In this series we will be delving into all the Premier League clubs ahead of the new season. This is where you will find out everything you need to know about your club and their opponents this year. The first team we will be taking a look at is Arsenal.
Arsenal
Who's in Charge?
Mikel Arteta has now been at the club since 2019 and the change he has made to the Gunners is nothing short of mesmorising. The Spaniard has taken the Reds from 8th place to 2nd within the four years he has been in charge. With his only previous managerial experience being Pep Guardiola's assistant the original appointment was seen as a huge risk - but it is evident to see that he has taken quite a few leaves from the treble winners book.
What sort of style of play will we be seeing this season? From what we have seen so far it is evident that Arsenal set up producing a stylish way of playing direct football and have shown how effective this is on the eye and in the league table. However from a recent interview after the game against MLS All Stars it seems to be that there could be a surprise approach in comparison to previous years.
“The idea is to be more unpredictable every year and be more difficult for the opponents to stop and nullify what we want to do.
“It’s the first time we played with four players inside, and three of them had never played for us. So three out of four, they never played together ever. So: tranquilo!”
From pre-season games it seems to be that Odegaard will now be playing a slightly deeper role, meaning the Norwegian will be expected to be providing less pressing than last season. Could this possibly mean that Havertz will be able to have more of a free playing role this season - we will have to see.
The In's and Out's
IN's
Kai Havertz £65m
Jurrien Timber £38m
Declan Rice £105m
Out's
Granit Xhaka Bayer Leverkusen £21.4m
Pablo Mari - Monza, undisclosed
Nikolaj Moller - St Gallen, undisclosed
Mazeed Ogungbo - Barrow, undisclosed
Matt Smith - Wigan, free
Ainsley Maitland-Niles - Released
Mauro Bandeira - Colchester, loan
Hubert Graczyk - Slough Town, loan
Billy Vigar - Eastbourne, loan
Arsenal's stand out player
In my opinion Kai Havertz is going to be Arsenals bright spark this season. With Declan Rice taking complete control in the heart of the midfield, Martin Odegaard seeming to have a role change I feel that the free role Havertz will be playing could be detrimental to his opponents. It is evident that the German has quality due to his time at Bayer Leverkusen and I feel that his time at Chelsea was never going to work as well as we know he can play due to the unsettlement at the club and the lack of creative role he was given. Therefore I feel that Havertz could provide an edge for Arsenal this season and potentially get them one step further?
Will it be a successful or an unsuccessful season for the Gunners?
Overall I think it will be a successful one for Artetas side, with nothing but improvements in the squad I feel Arsenal will be lining up this season the strongest they've been for a long long time.
Although I feel they will succeed, I still can't see them winning the title, but will be getting a Champions League spot for sure.
Harry Lucas
Add comment
Comments