This time last year I would have said that picking Arsenal’s very best team would be quite difficult as we were picking up injuries left, right and centre.
But now that Arteta has brought in his own players over the last couple of summers, and with our injury list looking much reduced, I think we can safely assume that he knows how he wants the team to develop going forward.
Obviously the internationals may affect the players available to Arteta, but with the big test against the Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira coming up when Crystal Palace come to visit, I think it will interesting to see which XI we think would be our very best team, if everyone is fit.
Whatever our personal opinions, the consensus is that Ramsdale is the better option that Leno right now, so I think he picks himself.
The back line is just as obvious in my mind, Tomiyasu, Gabriel, White and Tierney look nailed on, but from what I’ve seen of Tavares I think that Tierney needs to stay fit or he may find himself demoted in the future.
Xhaka is the midfielder that will always divide opinion, but when he is fit he is the perfect partner for Thomas Partey in the middle. With the Swiss out injured, I am hoping that Lokonga can step up and make the spot his own, but he needs to improve his consistency.
I would love to see Pepe get an extended run as he came good at the end of last season, but it seems Arteta is going with the youthful trio of ESR, Ode and Saka.
Another big choice is between Aubameyang and Lacazette, but I am going to leave Auba as the target man as I consider Laca more of a creator than a finisher…
So here is my choice….
Ramsdale
Tomiyasu.. Gabriel.. White.. Tierney
Xhaka.. Partey..
Smith-Rowe.. Odegaard.. Saka
Aubameyang..
So do you agree with that analysis? What is your best team?