Arsenal: Lucas Torreira completion means someone is being excluded

Arsenal have landed the services of Lucas Torreira, but now we have to start thinking about how the squad lines up, because someone is missing out.

I’ve spent the last week or so gushing about just how perfect Arsenal’s attack and midfield has become. They have creativity, they have precision, they have all that you could want ahead of that back four (or three or whatever will improve on last season).

But while it is a beautiful machine (at least on paper), we still have to consider who will actually be out there on a regular basis because, as it stands, they have six spots to fill ahead of the defense and (at least) seven guys to fill them.

Those seven guys will all be expecting to start. It’s a nice bit of internal competition, and a good problem to have. So let’s chat about it.

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It all comes down to the formation, really. If Unai Emery opts for a 4-3-3, then the formation makes itself. The midfield is populated with Lucas Torreira, Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey (he’s staying, damnit).

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The attack, then, is where the drama would be – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette, Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan all dueling for three positions. Someone would be excluded and I’m not sure you can easily point out which one that would be. In fact, I know you can’t, because they are all deserving.

If Emery opts for a 4-4-2, then the drama shifts theatres. The attack is made, with Aubameyang and Lacazette playing up front, Ozil and Mkhitaryan out wide. The question would be who among the midfielders plays the central two spots.

Needless to say if Ramsey leaves, the question answers itself, but remember – he’s staying, damnit.

Meaning we’d have Xhaka, Ramsey and Torreira duking it out for two spots. Honestly, of those three, it’s like drawing straws. Each combination provides something completely different and potentially equally beneficial to the club’s dynamism as a whole.

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Barring any sales, this figures to be the major dramatic question of the summer. How will the Gunners line up and how willing will Emery be to switch things up?