How Arsenal could line up with Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori

Arsenal's transfer business thus far hasn't been as urgent as fans may have liked, but with a strong crop of players already, the Gunners have primarily been looking at plugging gaps with specific profiles.

This strategy has led to Riccardo Calafiori's recruitment, while a deal for Mikel Merino looks close, too - potentially another positive step towards a complete and balanced squad which will be crucial to overthrowing Manchester City's league champion status next season.

Distributing minutes across the squad while juggling fixture congestion is a tricky task and Calafiori and Merino could demand plenty of game time over the next year given their quality.

If Mikel Arteta were to get his man, here is how the Gunners could potentially lineup.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Goalkeeper - David Raya

The signing of David Raya last season sparked an interesting debate among the Arsenal faithful on who really deserved to be the first choice between the sticks. But it was the Spaniard who eventually displaced Aaron Ramsdale, and Arteta hasnt looked back since.

It's tough to see a world in which the Englishman, or any other goalkeeper, for that matter, breaks back into the 11 now that Raya has made his stay permanent. He remains the clear favourite to start going into the season.

Right-back - Ben White

Jurrien Timber's return to selection following his devastating ACL injury last season almost feels like a new signing, and it'll be exciting to see the Dutchman in action. But of course, Ben White's contributions must not be forgotten in the process. He was vital to the right flank's success last season, and he likely remains the first choice, at least for the season openers.

Centre-backs - Gabriel & William Saliba

Arsenal's defensive partnership looked impenetrable at times at least season, and there's no reason why the setup should change. Saliba and Gabriel should claim their spots at centre-back with little trouble.

Left-back - Riccardo Calafiori

Arsenal's first summer signing is sure to feature plenty of times across the course of the season, and his versatility affords him a chance at both left-back and centre-back. Of course, we could see the Italian in the outside role more often, as his defensive capabilities out wide in tandem with his technical ability on the ball are unmatched among those who can play this position. It is only Jurrien Timber, in fact, who can match the quality of Calafiori's profile - but the Dutchman's right-footed bias means he is a slightly different tactical piece.

All in all though, fans should expect the duo of Calafiori and Timber to rotate fairly often. The latter is effectively a "jack of all trades" in the defensive department, which is why the former may stand out as Arteta's best bet at left-back.

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