Arsenal will be the flagbearers for the new Premier League season for the second year in a row. Mikel Arteta will be hoping his transfer-boosted side will be able to kick things off with much greater effect than in 2021.
A 2-0 loss to Brentford must be avoided by Arsenal this time around as they make another short trip across London, this time to the south, to face Crystal Palace. Defensively Arsenal were atrocious at the intimidating ground last season and lost 3-0, a result which had big ramifications in the top four race.
However, Arteta will have far more quality available this time around with the return of William Saliba. In addition, the arrival of Oleksandr Zinchenko has added greater depth to the left-back position.
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Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu were unavailable for the trip to Selhurst Park last season and could both potentially miss the journey again. Both are undergoing rehabilitation and being gradually reintegrated into full training, but the game may still come too soon.
Arteta fielded a backline of Ben White at right-back, Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Zinchenko on the left against Chelsea in a 4-0 win. It is very possible he chooses again to use the same line-up next Friday.
Saliba has generated plenty of interest since his loan spell with Marseille last season. The French side have been regularly linked with trying to agree a permanent or temporary return for the player with L’Equipe via The Express claiming a remaining optimism a deal could still be done.
There has also been Premier League interest from the likes of Leicester City according to L’Equipe. A move to the Foxes would see Saliba rejoin Wesley Fofana who he partnered at Saint-Etienne.
Saliba’s output is sure to have drawn the attention of further clubs and with Ben White in his way, the promise of regular game time elsewhere was always a potential threat to Arsenal’s hopes of keeping the 21-year-old. However, Arteta can quell those fears.
The aforementioned line-up including Saliba can give the Frenchman the early assurance he needs to commit to the club in at least the short term for the remainder of the season. Suggestions of a new contract have been circulating although that has also seen conflicting reports follow.
James McNicholas, Arsenal writer for The Athletic, spoke on the latest Arsecast Extra and played down rumours of a renewal. Referencing the young defender would want to see how his time at Arsenal develops in the short-term first.
“Various things flying round about contracts, I don’t think anything is close at all on that front. I think he is going to see how things go.”
McNicholas adds that considering the opportunities he is going to get a renewal would be on the agenda but ‘further down the line’. It has been a summer of mystery on so many levels and the future of the Frenchman remains a big part of that but a start next Friday would ease many fears.
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