Mikel Arteta’s rebuild of Arsenal has continued this summer time with the north Londoners once more among the many most lively Premier League golf equipment of the switch window.
The Spaniard has overseen an overhaul of the Gunners’ squad since first arriving as supervisor, with mass adjustments having seen Arteta transfer on underperforming and ageing belongings to construct an thrilling younger core of expertise on the Emirates.
Arteta – who arrived having labored alongside Pep Guardiola at Manchester Metropolis – took cost of Arsenal for the primary time on Boxing Day 2019, because the Gunners drew 1-1 at Bournemouth.
We’ve determined to look again on the XI from the 40-year-old’s first sport in cost together with his inaugural workforce sheet fairly totally different to his present set of choices.
Table of Contents
Goalkeeper: Bernd Leno
Leno was the first-choice goalkeeper at Arsenal upon Arteta’s arrival as supervisor, having signed for the membership from Bayer Leverkusen in a £22.5m deal in June 2018.
He was named as runner-up for Arsenal’s Participant of the Season award in 2019/20, however an harm noticed him miss out on the Gunners’ FA Cup success with Emiliano Martinez impressing in his absence.
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Martinez’s sale to Aston Villa that summer time noticed Leno stay the north London aspect’s primary, however he was relegated to second selection following the arrival of Aaron Ramsdale – coincidentally in aim for Bournemouth throughout Arteta’s first sport – final summer time.
Leno, who has made 125 appearances throughout all competitions for Arsenal, is predicted to go away this summer time in the hunt for common minutes and has been linked with Fulham.
Proper-back: Ainsley Maitland-Niles
Ainsley Maitland-Niles began at right-back throughout Arteta’s first sport, a place by which the academy product earned 5 caps for England in 2020.
Having expressed a want to function in a central midfield position, Maitland-Niles has frolicked on mortgage at West Brom and Roma throughout the previous two seasons after falling out of favour at Arsenal.
Like Leno, he’s anticipated to maneuver on this summer time as adjustments proceed on the Emirates.
Centre-back: Sokratis Papastathopoulos
Sokratis featured commonly at centre-back throughout Arteta’s opening video games in cost and scored throughout the Spaniard’s first victory, a 2-0 win over Manchester United on January 1.
The veteran Greek worldwide helped Arsenal to FA Cup success in 2020, however was knowledgeable he was not a part of the membership’s plans shifting ahead on the finish of the marketing campaign.
He signed for Olympiacos on a free switch that summer time and has since made 63 appearances since returning to Greece, profitable back-to-back Tremendous League titles.
Centre-back: David Luiz
David Luiz arrived at Arsenal from Chelsea in an £8m deal throughout the 2020 summer time window, however endured a disastrous debut marketing campaign after crossing the capital.
The Brazilian set a brand new Premier League report after conceding 5 penalties throughout the season, while he was additionally the participant with probably the most pink playing cards after being despatched off twice.
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In a defeat to Manchester Metropolis, he grew to become the primary participant to obtain a pink card, concede a penalty and commit an error resulting in aim in a Premier League match for 5 seasons.
He did, nonetheless, impress as Arsenal beat former aspect Chelsea within the FA Cup ultimate and remained with the Gunners the next season, making an additional 20 league appearances earlier than signing for Flamengo on a free switch.
Left-back: Bukayo Saka
Bukayo Saka loved a breakthrough marketing campaign in 2019/20, establishing himself within the Arsenal aspect
following accidents to Sead Kolašinac and Kieran Tierney.
He made 38 appearances throughout all competitions and has since continued to develop in standing in north London, profitable back-to-back Participant of the Season awards on the Emirates and breaking into the England aspect regularly.
I’m so proud to win the @arsenal Participant of The Season award once more ! 🙏🏿
Thanks to all my Gooners on your fixed help this 12 months, this one is for you 🫶 pic.twitter.com/CGm3mdfpBd
— Bukayo Saka (@BukayoSaka87) June 8, 2022
Saka has shone in a extra superior position and scored 12 objectives throughout all competitions final season with the winger considered one of many Premier League’s brightest younger abilities.
The primary participant to retain Arsenal’s Participant of the Season award since Thierry Henry, he is likely one of the key figures Arteta will construct round because the Gunners look to problem for silverware throughout the approaching campaigns.
Midfield: Lucas Torreira
Having impressed throughout his debut season in 2018/19, the midfielder featured commonly following Arteta’s arrival as supervisor.
An ankle harm in March noticed Torreira miss a lot of the rest of the marketing campaign nonetheless, earlier than he departed on the finish of Arteta’s first half-season in cost.
The Uruguay worldwide joined Atletico Madrid on mortgage, earlier than a second successive mortgage spell with Fiorentina in 2021/22. He had been anticipated to hitch La Viola on a everlasting deal this summer time, although Fiorentina’s makes an attempt to barter a decrease charge have since seen a deal fail to materialise.
