Arsenal: 2022/23

I wrote a post a few months ago, just before the summer transfer window opened up, detailing the Arsenal squad and what I would do with it. I mentioned outgoings, incomings and promotions from within. Now, I feel it's a good time to analyse the last few months and give my thoughts and predictions on the upcoming season.

It's important to know that the Premier League season actually kicked off a few weeks ago and Arsenal have made a stunning start. They've won their first five games and have played very well in each, despite some close calls. New signings and the old guard have seemingly fit together very well and are playing some of the best football the fans have seen for a while. As an Arsenal fan, you can't help but wrap yourself up in the excitement. So, now I'll be analysing the squad and what I feel the season will bring.

Arsenal first team squad:

Goalkeepers: Aaron Ramsdale, Matt Turner, Karl Hein.

Defenders: William Saliba, Gabriel, Benjamin White, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Cedric, Kieran Tierney, Rob Holding.

Midfielders: Fabio Vieira, Emile Smith-Rowe, Martin Odegaard, Granit Xhaka, Mohamed Elneny, Albert Sambi-Lokonga, Thomas Partey.

Attackers: Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, Marquinhos, Eddie Nketiah, Reiss Nelson.

You'll notice a few new names on this list compared to the same list I made a few months ago. Arsenal managed to acquire Fabio Vieira, Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Marquinhos and Matt Turner. They spent a little under £120 million to sign these players, which obviously seems like a lot of money, but some clubs completely eclipsed that spend.

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal's manager, was very open about adding new names to that list, but only if they added real quality to the starting line up. Despite a deadline day move for Douglas Luiz, of Aston Villa, they weren't going to be fooled into spending more than they needed to. Something which I can fully understand and appreciate, perhaps a change in the way the club is run and not just spending for the sake of spending. However, the biggest business the club has engaged in this summer is outgoings. It seems as though in the last year Arsenal have been dedicated to clearing their books and ensuring loans for peripheral players, as well as youth prospects. Let's go through the list.

The permanent sales include Alexandre Lacazette, Lucas Torreira, Matteo Guendouzi, Bernd Leno, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Daniel Ballard, Omari Hutchinson, James Olayinka and Hector Bellerin. In total the club have received just under £20 million in player sales. That brings the all important net spend to around £100 million. I say that's all important because FFP (Financial Fair Play) still exists and Arsenal were placed on a watch list this summer due to their activity. An added extra of clearing through so many players is that the wages are then shifted and Arsenal can save huge sums of money from it.

As is the case every year, Arsenal ended up sending plenty of players on loan. Harry Clarke, Auston Trusty, Nuno Tavares, Folarin Balogun, Miguel Azeez, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Pablo Mari, Alex Runarsson, Nicolas Pepe, Arthur Okwonko, Tyreece John-Jules, Marcelo Flores, Nikolaj Moller, Mika Biereth, Charlie Patino, Salah-Eddine Oulad M'Hand, Ryan Alebiosu, Tim Akinola, Alex Kirk, Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Omar Rekik, Mazeed Ogungbo, Ovie Ejeheri and Tom Smith. This list has included many of the U-23 players, but it's always good knowledge to know who is still at the club, especially with the Europa League this season.

I'll admit that I'm rather surprised some names have gone on loan as the Europa League could've been a great opportunity for them to show us what they've got. Players like Patino, Salah-Eddine, Norton-Cuffy, Flores and Azeez could've flourished. With a heavy few months of fixtures about to begin, the rotation could be crucial and while those names perhaps aren't ready for the Premier League, there's minutes to be had.

So that sums up where are Arsenal are in a factual sense, but an opinion post needs an opinion. Arsenal have been hugely impressive in each of the five games they've played, if they've won by a single goal then the score line has flattered their opponents. With the exception of the Crystal Palace game in which they well and truly scraped by, but still showed what they're capable of in extended periods of the game. The passing is very fluid, there's plenty of movement all over the pitch, everyone knows their role and there's still room for a touch of flair. The Gunners play with a lot of intensity and hound the opposition in order to win back possession as quick as they can. However, it's not running for the sake of running, it's more organised than that. Usually they press in a pack of three or they opt to maintain the structure of the team depending on how the opponent has received the ball.

Arsenal have also suffered with injuries, but recruitment has so far proved to be successful in limiting the drop in quality by losing a first team player. Zinchenko and Partey both sustained injuries recently, but Arsenal were able to use Tierney, Elneny and Lokonga to replace them. Elneny has also suffered an injury, hence the slight panic to bring in a new midfielder this summer. Injuries are inevitable in football, but also having extremely bloated squads full of players that want to play can be damaging. So, there will be occasions where a key player gets injured and we need to replace them with someone who has a step down in ability.

For me, with the charge for top 4 looking to be as difficult as it ever has been, the club need to stick together and push themselves through it. I feel as though one more addition could've solidified my beliefs that we'd make the prestigious Champions League spots, but alas the right player didn't emerge for the right price. January could be used in our favour, but history would suggest that a January signing is off the cards. I do believe in our squad and I've been encouraged by our performances. Saliba, Jesus and Xhaka have been monumental for us so far. Martinelli and Saka look dangerous, with the former proving to be more effective in front of goal. White and Odegaard are finding their ryhthm, which for White is understandable as he's dropped in at right back. Ramsdale and Gabriel have looked secure, but not produced as consistently as the other members of the team. Partey, Zinchenko, Tierney, Elneny and Lokonga have all looked solid when they've started. Zinchenko has certainly raised the standard, but an injury has cut him down early on. Nketiah has looked dangerous off the bench too with Holding, Tomiyasu and Smith-Rowe doing what's asked of them.

As mentioned earlier, I do feel like we've left ourselves a little light for cup competitions which Arsenal normally integrate the youth into. The likes of Cedric, Holding, Nketiah, Smith-Rowe, Marquinhos and Vieira I'm sure will play key roles in those types of games.

My prediction for the season per competition:

Premier League: 4th

I feel like we have enough to get 4th, but other clubs will build momentum like ours and I think they'll have slightly more quality to finish higher. If we can get to the World Cup sitting in and around the top teams, then I feel confident we'll finish strong.

Europa League: Semi-Final

The group stages should never be taken lightly, but even Arsenal's second string squad should qualify for the knockout stages. Depending on how kind the draw is, I think we'll have enough firepower to see off many competitors, but when we get down to the final stretch, Arteta will likely prioritise top 4.

EFL Cup (Carabao Cup): Semi-Final

Again, with the fixture congestion that occurs towards the back of the season, this competition ends up being a nuisance for teams competing at the top of the league. Unless you find yourself in the final, unfortunately priorities end up elsewhere and Arsenal will be no different.

FA Cup: Winners

Maybe I'm being naive with this one, or maybe I'm being positive, but I feel like a trophy is needed at the Emirates this season and Arteta knows how to win it. The competition is normally played on weekends, therefore a stronger squad can be used. I feel he'll go all out for this season just to give this young squad something more to cheer about.

That's it. Thank you for reading if you made it this far and if you're a football fan then I'd love to read your predictions for the season!