Arsenal technical director Edu welcomed five new faces to the Emirates Stadium this summer and, now, Mikel Arteta must decide his best starting XI.
The Spaniard has already offered a glimpse into what he sees as his strongest side following an unbeaten start to the Premier League this season. William Saliba, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli have all impressed thus far, playing a major role in the north London side's success.
With Arsenal spending in the region of £120million on the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabio Vieira, Matt Turner and Marquinhos, Arteta looks to be breeding a merciless winning mentality. And, the best part is that the latter trio are yet to stamp their mark, leaving an abundance of potential to still fulfil.
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However, it must be said that it was Arteta's wish to sign a defensive midfielder before the summer transfer deadline slammed shut, throwing a curveball at Arsenal's team selection - especially with a congested calendar of fixtures just around the corner. So, with that being said, football.london has taken a look at Arsenal's best possible line-ups following a largely fruitful summer transfer window.
4-3-3
A 4-3-3 has proved increasingly successful under Arteta at Arsenal, with several bonds and partnerships already created between players. More often than not, this shape alternates with a 3-4-3 depending on whether the Gunners are in possession or not, with Zinchenko stepping up and Ben White tucking in.
This is already a strong starting XI and the likes of Emile Smith Rowe, Fabio Vieira and Kieran Tierney offer great depth as they wait patiently on the sidelines. However, it must be said that an injury to Partey or Xhaka could prove decisive in the race for Champions League qualification.
3-4-3
This shape is a bit more gung-ho, but one that fields as many forward-thinking players as possible. Though, again, if Partey or Xhaka are absent, then Arsenal lose their strong core.
A back three hands Arteta a few tough decisions to make. Does he start Saliba? When does Tomiyasu come in? What about Ben White? Is Tierney better placed at left centre-back or left wing-back?
4-2-3-1
Not too dissimilar to the 4-3-3 - especially with Odegaard roaming forward into pockets of space - this formation can bring out the best in Smith Rowe and Tierney. But, missing out on the likes of Douglas Luiz on deadline day looks more costly than ever, with Sambi Albert Lokonga yet to entirely prove himself at the very highest level of opponent.
The major dilemma is how Arteta deals with Saka. In an ideal world, the academy graduate starts twice a week in both Europe and domestically, but the Gunners will soon have to learn how to play without him...
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