Arsenal FC: Arsene Wenger's New Look XI for the Season Ahead

Arsene Wenger is a manager that has been at Arsenal long enough to know the club inside out. Down the years he has employed a host of formations, and most have been the club's benefit.

Wenger had been an ardent fan of the 4-4-2 formation, but switched to the highly tactical 4-2-3-1 to bring out the best in his previous captain, Cesc Fabregas, and create space for the club's midfielders. At the start of the 2009/10 season, Fabregas became the linchpin of the formation, and it yielded much fruit as he had his best season in Arsenal colors—scoring 19 goals and making 19 assists.

However, Arsenal ended another campaign trophy-less after losing in the Carling Cup quarterfinal 3-0 to Manchester City, suffering a 3-1 FA Cup loss to Stoke City, a 6-3 aggregate drubbing at the hands of Barcelona and finishing 3rd place finish in the Premier League.

Arsene Wenger was active in the summer transfer window of 2010, bringing in the likes of Marouane Chamakh, Laurent Koscielny and Sebastien Squillaci. After employing the same 4-2-3-1 formation for the 2010/11 season, Jack Wilshere, Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie were the players that set Arsenal's campaign alight.

But that season also ended in disappointment, as Arsenal finished the league in 4th place, lost in the FA Cup quarterfinal to Manchester United and was knocked out of the Champions League in the 1st knockout phase by Barcelona. Arsenal's closest shot at a trophy was the Carling Cup final against Birmingham City, though that ended in a shock 2-1 defeat.

More transfer activity took place this summer, with notable figureheads like Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy leaving for greener pastures. With Arsenal needing the quality to challenge for the Premier League, as well as hunt for other trophies, Wenger waited for the last day to bring four new, vastly experienced, players to blend with the team.

For once, Wenger didn't go down the 'all youngster lane', although he did bring in 18-year-old Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and he also got a work permit for the 19-year Ryo Miyaichi.

Arsene Wenger's new look squad is filled with depth and is strong enough to challenge for the Premier League title, as well as challenge for other trophies.

Here's my take on Arsene Wenger's possible XI for the season ahead

GOALKEEPER: Wojciech Szczesny

Since taking over from Fabianski in December, Szczesny has been phenomenal. He put his head down and has worked really hard to cement his status as Arsenal's new No. 1. His consistency last season has assured the Arsenal fans that the goalkeeping situation is finally settled.

Szczesny had two clean sheets in a row at the start of this season, but he was also in goal when Arsenal were demolished by their fierce rivals Manchester United. 

It must have hurt him to concede eight goals, but I'm very confident that Szczesny can be the difference between three points and one point as the season progresses.

RIGHT BACK: Bacary Sagna

He was probably the most consistent performer of the 2010/11 campaign, and he has already picked up where he left off at the start of the new season.

His interceptions, tackles and surges down the right will be absolutely vital for Arsenal this season. He also put in the lion’s share of good crosses last season, and Arsenal fans will be expecting the same in this current campaign.

LEFT BACK: Andre Santos

Following Gael Clichy's departure, Arsenal were linked with both Leighton Baines and Jose Enrique, but Wenger surprised everyone by stating Kieran Gibbs would be his first choice left back for the season ahead.

Gibbs played only one game at the start of the season before doing what he was already renowned for, getting himself injured. Wenger played Sagna out of position for a couple of games, but his illness paved the way for Armand Traore to play at Old Trafford, where the Senegalese was largely disappointing. 

He made the switch to Queens Park Rangers and it was evident that Arsenal needed a new left, so Wenger turned to the experienced 27-year-old Andre Santos from Fenerbahce. The lad has already notched up 22 caps for Brazil, and fights regularly with Michel Bastos and Marcelo for a first team place in the Samba Boys' squad.

Andre Santos is a full back that’s also adept playing as a left winger, and like every average Brazilian (with the exception of Denilson and Lucas Leiva) he’s very skillful, and he has an amazing technique.

He’s also a decent free kick taker, and he has a flamboyant style of play. Just like the legendary Brazilian left back Roberto Carlos, Andre Santos can unleash a surface-to-goal torpedo from his left boot, and he can also place the ball when he’s close enough to goal.

His major flaw as a player is his overzealous attacking nature, he’s not fast enough to track back should a counter attack occur and he tends to be selfish at times. In general, though, he can lead the line as the club's prime left back with Gibbs as his deputy.

CENTER BACK: Thomas Vermaelen

Thomas Vermaelen took the Premier League by storm in his first season, and did well enough to get a place in the PFA Team of the Year. His second season was blighted by an Achilles injury that kept him on the sidelines for the best part of seven months.

This season has started with a bang and he was a colossus when Arsenal hosted Liverpool, despite playing with the inexperienced Ignasi Miquel.

Vermaelen will be vital to Arsenal this season and the fans can rely on him to put in more stellar performances.

CENTER BACK: Per Mertesacker

Following the loss of the Invincibles defenders Sol Campbell and Kolo Toure, Wenger has not bought any defender of great quality, with the exception of Thomas Vermaelen and maybe William Gallas.

