With Santi Cazorla finally signed, we take a look at how the Arsenal line-up could look like this season.
Cazorla has signed a long-term contract with The Gunners, which, in my book is a fantastic bit of business done by the club and certainly pushes the ‘lack of ambition’ remarks that have been floating around out of the window.
So, so far Arsenal have signed Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud and newly Santi Cazorla, all of whom are international players, splashing out around £35 million in total – if this doesn’t prove to Van Persie that we know what we’re doing then nothing will.
So for the purpose of the line-up below, I am going to assume that Robin has left the club. With that being said, here is how I see Arsene Wenger setting out his side this season:
Szczesny
Koscielny Mertesacker Vermaelen Santos
Arteta Song
Podolski Cazorla Gervinho
Giroud
With Bacary Sagna out until the end of September, I have a feeling Laurent Koscielny will end up moving to right-back, especially as Per Mertesacker will be back fit – how this is going to change when Sagna comes back remains to be seen, but I would imagine the French defender won’t be left out of the line-up.
I think Andre Santos is my preferred choice at left-back, despite young Kieran Gibbs’ performances. I think the Brazilian has shown in pre-season so far that he is capable of running with the ball at defenders and I think it would give us a chance to perhaps loan out Gibbo.
Jack Wilshere is out until probably close to Christmas. He sadly will not feature much again this season, thus adding to the fans worry that it could potentially be an injury that ultimately ends his career which is obviously the worse case scenario imaginable.
Gervinho has done fantastically well in pre-season and I think, assuming that Van Persie leaves, the Ivorian will play a big part for us this season. However, this position could also be filled by Theo Walcott as we also don’t know if he is going to stay with us, although it certainly looks that way.
One thing is certain though, with only 10 days until the start of the Premier League, there is still a lot of questions to be answered and a lot of decisions to be made.
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I’m sorry but song is the first player to go on the team sheet !!!! No way will he be replaced by sahin who is not even a natural defensive midfielder!!! Oh and he hasn’t signed yet…. Gee!!!
@Titi 14
Couldnt agree more about song brotha. Everybody seems to slate him when he been our battle horse for past three years?
Real Quick…..How many footballers can go into a 50/50 with Yaya Toure, and come out with the ball and Yaya being injured?
Would love to see Sahin happen, but let be honest, if he was pure class, Mourinho would never let him leave. To be fare though I believe CR7 plays his position. But Sahin as a holding mid??? naaa get real
lol. perhapz u dont know who sahin is dats why you are questioning his quality.song is slow and it use to be a problem in the EPL
LOL, Bro lets be real. Alex Song is pure quality and thats for Sure. As for Nuri Sahin he is jus too good to be in that Real Madrid reserve to be honest, if y`all watch the bundesLiga u wld not question his abilities whatsoever. Sahin is good but lets not forget that Madrid have Xabi alonso, one of the best holding mid in the world and with amazing passing abilities. Sahin didnt have enough minutes to prove himself but you can watch a couple of games he played he was good. We cant say that Dzeko is not class jus because he aint playing. That Guy is too good to be on that City Bench but its the Crazy Mancini to blame.
My opinion gentlemen.
Song is so overrated, he hasn’t got a clue about DM duties, goes wandering, gives away stupid free kicks, spends more time on his poxy hairstyle, first name on the sheet what a joke , battle horse more like Pantomime horse.
U don’t have a clue what u yappin’about SONG. u are the joke n laughing horse. I bet u wondering why
barcawanka wants him.
PaulB,
Dont know which Song you watch. The one that plays for Arsenal is a midfield warrior, Strong and dependable.
you know nada.
Loaning gibbs won’t be a good idea because its not certain to say santos will have an injury free season
i could see walcott being a weasel and leaving if robin leaves. FOLLOW ME @KYEKYE45 ILL FOLLOW BACK GOONER FAMILY
We Certainly do not need Walcott, if he goes then one less problem bro. We gott alex `the OX` Chambo. he is good enough to fill in walcott`s boots and even do better. we have Gervinho too which will make it fantastic
AOC isn’t a winger so he’s out and a couple of good minutes during preseason doesn’t make Gervinho’s 2 assists and 0 goals last term better than Walcott’s 12 assists and 11 goals.
