Arsenal confirmed their first summer signing on Wednesday as Kai Havertz arrived from Chelsea.
The German international has signed a long-term contract at the Emirates Stadium, having made the move for a fee in the region of £65million plus add-ons. Havertz, who scored just nine times in 47 appearances for the Blues last season, will add versatility and an extra dimension to the Gunners' attack.
However, Havertz is not expected to be the only big-money signing at Arsenal this summer. Declan Rice is closing in on a £105m move as Mikel Arteta bolsters his midfield department. The Gunners are set to beat Manchester City to Rice's signature - three weeks after he captained West Ham to the Europa Conference League in Prague.
Jurrien Timber and Moises Caicedo also continue to be linked with a move and Arsenal could be in for a busy summer before the start of the Premier League season in August. The Gunners take on Nottingham Forest on the opening weekend. With that in mind, here is a look at three potential teams Arteta could use - including Havertz and the impending arrival of Rice.
Havertz up front
Havertz was used as a central striker for the vast majority of time at Chelsea, and played in that role when he scored the winner in the Champions League final in 2021. He has excellent movement and could develop into a top-class centre forward with more experience and development.
In this side, Havertz would go straight in as the no.9 and replace Gabriel Jesus, with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli either side.
Martin Odegaard would stay as the attacking midfielder, while Rice and Thomas Partey are used as the two double-pivots in a dynamic-looking Arsenal side... assuming the Ghanaian international doesn't depart amid speculation over a mega-money switch to Saudi Arabia.
Team 1 (4-2-3-1): Ramsdale; White, Gabriel, Saliba, Zinchenko; Rice, Partey; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Havertz.
Three-man midfield
Another option Arteta could use is an attack-minded formation which would include Havertz and Odegaard in a midfield-three. This would see Rice as the deep-lying no.6, sitting just ahead of the back-four, with Havertz and Odegaard being adopted as two no.8s in a flexible, interchangeable system.
Jesus would come in and start up front ahead of the unfortunate Eddie Nketiah, with Saka and Martinelli out wide again. The back-line will stay the same throughout every team, although should Jurrien Timber sign, he would challenge Ben White for the right-back slot, while offering cover for William Saliba also.
Team 2 (4-3-3): Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Rice, Odegaard, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
Rice as an advanced 8
One of Rice's biggest qualities is that he is versatile. He can play at the back, but in most positions across the midfield. Arteta could use Rice as an advanced no.8 in a diamond formation alongside Odegaard, with Havertz ahead of them in the no.10 and Partey as the no.6.
This would see Saka partner Jesus up front in a flexible front-line, with Martinelli dropping to the bench. It is a formation that would be new to the Arsenal fans, but it would see Rice, Odegaard and Havertz all having advanced roles - a combination that could be scary for many Premier League defences.
The question then would be who sits in front of the back four? With Xhaka expected to be off to Germany and Partey potentially moving to Saudi Arabia, that could lead them back to Brighton's Caicedo, a big-money target in January and a player who remains admired in North London.
Team 3 (4-1-2-1-2): Ramsdale; White, Gabriel, Saliba, Zinchenko; Caicedo; Odegaard, Rice; Havertz; Jesus, Saka