The likes of Phillippe Senderos, Mikael Silvestre and Sebastien Squillaci have been major disappointments. Wenger relied fully on Johan Djourou and Laurent Koscielny throughout last season, but they still produced moments of uncertainty and complacency in vital games.

Koscielny produced a horror moment in the Carling Cup final last season, while Djourou was at fault for all three goals when Arsenal lost to Stoke City in May. With their recent display against Manchester United at Old Trafford, Wenger felt that it was high-time to bring in a player that will put them on their toes.

Per Mertesacker is almost 2 meters tall, 1.98 meters to be exact. His key attributes are his height, composure, positioning and aerial ability, and they'll be vital to Arsenal this season.

He’ll also be a massive threat during set pieces for Arsenal. Arteta and van Persie can launch the ball into orbit while playing a corner kick, but when the ball lands back to Earth with fire like a meteorite, Mertesacker will be the first player to nod the ball to the opponents’ net.

HOLDING MIDFIELDER: Jack Wilshere

This is one player Arsenal FC can clearly brag about, especially as he is a product of Arsenal's impressive youth academy. Arsenal's academy is probably the best on Earth, with the only academy better than ours being one from another galaxy—The Barcelona Mutant Academy.

After spending a lot of time disgracing his elders in the Reserve League, Wenger decided that it was time for him to step up his game. At the tender age of 18, he was sent to a club that has monsters like Kevin Davies in therir squad. His spell there was so impressive that Bolton managere Owen Coyle was practically begging Wenger to let him have a second spell.

Some Arsenal fans thought that a second loan spell would be in the club’s best interest, but Wenger slotted him into the holding role in our impressive formation.

Jack Wilshere was outstanding last season season. His commitment to the cause could make officials do the MRI scan on him again, because he does not play like the average 19-year old. 

It’s also warming to know that he’s the best young player in the business from the Premier League’s perspective, and he's now an integral part of the English national team.

HOLDING MIDFIELDER: Alex Song

The most shocking thing about Song is that he’s just 23. This means that he’ll probably rule our defensive midfield for 10 more years, if he continues to work as hard as he did last year.

With the exit of all renowned defensive midfielders at Arsenal, the panic button was pressed so hard by the fans that it sprang out of the remote control. Wenger simply told the fans that everything was under control.

If Wenger had buckled under the intense pressure and opened Arsenal’s cheque book to buy a new defensive midfielder, the world could have been denied the viewing pleasure of Arsenal’s African diamond, Song.

He did his “dirty” job using a “clean” style. His key attributes are his technique, first touch, tackling, strength, work rate, stamina, anticipation and a canny eye for goal. 

He has 'grown up' to become one of the finest holding midfielders in the business

ATTACKING MIDFIELDER: Mikel Arteta

Mikel Arteta arrives at the club as the primary replacement for Cesc Fabregas, and he already has the pedigree to be capable of that.

Even if Fabregas is a better player overall, Arteta is the sort of player that can provide one moment of absolute quality. He's also a better set piece taker than Fabregas, and this will be to Arsenal's advantage because the club has canny players that are good at winning set pieces.

Arteta also has a decent passing range and his technique is second to none.

LEFT WINGER: Gervinho

Gervais Yao Kouassi has already turned out to be an amazing signing for Arsenal, and his absence due to suspension has been seriously missed by the club.

He has all the attributes of an ideal winger, and he can also be a decent inside forward when he wants to be. His trickery on the ball, as well as his pace, have been used to great effect this season, and it's going to be important all season long.

RIGHT WINGER: Theo Walcott

Theo Walcott has matured massively as a player, and has added certain attributes to his game.

He is widely regarded as a speed merchant but this season he has added goals, assists, composure and tactical dribbling to his game. He showed up with the goods this season in some games, and has been very impressive at the turn of 2011.

At this point in time, he's Arsenal's highest goal scorer and his goals were vital for the Gunners in their Champions League knockout play-offs against Udinese.

Walcott will have a lot to offer Arsenal this season.

CENTER FORWARD: Robin Van Persie

Robin van Persie should be regarded as one of the most lethal strikers in the business, because he scored almost half the goals Messi and Ronaldo scored in just 5 footballing months last season.

Provided he stays fit this season, RVP will definitely surpass the 30-goal mark. That’s if he stays fit, though.

Summary

The new signings have been very good despite being very late in the day, but Wenger has made more signings than most supporters would have ever believed.

Some supporters will still not be happy, and will moan about all the players that we haven’t brought in. Some Arsenal supporters don’t realise just how lucky they are to have Wenger, they have been used to playing in all the top competitions as if its their right.

Hard work by the Arsenal manager and his team will once again make the club competitive, if the club can shake the football authorities off their back, and not have anymore suspensions, the club stands a chance of winning the league.

Wenger has been watching all these new signings for a long time, and he has left it as late as possible to acquire their services for as little as possible.

Just what a good manager does, sell high and buy low, that is why Arsenal in good hands and will be for the foreseeable future.