Predicting Arsenal's First Team Following the Close of the 2014 Transfer Window
Now that the dust has settled and the transfer window has finally—mercifully—shut, it's time to take stock and think about how Arsenal will line up for most of the season.
Of course, all predicted lineups fall well short of 100 percent accuracy every game, as a combination of form, fatigue and injuries (mostly the latter) make the manager change his plans.
Still, we now have a good idea of whom Arsene Wenger favors and what his tactical preferences are. With that said, let's have a look at Arsenal's most probable first team for the 2014-15 season.
Goalkeeper: Wojciech Szczesny
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Though Wojciech Szczesny has been a mainstay in Arsenal's goal for years now, he is still not guaranteed his place for the entire season.
The signing of David Ospina should and apparently has lit a fire under Szczesny, who knows there will be no room for complacency this season. He recently said (per Sky Sports):
"I feel confident of being No. 1 but I know I can’t let myself play a few bad games.
I know Ospina’s ambitions don’t end at sitting on the bench and clapping his hands while watching me play.
"
Still, Szczesny will have to make repeated blunders before he his benched. He is extremely naturally talented and inspires confidence in both his defenders and Arsenal supporters.
Right-Back: Mathieu Debuchy
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No surprise here. When Bacary Sagna left this past summer and Arsenal needed a sturdy, reliable, experienced replacement, Mathieu Debuchy was the man to whom they turned.
The Frenchman has not disappointed so far, with a number of very well-rounded performances in his first matches as a Gunner. The fact that no one really devotes much attention to Arsenal's right-back situation is wholly positive for everyone.
Though his age (29) means that he will probably not be a prominent figure at the club for more than a couple of seasons, Wenger and Co. can sleep well knowing they have a very capable short-term solution.
Center-Backs: Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker
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There is no question that Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker, together the bedrock of Arsenal's title-challenging team last season, will anchor the defense once more.
The biggest issue for Arsenal is determining who will replace one or both of them when injury or suspension inevitably hit.
Other than the woefully inexperienced though prodigiously talented Calum Chambers, there is absolutely no one. That is utterly inexcusable, but at least Arsenal can take comfort in having one of the most talented and reliable central-defensive pairings in England.
Left-Back: Kieran Gibbs
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Kieran Gibbs was injured during Arsenal's very first game of the season, so it is easy to forget about him.
But he is—and has been—the Gunners' starting left-back, despite the lingering presence of Nacho Monreal behind him. And if Arsene Wenger's prediction is correct, Gibbs should be in the final week of his recovery.
It's a good thing, too, because he is becoming one of the best left-backs in England. Gibbs has retained much of the attacking quality gained from his training as a winger and finally mastered the art of defense.
Arsenal have almost no depth at left-back, so his return will be welcome for purely numerical reasons as well.
Holding Midfielder: Mikel Arteta
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Like it or not, Mikel Arteta—not the do-it-all defensive midfielder that many are crying out for—will form the base of Arsenal's midfield this season.
However, I did not label the Spaniard's position as such in the title. His role is much broader than that and is more akin to the holding and distribution of the ball style of play that Claude Makelele made famous at Chelsea.
Therein lies Arteta's primary skill. He is actually not as bad at doing nitty-gritty defensive work as many suggest, but he is certainly more out of place than when he is picking out efficient passes to his teammates ahead of him.
Though Arteta is being slowed down by age, he is one of Arsene Wenger's favorite players. And his role as the team's captain and leader should not be forgotten, either.
Central Midfielder: Aaron Ramsey
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This is the easiest selection of the entire list. In the last year, Aaron Ramsey has made himself into the archetypal box-to-box central midfielder and a critical component of Arsenal's machine.
Often, when other players seem reluctant to make driving runs into the center of another team's defense or no one seems to be able to get into the right position for a shot, Ramsey will either do so himself or cleverly create opportunities for others to do so.
He is, therefore, the oil that greases Arsenal's gears, and he is sometimes also the very person who turns them. There really needs to be no argument for his inclusion, so uncontroversial is his talent and history of elite performances.
Attacking Midfielder: Mesut Ozil
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Rest assured that Arsene Wenger will not pointlessly force Mesut Ozil to toil on the left wing for much longer. Everyone knows the German's skills are not best exploited out there, and he has been a No. 10 wherever he's played.
If Ozil can fully acclimate to the pace and physicality of the Premier League, he will finally be able to marry his superb technique with that intangible element he seemed to lack on far too many occasions last season. He was good, but he was not £42.5 million good.
Ozil has the faith of his manager, the club's fans (or the rational ones anyway) and the surrounding quality to express himself on the pitch. It is down to him to do so, and he definitely has the quality.
Left Winger: Alexis Sanchez
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In a summer of caveats for Arsenal, Alexis Sanchez's signing was one unmitigated success story. After his poaching from Barcelona, the Chilean's multifaceted talent was immediately obvious. It is no coincidence, then, that he has largely driven Arsenal when they have resorted to unimaginative play.
Though he can play up front, he is probably best utilized on the wing, where he can terrorize one full-back easier than he can wriggle his way past two large central defenders. That is where he has been most impressive thus far.
With the signing of Danny Welbeck and the eventual returns of Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott, Alexis is best placed on the left wing, where he can cut in and cause havoc with either foot.
Right Winger: Theo Walcott
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It's easy to forget about Theo Walcott because his torn ACL has kept him out of action for nine months. But he was an absolutely essential cog in Arsenal's attack before his injury, and the Gunners have missed him ever since.
Even if he was still just a sprinter, he would be sorely missed because Arsenal severely lack out-and-out speed—especially on the wings. But Walcott became a fantastic finisher and goal-poacher during the 18 months before his injury, and the team has had problems converting chances since.
Walcott is due back—or at least back in training—imminently, according to Arsenal.com. It will take a while for him to regain full fitness, but Arsenal's reward at the end of the journey will be immense.
Striker: Olivier Giroud/Danny Welbeck
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I could not pick one of Olivier Giroud or Danny Welbeck here because, while the former will probably start when he is fit again, Arsenal will be forced to spend half the season without him.
In the absence of other established options, Welbeck will almost certainly be the man to lead the line. Whether he can do so by himself is questionable, but he does not lack talent.
It will be interesting to see how Arsene Wenger handles the two when both are fit, but there is no need to worry about that for months. If Welbeck grows into the role, Arsenal will be alright.
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