Midfield: Granit Xhaka
Granit Xhaka’s rollercoaster profession at Arsenal has continued below Arteta’s administration, with the Switzerland worldwide one other linked with a departure this summer time regardless of taking part in a outstanding position final season.
The 29-year-old did not grow to be the authoritative midfield presence many had hoped upon his arrival from Borussia Monchengladbach, mixing robust spells with poor performances and second of ill-discipline.
The previous membership captain has made 250 appearances since signing for the north Londoners, however may very well be moved on as Arteta continues his refresh on the Emirates.
Midfield: Mesut Ozil
Mesut Ozil was one of many highest-profile casualties of Arteta’s arrival as supervisor, with the previous membership report signing ostracised forward of the Spaniard’s first full marketing campaign.
He had featured sporadically over the opening months of Arteta’s reign, earlier than being omitted from Arsenal’s squads for the Premier League and Europa League after being knowledgeable he was not part of the membership’s plans.
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Ozil ultimately moved on to signal for Fenerbahce on a free switch in January 2021, as Arsenal eliminated his large contract from the wage invoice.
His report contract signed in 2017 had alleged to have been an announcement of intent for a aspect hoping to return to former glories, however ended as a monetary burden throughout a depressing latter interval for the German in north London.
Proper-wing: Reiss Nelson
Reiss Nelson stays an Arsenal participant however is one other whose future is unsure, with the winger having failed to hitch the likes of Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe in breaking into the senior set-up.
Nelson was handed an opportunity in Arteta’s first sport in cost and made seven league begins for the marketing campaign, however struggled to construct on that inclusion and featured for simply 70 minutes within the Premier League in 2020/21.
He was loaned to Feyenoord final season and scored twice in 21 league appearances, together with his future showing away from north London because the 22-year-old appears to kick-start his profession.
Left-wing: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the essential equalising aim throughout Arteta’s first sport and was the central determine within the aspect throughout his first months on the Emirates.
He ended the 2019/20 marketing campaign with 29 objectives in all competitions, together with scoring match-winning braces within the semi-final and ultimate as Arsenal received the FA Cup – changing into the primary African footballer to captain his aspect to the trophy.
Aubameyang signed a brand new three-year deal the next season, although his performances dipped for the primary time since arriving in north London.
He fell out of favour with Arteta throughout the 2021/22 marketing campaign and was stripped of the captaincy for disciplinary causes, earlier than being allowed to hitch Barcelona on a free switch within the winter window.
Ahead: Alexandre Lacazette
Alexandre Lacazette grew to become the most recent senior title to go away Arsenal after re-joining former aspect Lyon on a free switch this summer time.
The ahead signed for the Gunners in a £46.5m deal from the French aspect in 2017 and scored 71 objectives in 206 appearances throughout his 5 seasons on the Emirates, profitable the membership’s Participant of the Season accolade in 2018/19.
As soon as a gunner, At all times a Gunner.❤️♣️ pic.twitter.com/RouDBIiGVy
— Alexandre Lacazette (@LacazetteAlex) June 3, 2022
He captained the aspect for a lot of final season following the exit of Aubameyang, however scored simply 4 league objectives for the marketing campaign and was allowed to maneuver on on the expiry of his contract.
Substitute: Shkodran Mustafi
Shkodran Mustafi proved a disappointing signing for Arsenal, failing to dwell as much as the expectations that got here together with his £35m transfer from Valencia.
Mustafi terminated his deal on the Emirates after making simply three league appearances throughout Areta’s first full season as supervisor, earlier than signing a short-term take care of Schalke.
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The centre-back returned to Spain with Levante final season, however made simply eight league begins throughout the 2021/22 marketing campaign.
Substitute: Nicolas Pepe
Nicolas Pepe is one other signing who has struggled to persuade since a big-money transfer to Arsenal, with the membership’s report signing having turn into a peripheral determine below Arteta.
Pepe signed for the Gunners in a £72m deal from Lille in 2019, having been courted by a number of main sides throughout Europe. Nonetheless, has since failed to show his expertise into constant performances throughout three seasons within the Premier League.
Bukayo Saka’s emergence has restricted his alternatives in his favoured place and the Ivorian is predicted to go away Arsenal this summer time after making simply 5 Premier League begins in 2021/22.
The Gunners will take a major loss on any exit.
Substitute: Joe Willock
Joe Willock broke into the Arsenal aspect regularly throughout the 2019/20 season, making 44 appearances throughout all competitions.
Simply eight of his 29 league video games got here from the beginning nonetheless, and he joined Newcastle on mortgage throughout the 2020/21 season, scoring in seven straight video games throughout a spectacular spell at St James’ Park.
His performances persuaded Newcastle to signal him on a everlasting deal in 2021, spending £25m to carry the 22-year-old to the North East.
Learn – 5 younger Premier League gamers who would profit from mortgage strikes
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