One month ago football.london predicted what Mikel Arteta’s dream Premier League squad with Arsenal would look like come the end of the transfer window. It came four days before the actual summer window itself had even opened.
We are now three weeks into official business and so far things are yet to really take shape for Arsenal. David Raya is the only permanent signing to arrive, and even that had been expected for the past seven months, if not more.
There is still a demand for a new striker and midfielder, whilst the host of changes to the supporting cast of rotation options and squad players is yet to get underway. No significant sales have happened, and in fact two of the more promising academy youngsters have left for nothing.
So it was one month ago that we envisioned an Arsenal with Justin Bijlow joining, Murillo from Nottingham Forest supporting the defence, Douglas Luiz coming in to be Declan Rice’s ideal partner, and Benjamin Sesko leading the line. There was even room for Viktor Tsygankov at the time.
Well, adhering to the Premier League rules of no more than 17 non-homegrown players, and an unlimited amount of Under-21s, here is an updated dream Arsenal 25-man squad.
Goalkeepers: Raya, Hein, Garcia
Raya is the undisputed No.1 and it leaves awkward questions for the future of Aaron Ramsdale. He is one of many who we will cover here that could be sold this summer. Ramsdale leaving would leave a spot open for a new backup, though.
Karl Hein agreeing to stay at the club almost certainly sorts out the third-choice spot, even if he would prefer to be getting first-team football. However, links with Espanyol keeper Joan Garcia have emerged. If things were to work out then he could be a like-for-like in the squad with Ramsdale, and ideally it would come as a net profit as well given an expected £30million fee for the Englishman to leave.
With Under-21s able to play as much (or as little) football throughout the season without taking up one of the squad spots, there is no shortage of options if an emergency were to happen. Hein is also useful as he doesn’t take up one of the non-homegrown player spots – and neither does Raya with his background at Blackburn Rovers.
Defenders: White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Calafiori, Tomiyasu, Kiwior, Timber, Guehi
Arsenal look well stocked at the back already but are going hard for Bologna’s Riccardo Calafiori. Out of the players already on the books he is the fifth who is able to play in at least two spots.
Primarily a centre-back, but also adept on the left, Calafiori will seemingly offer Jakub Kiwior direct competition for his place. If Jurrien Timber is mainly seen as a left (or right)-back, then there is a lot of choices for Mikel Arteta on the flanks. Oleksandr Zinchenko will certainly be forced to up his levels if he wishes to keep a spot in the side.
Zinchenko has been touted as a possible candidate to leave but so far nothing has emerged and, just two years into his stay at the club, it would take something big for him to go. If there is a spot here that can be improved on, then it’s the backup centre-half.
Arsenal, as mentioned, have plenty of versatile options – Ben White, Timber, Calafiori if he signs, and Kiwior – all offering flexibility, but in Marc Guehi there is a player with experience at centre-back, specialising in the role. He would be a serious contender to push Gabriel Magalhaes and has leadership qualities.
