Mikel Arteta’s favoured starting XI could look a lot different at Arsenal following the summer transfer window.
Injuries plagued the Arsenal squad in 2024/25, making the objective of the summer window to bolster the depth.
Sporting director Andrea Berta did just that, signing eight players to make Arteta’s options a lot better, with the final piece of the puzzle arriving on deadline day.
After an expenditure of £257m, key arrivals and departures, Arteta is already revising how his best XI could look now that the transfer window has closed.
Arsenal’s new best starting XI
It wasn’t only padding the squad out with quality depth that was on Berta’s task list, as Arsenal also made stark improvements to their starting options.
For example, Viktor Gyokeres arrived to finally hand Arteta the striker he’d been so desperately waiting for.
Martin Zubimendi’s arrival represented another player who went straight into the best XI, with the same expected to be the case with Eberechi Eze.
Arsenal’s best starting XI could have four new starters in it after this summer’s business, particularly as the Gunners see Piero Hincapie as a support for Eze on the left.
Having arrived on deadline day, fans haven’t seen Hincapie in action just yet, but his arrival might well signal change at left-back.
The left side had been a problem area for Arsenal last season, which means that after the transfer window, there’s no longer room for Gabriel Martinelli.
The Gunners know Martinelli can be ‘world-class’, but such levels haven’t been seen for some time, opening the door for Eze to take his place.
Aside from the potential emergence of Hincapie, the back four decides itself, as does David Raya’s claim to the number one spot.
Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard represent the other untouchables in the squad.
Arsenal’s B team
Moving away from the subject of upgrades and over to the topic of depth, Arteta now has a quality B team available to him for rotation.
Noni Madueke finally brings appropriate cover for Saka at right-wing, which could allow Ethan Nwaneri to have more game time in his favoured position in attacking midfield.
Eze’s arrival sees Martinelli move to become a back-up option for Arteta, with the Gunners also having the likes of Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus and Max Dowman to play with.
Christian Norgaard and Mikel Merino represent midfield cover, while Myles Lewis-Skelly, Riccardo Calfiori and Ben White are joined at the back by new signing Cristhian Mosquera.
Unlike last season, Arsenal now have a quality second-choice goalkeeper to truly test Raya, signing Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea.
Arteta has all the resources he needs, with all eyes on what the boss can produce this season.
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