Will anything ever be the same in north London again? A strange season lies ahead for Arsenal.
After years of being bored by predictability, Arsenal fans have no idea what to expect.
A busy summer has seen a change in the dugout alongside five summer signings, here’s the lowdown.
What has changed since last season?
What hasn’t?! After almost 22 years, Arsène Wenger is no longer Arsenal manager and the club enter a new era under Unai Emery. Pre-season has already shown the team playing a more intense style, pressing high up the pitch and hunting in packs after losing possession.
Emery’s Arsenal are clearly going to dominate the ball in most games but they will be more drilled than they were under Wenger, taking on modern approaches akin to the way we’ve seen Jürgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola, or Mauricio Pochettino set up their sides.
The players who have remained will have to grasp Emery’s ideas quickly and the Spaniard needs to integrate €30m signing Lucas Torreira quickly to maximise this squad’s potential.
How have they done in the transfer market?
They paid a lot for Bernd Leno but the jury is out on how good a goalkeeper he actually is. The same can be said of Sokratis Papastothopoulos, who joins from Borussia Dortmund.
Lucas Torreira looks a brilliant capture in midfield and pre-season indicates Mattéo Guendouzi could be a gem. Signing Stephan Lichtsteiner for free seems like a smart move.
It’s hard to escape the idea they could have done with signing a wide player.
Who will be their key man?
After a turbulent summer, Mesut Özil has been welcomed back with open arms. The playmaker has looked red hot in pre-season and he has a lot to prove.
Many believe he won’t fit in with Emery demanding more from his players but he has a contract for three more seasons and has become one of the world’s highest-paid players.
Who will be their top scorer?
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The Gabonese scored 10 in 13 Premier League appearances after joining in January last season.
A world class poacher and one of the quickest players in the Premier League, there’s no stopping him. Golden boot contender?
Are there any young players we should be keeping an eye on?
Emile Smith Rowe grabbed the headlines in pre-season and the 18-year-old shouldn’t be heading out on loan, he looks like a huge prospect.
Midfield signing Mattéo Guendouzi also impressed, controlling games from the middle of the park. Signed from Ligue 2 side Lorient, the 19-year-old is practically unheard of but there are clearly reasons for Arsenal fans to get excited.
What will Unai Emery’s biggest challenge be?
Keeping fans calm and patient. Fans are desperate for instant success and everyone wants the chance to judge everything as quickly as possible but it doesn’t work like that and Arsenal will need time to get used to a new way of working.
Arsenal are likely to look great some weeks and awful in others as they figure out what their new head coach wants and he figures out how to use them. Nobody should get carried away after a few good games or convince themselves he was the wrong choice after a few bad games.
Can you show me their home and away jersey and give it a mark out of 10?
Red shirt with white sleeves, it’s definitely an Arsenal home kit. The inverted V across the middle is odd, as are the red lines on the arms. The red is a shade too light and the shoulders and neck look weird. 3/10.
Image: Arsenal’s new away kit for the upcoming season, as modeled by Mesut Özil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang & Aaron Ramsey. #afc pic.twitter.com/2xb40yxi54
This shirt isn’t bad, not bad at all. Despite the M going across the middle. This is the Gunners’ best shirt of the year. Let’s not talk about the shorts. 7/10.
What does Arsenal’s best XI look like?
Aubameyang wide and Lacazette up front? Calum Chambers to displace either Sokratis or Mustafi?
Maybe soon, but this is how Arsenal should kick off their campaign.
And finally, where will Arsenal finish in the Premier League?
It’s wide open, anywhere between third and sixth feels realistic.
I’m going to go with fifth.
(this is college assignment)source: https://onefootball.com/
(this is college assignment)source: https://onefootball.com/
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