Less than 20 days since the 2022/23 Premier League campaign came to its conclusion, preparation for next season has already begun.
Arsenal will begin their quest to compete for their first league title in 20 years with the visit of Nottingham Forest on Saturday 12 August (kick-off at 12:30pm). The fixture list has been kind to Mikel Arteta's side for the opening stages, with them facing just two big six opponents in Tottenham and Manchester United in September.
We are only two days in the summer transfer window and the Gunners have already kickstarted their mission to improve from last season's second-placed finish. football.london understands a bid worth £90million has been rejected by West Ham for Declan Rice, the Gunners' top priority.
The north Londoners are expected to bolster a number of areas of Arteta's squad before the transfer window shuts in September. As well as a new central midfielder, a right-back and forward are also positions under consideration ahead of the club's participation in the UEFA Champions League.
Arteta's side could have a fresh new-look to it by the time Premier League football resumes in less than two months' time. But what would the perfect Arsenal team look like on the first day of the season?
Pre-season will, obviously, play a part in the decision making against Forest. The Gunners will face German side FC Nurnberg before taking on an MLS All-Stars XI, Manchester United and Barcelona in the United States. A midweek Emirates Cup clash with Ligue 1 outfit AS Monaco will be followed by the Community Shield fixture against Manchester City on Sunday August 6 before the big start.
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Yet the business completed in the transfer market will play a pivotal role in the starting line-up to face Steve Cooper's side. The wheels are already in motion to bring Rice to north London following West Ham's Europa Conference League win and in an ideal world, the 24-year-old will have a full pre-season under his belt.
Granit Xhaka's imminent exit to Bayer Leverkusen leaves the No.6 position free. Arsenal remain linked with Brighton star Moises Caicedo. But a deal for the Brighton star may prove more difficult to conclude than preferred, with the Seagulls already demonstrating their resilience to squeeze every penny out of buyers. That means Thomas Partey is likely to retain his position as Arteta's holding midfielder, pushing Rice slightly further up the field.
In defence, it's understood a new right-back is on sporting director Edu Gaspar's radar. Real Valladolid's Ivan Fresneda and Leicester City's Timothy Castagne have both been linked with moves to north London, but neither are at an advanced stage just yet.
Ben White was Arteta's first-choice last term with his excellent performances transforming him as one of the best defensive-minded full-backs. However, his natural position is centre-back and with William Saliba's injury playing such a damaging part as the Gunners' title charge faltered, the England international may be needed elsewhere.
Castagne was relegated with Leicester and may be available for significantly cheaper than usual. The Gunners have already succeeded in gambling on players from clubs dropping out of the Premier League, with Aaron Ramsdale becoming one of the most valuable keepers in the world after his arrival from Sheffield United, so the move for the Foxes star makes sense.
Further up the field, Chelsea star Kai Havertz has attracted interest from Arsenal, football.london understands. However, the Blues' asking price of £70million may prove to be a problem and it remains unseen whether a move will be pushed.
Gabriel Jesus will be looking to better his debut season at the Emirates Stadium. The Brazilian missed a large chunk of the campaign due to injury but still boasted an impressive goal contribution record of 21 in 33 games.
Flanking Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are expected to play a starring role once again after contributing to 47 goals between them. That would leave Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah as options off the bench.
Ideal Arsenal starting XI: Ramsdale; Castagne, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Martinelli, Jesus, Saka.
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