Arteta’s preferred Arsenal lineup for 2021/22 season

And that’s a wrap. After 12 long weeks of intense transfer speculation made up of a mixture of concrete links and complete and utter rubbish, the curtain is drawn and focus can return to what Arsenal have, not what they don’t.

So actually, in hindsight, can we go back to rumours and such? For a brief moment it slipped the mind that Mikel Arteta’s side are rock bottom of the Premier League after their worst start to the season in 67 years. Yeah, easily forgotten.

Three matches in, zero points, zero goals and nine conceded once again becomes the epicenter of the issues in north London, not whether or not the club stuffed up in failing to include a buy option in Hector Bellerin’s loan or whether or not Takehiro Tomiyasu is the player to turn the needle.

The squad Arteta has comes after a club record spend for a single window, totalling close to £150m, despite there being no European football for the first time in a quarter of a century and this all coming off the back of consecutive eighth place league finishes.

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Summer transfer window business leaves Mikel Arteta with a new preferred Arsenal lineup for 2021/22 Premier League season

What is the result of that expenditure? A better squad. Of that there is no doubting. Sure, some may have wanted more and may have preferred a greater impact on the starting lineup, but it’s improved from where it was back in May.

More importantly, these are now Arteta’s players. That much is certain. In his eyes he now possesses a group of players better suited to doing something his side haven’t done so far this Premier League season: play a decent brand of football, score goals an win matches.

There is still time before we get to see those players in action with the international break underway, but for the remainder of the campaign should he have a fully fit squad at his disposal, his preferred starting lineup appears to have taken shape.

What shape will he adopt? What front four is his desired and may there be a few surprises in there from what is expected? What does Arteta see? With a certain degree of confidence, probably this:

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Bernd Leno (GK) – Despite the signing of Aaron Ramsdale, Leno still looks like being Arteta’s main man between the sticks for the remainder of the season barring any calamities or substantial drop-offs in form. The plan is still likely to be that Leno moves on in the coming summer, by which time another backup keeper is acquired.

Takehiro Tomiyasu (RB) – It can only be. From Tomiyasu’s perspective, whether he’s kept up to date with how Arsenal’s season has gone so far or not, even if he’s only slightly competent as a defender he waltzes into the starting team. Wanting a specific profile to suit the back three build-up, the only option at the club who matches that profile wise is Chambers, or indeed White. The latter is needed elsewhere and the former has just welcomed his upgrade into the side.

It will remain a 4-2-3-1 on paper, but rarely stick to that in and out of possession.

Ben White (RCB) – Dishing up two halves’ worth of impressive displays to go hand-in-hand with a a less than favourable Premier League debut, fans are still waiting to see how transformative White can be.

With the addition of a solid, technically secure and physical defender in Tomiyasu, White’s carries out from the back and deep progression can be reinforced by the presence of his now quicker and more two-footed partner. That’s the hope, anyway.

Gabriel (LCB) – Writing Arteta’s preferred XI out, there is an additional sense of patience for the abject displays so far this season with Gabriel yet to kick a ball and White having played just once so far. This is the best pairing at the club and they’ve barely met each other, let alone played a minute together.

Generally, any game in which Calum Chambers or Rob Holding have the most passes in the team is not going to be an enjoyable one. Hand those reins to White and Gabriel and let’s see what this team can be.

Kieran Tierney (LB) – Tierney will be glad to have Gabriel back in he heart of defence in both Mari and Kolasinac’s stead, but the pair have not got the best track record when playing together in the same side and it’s an area that needs improvement.

There was greater balance and synergy at the very end of last season and it’s that form the pair need to carry on with together.

But look, a proper back four! (on paper)

Midfielders

Thomas Partey (RCM) – A great deal of this campaign hinges on not only Thomas Partey hitting top form, but actually being out of the treatment room long enough to display it.

If he’s crocked, Arsenal are left with a 21-year-old Belgian to take his Champions League-experienced self’s place. Sambi looks great, he just isn’t Partey. Yet.

A strong season from the Ghanaian (which we’re going to pretend starts now) is paramount to Arsenal achieving any modicum of success.

Granit Xhaka (LCM) – A mistake to keep hold of him and award his desire to leave with a new contract? Yes.

Also the best player in the squad to partner Partey and, on his day, one half of a solid enough midfield duo? Yes.

Martin Odegaard (AM) – The man he wanted all summer long, and pretty much since he arrived on loan in January, is a dead certain to be starting under Arteta if the squad is fully fit as he offers the facilitating qualities that no other player can bring.

Emile Smith Rowe can’t spend the season as the sole creative player and by adding Odegaard there is the vital addition of centrality to Arsenal’s game to avoid them slipping into their predictable build-up bias.

Forwards

Bukayo Saka (RW) – With all the transfer dealings done and dusted for Arteta this summer, the obvious attacking casualty from it all is Nicolas Pepe.

Does he sneak ahead of Saka on the right wing? Of course not. Does he pip Smith Rowe to the left wing? No again.

How the Ivorian reacts to the new favoured front four will be down to him but there is no way on planet earth that Saka doesn’t own the right wing for the coming season and beyond. It’s his best fit and little will change that.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ST) – It’s no secret that another centre-forward was being eyed up during the window. Planning had to happen for when Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah left. Sadly, neither did and the striker situation was as you were.

All of which still leaves Aubameyang to lead the line. The captain has the manager’s trust having made it abundantly clear with his refusal to drop him even in times of poor form, thus nothing will change.

With the right technical bodies around him and the blend of creators to find his runs via different methods and from a variety of areas across the pitch, he can thrive. Arsenal’s season is mostly dependent on that.

Emile Smith Rowe (LW) – Being out on the left wing looks set to be Smith Rowe’s spot for the foreseeable future. But it’s not really the left wing, is it?

The addition of Tomiyasu reaffirms the five lanes of attack Arteta implements, with Tierney holding the width on the left and Smith Rowe drifting into left half-space zones. He flourished there last season and it means Arsenal have creativity in three zones of their attack.

Just like Aubameyang finding the net regularly, Smith Rowe and Saka will be tasked with adding more goals and assists to their game. Now the No. 10, that’s part of Smith Rowe’s job role.

We have every faith he can do so.