Arsenal: 3 players whose return will change the team irreversibly

Arsenal have a bit of an injury issue right now, and while I would not deem it a crisis, it’s certainly frustrating. But once the afflicted players return to full fitness, this squad will have an entirely different potential. Here are three players key to that revival.

A series of pulled hamstrings and dislocated joints has ravaged Arsenal’s promising young defensive corps and midfield this season.  Once they return, it will be alright. It’s just scary at present.

These injuries have plagued our squad all season, with Lucas Torreira’s hip being the latest victim of the trend. The most tragic of the lot is Calum Chambers’ ACL tear, replicating Rob Holding’s just over a year ago. Our players have a nasty habit of pulling up lame right when we cannot afford another name missing from the team sheet.

We have also had a number of suspensions. Sokratis, Xhaka, Maitland-Niles, and most recently Pierre Emerick Aubameyang have seen red—or a whole bunch of yellows—and as a result have faced some time in the stands, in common clothes instead of the red-and-white.

This squad under Arteta is spread precariously thin at the moment, and the return of these three players will aid us greatly in our pursuit of success.

First, the Spaniard.

3. Dani Ceballos

Ceballos is very close to finally making a return in Arsenal colors. He has sat on the bench in almost every game under Mikel Arteta, and with Torreira’s injury, he will be even more crucial going forward.

Out of all the talent in our squad, he is the best midfielder we have with the ball at his feet. His dribbling and turning is superb, almost Santi-Cazorla esque, and on his day he is a one-man army. Plus, he’s never afraid to have a shot. And our biggest issue at the moment is that we don’t do enough of that to win games.

He’s also the one man in the Arsenal squad who can truly break a press from the center of the park. Torreira is tentative, and limited in possession. Xhaka is not athletic enough to spin or move with the ball. Guendouzi tends to hide, and his lack of positional nous is an issue at times.

Ceballos skill on the half turn, and his propensity to take risks—which usually pay off—is a key skill to elevate our midfield to the next level. If he replaces Mesut Özil, I think a transition to a 4-3-3 formation would be a welcome decision, maximizing Ceballos’ strength in transition. If he replaces Torreira or Xhaka, the prospect of him as a deep-lying playmaker is delicious indeed.

On to his countryman at number 2.