Arsenal: Potential 2017/18 starting XI without Mesut Ozil or Alexis Sanchez

Arsenal is bound to have some renovations this summer, so here’s a glimpse at what they could look like without Alexis Sanchez or Mesut Ozil.

There is no doubt that Arsenal Football Club will soon be undergoing massive change. The squad depth has been widely lauded for some time but trophies have still been hard to come by.

Pain In The Arsenal co-editor Josh Sippie recently wrote an absorbing article presenting his ideal Starting XI to enter the 2017/18 season and I wanted in on the action.

Whilst there have been more positive stories in recent weeks regarding the futures of both Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, this is specifically who I would like to see line-up in the famous red and white next season if they are sold. I have will also state some personnel decisions that I would make regarding certain positions.

We start with a goalkeeping legend between the sticks.

Petr Cech

There have been calls for Arsene Wenger to drop Petr Cech for David Ospina this season and the calls are valid. Nonetheless, in my opinion, the suggestion that the Colombian is superior to Cech – the player with the most clean sheets in Premier League history – is laughable.

Granted, Cech hasn’t been at his best recently but his ability is greater than that of our current No. 2 goalkeeper.

I’m also relatively certain that Ospina will leave in the near future in search of starting football, which he won’t find at The Emirates Stadium.

Similarly to Josh, I was tempted to insert Wojciech Szczesny in goal. By all accounts, he’s been mighty impressive for A.S. Roma and according to the man himself (via The Sun), Arsene Wenger wants him back in North London. I’ve always been a fan of the Polish international despite his maverick tendencies and I’m of the opinion that he will be our No.1 upon Cech’s departure.

Let’s move on to the first of our outfield players, with a slightly more advanced role for a certain young Spaniard.