Taking into account strong rumours of departures:
'Keepers (3 - 2 HG)
Petr Cech, Emiliano Martinez, Matt Macey
Defence (8 - 2 HG)
Hector Bellerin, Gabriel, Shkodran Mustafi, Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker, Rob Holding, Nacho Monreal, Sead Kolasinac
Midfield (8 - 3 HG - 2 U21)
Francis Coquelin, Granit Xhaka, Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla, Mohamed Elneny, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jeff Reine-Adelaide, Ainsley Maitland-Niles
Attackers (6 - 2 HG - 2 U21)
Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott, Danny Welbeck, Alex Iwobi, Reiss Nelson
Squad - 21 + 4 U-21s. 9 HG.
Players absent (over 21s)
Wojciech Szczesny, David Ospina, Calum Chambers, Carl Jenkinson, Mat Debuchy, Kieran Gibbs, Jack Wilshere, Joel Campbell, Takumo Asano, Chuba Akpom, Jon Toral, Lucas Perez, Olivier Giroud
Observations
No strikers!
Lack of experienced back up to Cech.
A back 3 well covered.
No problems concerning homegrown rules.
4 spaces left in the squad.
Conclusions
The obvious, that a striker is 100% priority - however if we do sell Giroud then I would suggest we need to sign THREE. An established back up plus a young, but experienced, 3rd man.
The midfield, for me, is weak so personally feel Jack Wilshere should be retained and hopefully will return after injury ready to step in.
There is either a lot of belief in Martinez or we need to sign a #2 'keeper. Cech has picked up a few injuries, plus is unlikely to be in the Europa team and potentially cups.
We are set for a 3 at the back, but right back could be an issue again if we revert to 4. Ox and AMN are alternatives to Bellerin in a 3-4-2-1 to get us through all competitions.
We haven't got a lot of back up from the youths. Krystian Bielik, Chris Willock (if he stays) and Ben Sheaf look the only ones who could join those listed in the squad as things stand. Ismael Bennacer and Julio Pleguezuelo may get a look in during pre-season after foreign loan spells.
Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil have to stay or the job for one summer becomes impossible.
How our squad is shaping up...
posted on 17/6/17
'The midfield, for me, is weak so personally feel Jack Wilshere should be retained and hopefully will return after injury ready to step in.'
Agreed about the weakness of the midfield, though not necessarily with Wilshere being the solution.
Take away Santi, and it all looks so bland in there. Even the possible excitement the two youngsters might bring.
Need a bit of personality brought in. I can't remember a time of such a forgettable midfield under Wenger.
posted on 17/6/17
Well Alan Stubbs has claimed Ross Barkley is coming...
Definitely don't see that.
The Nice midfielder Jean Michael Seri, Naby Keita of Leipzig or Thomas Lemar of Monaco have all been linked (despite the latter being a wide player from all i have seen of him) as solutions in CM.
posted on 17/6/17
Have no idea about any of them, but Leipzig don't need the money, so hope we're prepared for that.
posted on 17/6/17
And I can't see Barkley coming either.
posted on 17/6/17
We are shifting the wrong players.
One of the Macey or Emiliano should go on loan and establish themselves as starter in lower league first before being considered Arsenal level
We can't be selling both Perez and Giroud if we don't bring two strikers
As for the midfield, I'd love Zieliński from Napoli. He has really good vision and can carry the ball. A mixture of Cesc and Santi if you will..
posted on 17/6/17
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 1 hour, 48 minutes ago
Well Alan Stubbs has claimed Ross Barkley is coming...
Definitely don't see that.
The Nice midfielder Jean Michael Seri, Naby Keita of Leipzig or Thomas Lemar of Monaco have all been linked (despite the latter being a wide player from all i have seen of him) as solutions in CM.
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Fully agree with on our midfield, Lex. Santi is not able to play a full season and is coming back from injury in October I read (with a bit of luck).
The solution could be Lemar as DJ suggested and the Ox establishing himself into the midfield?
Upfront I cant see Giroud being sold to be honest. He is such a good asset to have because no one of the big boys have such a different second striker than him. We would be stupid to let him go. We need an alternative no doubt here and I can see Lacazette is coming. Mbappe would be a dream but cant be realised if I am honest because of too many competitors about him.
Do we need another goalkeeper? Expect Ospina to go and Szez coming back. Personally I am not happy with our situation because I really love Ospina.
posted on 17/6/17
Don't think Szczesny is coming back. All the top Italian clubs seemingly want him.
posted on 17/6/17
What is clear is that this summer we need a:
ST
Back up ST
GK
CM
those are our priorities
posted on 17/6/17
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 11 minutes ago
Don't think Szczesny is coming back. All the top Italian clubs seemingly want him.
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Not sure DJ. Italian media is the least reliable source. All speculation.
posted on 17/6/17
I have no confidence in Arsenal bringing in a.top class CF.
We wouldn't pay £40mil last season for Lacazzete so like fak are we gonna pay £60Mil for him.