Arsenal FC: Predicting an (Almost) All-British Future Gunners Starting XI

Finally, at long last, Arsenal fans can sense it: The squad is getting more British.

In recent years there has been much complaint among supporters that there were not enough English players on the squad; it often had a foreign (mostly French) feel to it.

Well, times are changing. With many foreign players set to leave, young English players being signed and a very promising crop of young English talent shooting through the ranks, it looks as if Arsene Wenger is finally recognizing the value of homegrown talent.

Thus emerges a future XI, complete with stunning talent and potential that could bring Arsenal a much-awaited Premier League trophy in the not-so-distant future. The fact that almost the entire squad would be English makes it even sweeter.

Obviously, this list is contingent upon no new signings being made, and Wenger sticking with the 4-3-3. A couple of intentional tweaks to a preferred XI have been made to accommodate the theme of the piece. But, all in all, this could be very close to the Arsenal starting XI in a few years' time.

Enjoy.

Goalkeeper: James Shea

I know, I know. You're probably wondering how I could possibly keep Wojciech Szczesny off this list, considering the season he had last term. But this is one of those "tweaks" I mentioned, and rest assured that it was made for a player of very high quality.

The 20-year-old Shea has impressed for a few seasons in the Arsenal Reserves. He was even called up to the senior squad on several occasions last season to back up Szczesny when Lukasz Fabianski, Manuel Almunia and Vito Mannone were all injured.

Currently on loan at Dagenham and Redbridge, Shea has the potential to be a solid member of the squad in the future—and a capable Cup goalkeeper and backup to Szczesny, should he choose to be.

Right Back: Carl Jenkinson

Though Jenkinson can technically represent Finland at the international level because of his mother's ancestry, he has not chosen to yet and was born and raised in England, thus speaking with an English accent. That's good enough for me.

In the preseason, Jenkinson has showed a good deal of promise. His high work rate is impressive. One gets the sense that there is still considerable room for him to develop; there is a lot of potential yet to be fulfilled.

It's also noteworthy that the youngster has been a fan of Arsenal since he was a very young boy, making him more likely to be loyal to the club and avoid any annoying potential transfer sagas—I think that we've had enough of those for about a decade.

Center Back: Kyle Bartley

After greatly impressing on loan for Rangers last season, 20-year-old Kyle Bartley was rightly offered a new contract with the club and allowed to gain further experience by returning to Scotland with Rangers.

Bartley possesses everything that Arsenal lack in defence right now. He is tall, immensely strong and powerful and takes it upon himself to be a leader. And, as a bonus, he adds that trademark English steel to the back line.

If given a couple more years to mature and develop, Bartley could become the rock at the back that Arsenal fans have been clamoring for. And the sooner he can push this guy out of the team, the better.

Center Back: Ignasi Miquel

And now we come to the only non-British player on this list. But have no fear, Iggy is here, and he is of such high quality that I had no problem with breaking with my own theme to include the young Spaniard in this otherwise all-British squad of the future.

Really, though, there just are not that many English center backs in the Arsenal Reserves. Gavin Hoyte can play in the middle, but is very young and is more of a full back. So, with no regrets, I settled upon Miquel.

The boy has made great progression in the last year, quickly being named captain of the Reserves despite only being 18 years old, and then making two FA Cup appearances for the first-team against Leyton Orient.

Very assured in those displays, he has the technical ability that Arsene Wenger covets, and could end up being the perfect complement to Bartley in a future rock-solid Arsenal back line.

Left Back: Kieran Gibbs

If Kieran Gibbs could put together a consistent run of fitness and defend well with equal consistency, he would quickly surpass Ashley Cole as the best left back in the Premier League.

Arsene Wenger clearly has confidence in Gibbs and his ability to do the above if thrown directly into the fire this season to replace Gael Clichy. And if Wenger is right in his assessment of the young Englishman, it could prove to be a masterful piece of business by the manager.

Gibbs certainly has all the talent and the promise, but the coming season will reveal much about who he is as a player and whether he can truly succeed as the starting left back for the Gunners.

I believe he will step up to the challenge.

Defensive Midfielder: Emmanuel Frimpong

Could Frimpong be this season's Jack Wilshere?

