8/15/2024

Arsenal are arguably one of the top two teams in the UK… and they’re not second. Since the 2019-20 season began, only Gabriel Martinelli, Reiss Nelson, and Bukayo Saka remain a sign that Mikel Arteta has truly made the team his own. The current group of players could be described with a myriad of desirable characteristics but some of the standouts are: Versatile, Disciplined, and Physically Imposing.

One of the additions to the squad that encompasses all three is Chelsea-flop, Arsenal-star, Kai Havertz. Many fans were perplexed and even poked fun at the transfer at the beginning of last season, but by the opposite end of the 38-game term, Kai Havertz was one of the most in-form players in the league, a guaranteed FPL starter and one of Arsenal’s most critical pieces of the puzzle. Some Arsenal fans will even tell you that Mikel Arteta’s decision to drop him into the midfield for that fateful game against Villa at the Emirates last season was one that the manager might have regretted, especially after being in for the title until the final matchweek. But we also would’ve won last season’s title if it wasn’t for Saliba being injured… and yes that copium tastes delightful, thank you.

Speaking of injuries, Arsenal were without Jurrien Timber for the entirety of the season, bar the first and last 45 minutes of it. Now that the exciting young center-back/fullback/defensive midfielder (Mikel, why not?) is back and healthy, he will feel like an entirely new signing… but he will be up against an actual new signing: Riccardo Calafiori. As an Arsenal fan myself, I just hope that knock-off Maldini is as good as he is handsome… and he is handsome. I believe that it is hard to postulate how a player will perform in the PL before they actually play there, so I will withhold too much analysis. However, Timber’s technical abilities and Calafiori’s immense ball-carrying have me truly excited to see a revitalized left-hand side of the back line.

The rest of the defense should remain the same. Gabriel and Saliba solidified themselves as premier league juggernauts last season and were the center-back pairing behind Arsenal putting forth the best defense in England. Ben White’s involvement should, of course, not be minimized, as his true world-class athleticism allows him to be one of the most defensively sound fullbacks in the world whilst also contributing to Arsenal’s notoriously potent right-hand side. Watching him combine with Odegaard and Saka is truly a treat every weekend, and the type of football they practice makes me fall in love with Arsenal over and over again every 90 minutes.

Complementing Odegaard’s generational passing ability and vision, Declan Rice will likely continue to be one of the most consistent world-class midfielders in the world, complementing his counterpart with ball-carrying ability that makes opposition midfielders and defenses look silly. The key to unlocking Rice is allowing him license to go forward, so hopefully Partey, Jorginho, or Merino can take care of the 6 role.

But now on to the left wing, and after a disappointing season, Martinelli fell the pecking order. Trossard took advantage, becoming Arsenal’s third-best goalscorer in the premier league, netting 12, doubling Martinelli’s 6. This is a trend that many fans appreciated last season but I believe it will end and Martinelli will eventually re-establish himself as the best option out wide left. His teammates regard him as the ball striker at the club and his lightning pace plus his quick, Brazilian feet means that he has all the ingredients… watch out for him carving out some momentum and returning to a double-figure goals tally.

Last but not least, David Raya will continue to stand between the sticks. His passing ability and Ramsdale’s, sad to say, headloss, means that he is the only option, coming out on top of what seemed a 50/50 this time last year. Ramsdale is not the first victim of Mikel injecting a ‘win no matter the cost’ mentality back into the club… and he certainly won’t be the last.

Position Groups:

Top Players:

1.) Saliba

2.) Rice

3.) Odegaard

4.) Saka

5.) Havertz

New Additions/Exciting:

Nwanieri – Nwanieri is the youngest player to ever touch a premier league pitch, coming on against Bournemouth at just 15 years of age. The club recognized his talent early but will be wary about keeping the player healthy. Nwanieri featured heavily throughout Arsenal’s preseason tour, and @PitchZac hopes that the young talent gets ample opportunity to show the world what he has in his locker.

Totally airtight predictions:

– Arsenal will win the league.

– Timber will excel and gather the respect he deserves

– Calafiori is a bit overhyped

– Nwanieri solidifies himself as a PL wonderkid and becomes Arteta’s first choice off the bench to mix up games.