So if you work it out. We scored 72 goals last term and Theo was responsible for delivering (by scoring and setting up) 23 of them.
But yeah, your right. we dont need him. Gervinho can play there.
Twat.
if he want to go arsene will let him anyway
Fuck sake, I meant song not Sahin in the lineup, was busy reading news on Sahin while I wrote.
sahin for song no chance and gervinho over walcott not at all and id rather have gibbs then santos
sure mate.gervinho is more reliable
HOW?!
No way Gibbs will go out on loan, I could see him as our first choice. I can’t see Podolski starting on the right, has he played there before?
I doubt our best CB will be shoved out wide either. Swap Gervinho and Podolski (or possibly add Walcott).
I can see Diaby getting a chance too if he comes through the Cologne game ok.
One thing is for sure, we seem to have real options in most positions for the first time in a long time, lots of reasons to be optimistic.
there is that thing that arsenal use to do that is call rotation.when we have the likes of edu gilberto viera parlour datz how arsene will do it arsene knows
Wow.
You obviously don’t know much about AFC if you think that’s the starting line-up…Podolski plays through the middle or on left wing,Santos is not wengers preferred wong back,he’s not even a decent defender…
Also where’s song?
He certainly isn’t getting sold to FCB.
Do some research.
I thought I was Wenger’s best wong back.
I still see him playing attacking 90% of the time. Unless Bould has put in a quiet word about the necessity of the defence doing its job,it will be business as usual. The n the gunners will be unable to hang on to even three goal leads.
I just hope I am wrong.
You are a complete utter muppet if you think Sahin will start the season (WHO WE HAVEN’T EVEN SIGNED)… Song, one of our most key players will not start the opening game, you are seriously deluded!
I stopped reading when you wrote Gibbs to be loaned out! What kind of blog writer are you, quit whilst you still have only two fans slaughtering you on your own blog! F***ing TWAT!
Oh do fuck off
It was a simple mistake get over yourself
wtf are u a retard. when has kos or podolski played on the right. arteta and sahin are pretty similar, in stature atleast, where’s the physical strength gonna come from in the toughest league of them all?
Err, actually Kos played on the right a few times last season covering for injuries perhaps you missed it??
He play there in few matches but he is a blunder that side.
Why are you calling him a retard? Wenger said he liked the idea of playing Podolski on the right, many players like to come inside this way, and we all know Sagna will be right back when he’s fit, but Koscielny might play there at the start of the season. Peronally I’d like to see Yennaris or Coquelin but opinions are like arse holes, everyone has one. Don’t act the hard man from behind your keyboard because I know you wouldn’t say those things to his face.
A brave lineup up there!
Podolski would play on the left, however arsene hinted that he’d play centrally. Song, Arteta, cazorla, Walcott are a must.
Szsznzszcsny
Sagna. Vermaelen. Koscielby. M’biwa
Arteta. Song
Walcott. Cazorla. Gerbinho
Podolski
This lineup would be should vp leaves.
Amazing! How quickly they forget! Song is the Strongest most combative midfielder we have got. Some used to suggest Wilshere can replace him (before injuries) which was ridiculous in its own right. Because they are not a similar in anyway and shape. Now with Arteta a escapee from Everton. A panic buy slow footed 29 years old Central Mid, who did alright because Song was playing next to him. Even more ridiculous claim that unsigned Real Madrid reject (on loan at best) to the EPL AFC is going to start over Song? I am offended as a Gunner. And if i were Song, i will be thinking WTF.
Your name sums you right up, Arteta has more class in his little finger than Song, and when he got injured we started to f..k things up. Song is a squad player at best
That’s why Arteta delivered 3 assists all season and Song delivered 14. Grow up PaulB. Men are talking here.
Yoy are a FoolishGunner, Arteta was the best player for Arsenal last season when he played, he brought a level of calm and organisation Song just couldn’t. I am not sure if Song will leave, I have no inside information, but just because you like him doesn’t mean he won’t. It doesn’t work that. Song is a good player but he’s not fantastiic.
If van persie stays…..
Szszszszdszszz
Sagna. Vermaelen. Kiscileny. M’biwa
Arteta. Song
Walcott. Cazorla
Van
Did we sign Mbiwa? Am i missin something…or are we signing him….just logged on
(carrying on from last time)
Persie. Podolski.