There is certainly every possibility of that happening. While young Emmanuel is very green, his incredible strength, physicality and especially his ball-winning skills are unmatched by anyone in this Arsenal team. He also fills a great need within the team for a tenacious holding midfielder.

Juan Roman Riquelme certainly does not doubt the young Frimpong's potential, calling him the most important player on the pitch for Arsenal in their friendly against Boca Juniors.

Frimpong looks to be one of those exciting players who works extremely hard for the team, has good technical ability and is fiercely loyal as well. He certainly has the potential to become a fan favorite in the future.

While he could still represent England or Ghana at the international level, Frimpong was raised in London—and I'll take a bet that he will represent England.

Central Midfielder: Aaron Ramsey

To paraphrase Ramsey's words, Ryan Shawcross pressed "pause" on the Wales captain's career, but after playing for the second half of last season and getting a full preseason under his belt, it looks as if Ramsey is set to make up for lost time.

Once tipped as the heir to Cesc Fabregas, Ramsey possesses excellent vision and passing range, and excels when allowed to occupy a creative, attacking role in midfield.

For an example of Ramsey's incredible passing skill, one only needs to watch his assist for Theo Walcott's goal vs. Malaysia XI.

At only 20 years old, Ramsey has many, many years of excellent football left in him. I cannot wait to see him tearing up Premier League defenses once more.

Central Midfielder: Jack Wilshere

The captain. The midfield general. The lynchpin. Jack Wilshere exemplifies everything that this British future Arsenal squad represents: tenacity, homegrown talent, loyalty and heart.

In addition to his mental qualities, Wilshere's incredible skill and versatility in midfield are truly remarkable and make him unique. He can play very well in the holding role Arsene Wenger used him in last season, and can show even more skill when used in his natural attacking role.

Though only 19 years old, Wilshere was the heartbeat of the midfield last season and was often simply undroppable. If he can keep that momentum going, he has the potential to be one of the all-time greats in the red and white. It looks as if he is well on his way to doing just that.

Right Winger: Theo Walcott

When he is on form, Theo Walcott can be the most dangerous player in the squad. He is perhaps the most frightening to defenses with his lightning pace.

When Lionel Messi calls you "one of the most dangerous player I have ever played against," you know you are a pretty good footballer.

Still, only 21 years old, though it seems as if he has been around forever, Walcott's pace is not going away any time soon. That fear that he strikes into the hearts of defenders is extremely useful, even when he is not on the ball, as it commands respect and opens spaces for others.

Combine that with his telepathic understanding with Robin van Persie, and we are looking at an Englishman who can be extremely dangerous for years to come.

Left Winger: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Admittedly, I expressed considerable disdain for this signing when it was made recently, but that was because of the fact that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain does not fill an immediate need for Arsenal, not because he is not a great talent.

With the developmental skills of Arsene Wenger helping him along, Chamberlain, who has a vast amount of potential, could match Walcott's pace on the left wing and bring a level of intelligence and creative skill that Walcott cannot match.

Along with Jenkinson and Wilshere, Chamberlain fits the theme of English players who have been fiercely loyal supporters of the club practically since birth. It is thus all the more unlikely that we will see another situation like that of the mercenary footballer Samir Nasri, or the homesick Cesc Fabregas.

So Chamberlain, the most expensive player on this list when you include add-ons to his transfer, could potentially end up being the most threatening, skilled and ultimately beloved player for these traits and his lifelong appreciation for the Cannon.

Striker: Benik Afobe

You heard it here first: Benik Afobe will be an absolute sensation at Arsenal in the future.

It has been said that, apart from Robin van Persie, Arsenal lack a powerful striker whose single purpose in life is to find the back of the net any way he can. Well, Benik Afobe neatly solves those problems and more.

The amount of goals he has scored for the Reserves and youth teams is just silly. In some seasons, he has even scored above a goal per game.

Impressive on loan at Huddersfield Town last season, Wenger clearly sees something in the boy, and included him in the squads against Koln and the New York Red Bulls.

He has scored for all of England's youth teams, he has scored for the Arsenal Reserves many times, he has scored for Huddersfield and, before long, he will be leading the line of the (almost) all-British Arsenal starting XI and scoring bags of goals for the Gunners as well.