Arsenal has moved swiftly and ruthlessly in the transfer market, successfully recruiting primary targets in each position. Here’s how Mikel Arteta’s side could look next season.
Arsenal has moved swiftly and ruthlessly in the transfer market, successfully recruiting primary targets in each position, all signed, sealed, and ready to join the team in the United States of America for their pre-season tour ahead of the 2023/2024 campaign.
The Gunners have been a club with a reputation for being frugal in the transfer market due to the major financial restrictions resulting from paying back the multi-million-pound loan to move to the Emirates Stadium.
With no Champions League football revenue since 2016/2017 to supplement their income, the Gunners have uncharacteristically managed to smash their transfer record by forking out an eye-watering 105 million pounds on England International, Declan Rice and a further 100 million pounds on Kai Havertz from Chelsea and Jurrien Timber from Ajax Amsterdam FC respectively.
💬 "When I pull on that shirt, I'll know what it means to play for Arsenal and I'll give 110 per cent for this club."
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 17, 2023
📺 Watch part two of Declan's first interview as a Gunner 👇
So, Mikel Arteta has got his priority signings in, and they will have the added advantage of a full pre-season under their belts with the Spaniard, but just how will the new boys fit into his team for the upcoming season?
Firstly, there is a clear trend in the signings the club has targeted and managed to recruit. All three are capped internationally, have won silverware, and are under 25.
Secondly and the most exciting commonality, however, is that all of Rice, Havertz, and Timber can operate in more than one position, thus showing versatility and an understanding of different zones on the pitch, a key factor in the way Arsenal play.
Arsenal’s Defense:
The team defends in a standard 4-4-2 block. The #10 joins the striker to create more presence in the front line, which helps force possession out wide and reduces penetration through the middle of the pitch. The shape is compact, with the wingers coming inside to make the pitch as small as possible.
Considering this, the signing of Rice will allow Arsenal more control in the build-up and have the added option of a monster ball carrier in transition.
The 24-year-old also made the most interceptions in the Premier League last season with 63, which should mean that Arsenal have more of the ball this coming season.
The coup of Timber will also fireproof the North Londoner’s defense in terms of depth and versatility. The former Ajax defender can play at Right Back, Centre Back, and Central Midfield and is also capable of inverting from the right fullback position.
This will give Arteta even more options and make Arsenal a tactical nightmare to plan against, as they will have the option of inverting either fullback on either side Oleksandr Zinchenko on the left and Timber on the right.
Arsenal’s Attack:
Arsenal attack in a 3-2-5 formation. Five players across the final third, an inverted fullback tucked in next to the central defensive midfielder and three defenders behind them.
The signing of Havertz did come as a surprise; barring his Champions League-winning goal against Manchester City and a few flashes of brilliance, the German had struggled to find the form that made the world take notice of his talent just a few years ago when he lit up the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen.
That said, Arteta has a plan for the 6-foot 4 inches striker. Havertz made 334 off-ball runs into the penalty box in the Premier League in 2022-2023, the second most of any player after Erling Haaland on 349.
Considering that Arsenal created 897 big chances in the league, the former Chelsea man looks set to repay Arteta’s faith in him. He is also a terrific aerial threat in the box and can be utilized as a hold-up man.
He provides a different option to Gabriel Jesus and is another factor to add to Arsenal’s tactical versatility this season. I believe Havertz will be used as a double #10 alongside Martin Odegaard but only against weaker opposition when Arsenal have more of the ball, which will be at least 70-80% of the games they play this coming season, otherwise, he will lead the line or be back-up to Jesus.
There is also the uncertainty around Thomas Partey and his future. Should the Ghanaian be moved on, Arsenal is likely to dip into the transfer market again for another defensive midfielder or left-sided #8. They would need another imposing midfielder to field alongside Rice against the stronger teams where they are less likely to dominate most of the game, especially with Champions League football returning to the Emirates.
Potential Arsenal line up
What is evident is that Arsenal is on an upward trajectory and seems to be on the brink of significant honors.
American owner Stan Kroenke has well-backed the Gunners in a clear bid to challenge the oil-fuelled blue half of Manchester. Once a club struggling to compete financially, now it’s a club able to sit at the table with Oligarch and state-funded clubs. It is an exciting time for Arsenal fans.
Arteta is on the verge of returning Arsenal to the juggernaut of old and looks set to dethrone his teacher, Pep Guardiola, in the process. One thing is for sure, and as Josh Kroenke, son of Stan Kroenke and non-executive director at Arsenal, famously said in year 1 of the new process under Arteta, “Gunners, I would say, be excited!”
