What would your Arsenal side including Santi Cazorla look like?

Anything you agree, disagree on—comment below or...  Follow @dantalintyre

All statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com