Arsenal have two full teams – And room for more in squad!

Arsenal transfer activity, preview by RPK

Can Arsenal finally win the Premier league after more than a decade? For the first time since we left Highbury, I feel like we have the billing of a genuine Premier League title contenders. After winning two FA cups and a Community shield in the last two seasons, the Arsenal squad remain intact and stable to fight a Chelsea squad which has equally remained intact and settled. Other teams like Man United and Man City have strengthened their sides. But for the first time, there is a real, honest confidence among Arsenal players that they can do it.

Since RVP left Arsenal in 2012, we have added Cazorla & Giroud (in the same window), Ozil, Sanchez and Cech to go along with the existing English core (Ramsey, Wilshere, Gibbs, Ox, Theo). This summer, apart from adding Cech, there were quite a few changes in the backroom staff. One thing Arsenal have been going through is having too many injuries during a season. The fans might have thought what might have happened if Ramsey was not injured during the 2013-14 season. Hopefully the new backroom staff might help us have a fit squad this season. Apart from that, as everyone on this site have claimed and pointed during the last month or two, we definitely have to add a player or two (a striker and a backup to Coquelin). While I am a big fan of Giroud, Theo and Welbeck, I still feel none of the trio gives the defenders a real scare as compared with Aguero or Diego Costa. Having said that, I also agree that finding World-class center-forwards is easier said than done. Moreover, I really feel a backup to Coq will be a high priority if Flamini leaves. Arteta is still not at 100% and an injury or suspension to anyone of these two might leave us playing Hayden/Chambers in the middle in an important game.

This season with the addition of Cech, Arsene Wenger has added one more world class player to the starting lineup. There is a good depth in the squad as shown during the Emirates cup when we changed the entire back four without really compromising on the quality. The midfield with Ramsey, Santi, Wilshere, Coquelin, Arteta, Ox, Ozil looks to have the depth and variety. Theo, Sanchez, Welbeck, Giroud and Ox can play in that front 3. And then there are 4-5 exciting youngsters in the ranks – Gnabry, Akpom, Iwobi etc. Moreover, I also feel Wenger might have a plan A and plan B this season. At the end of last season he started playing Theo as a center forward and there was lot of good moment with Sanchez and Theo exchanging places as we have seen from FA cup final. This might help Ozil and Santi to exploit gaps in defenses. I also feel like he might play with Santi and Ramsey in some matches at home when he is sure the opposition is going to sit back and defend.

This is the first preseason in which Ozil has taken part since joining Arsenal and I think he will play a key part this season along with Sanchez. I also think there are a few players who are hungry to prove themselves that may make the difference – Wilshere, Theo, Ox permitting they stay fit through out the season. All in all after a good pre-season, I hope Arsenal make a quick start to the season and play consistently through out the season. I think we will definitely finish in top 3, but the consistency throughout the season and the fitness of the team might actually decide if we can finish better than where we finished last season.

Squad:
Goal Keepers – Cech, Ospina, Martinez (H)
Defenders – Bellerin (H), Debuchy, Koscielny, Per, Gabriel, Chambers (H), Monreal, Gibbs (H)
Midfielders – Coquelin (H), Ramsey (H), Wilshere (H), Ox (H), Cazorola, Arteta, Flamini, Ozil, Rosicky
Forwards – Alexis, Theo (H), Welbeck (H), Giroud

That makes 24 and also Chambers and Ox might be qualified as U21 and (H) – homegrown. So there is definite space in the squad if Wenger wants to add a player or two 🙂

Thank you,
Rajesh Prasad Kosaraj

Tags Cech Gabriel ox Wilshere

28 Comments

  1. there is always room for more….

    lets spend some money…

    Striker, DM and CB and we are good…

    1. First of all ox is no longer u21 whilst campbell and wellington who are also no longer u21s have been omitted altogether from your squad. However bellerin is an u21. As are hayden, bielik, kamara, zelalem, crowley, iwobi, gnabry, adelaide and akpom. I am really hoping that campbell and Wellington get some more chances, but think they will be heading out on loan as may Martinez.

      As it stands 1st team squad – 28
      Cech, ospina Martinez
      Bellerin (u21) debuchy mertesacker chambers (u21) koscielny gabriel Monreal gibbs
      Coquelin Ramsey wilshire arteta rosicky ozil chamberlain flamini cazorla
      Walcott welbeck giroud alexis campbell wellington gnabry (u21) akpom (u21)

      Loaned out – Szczesney, Jenkinson, sanogo

      U21 squad – 18
      Macey iliev
      moore pleguezuelo oconnor johnson m.bola
      Hayden bielik zelalem kamara crowley toral sheaf
      Adelaide iwobi c.willock mavididi

      Loaned out – maitland-niles

      U18 squad – 20
      Huddart Keto
      Da graca, chatzitheodoris, pileas, t.bola, osei-tutu
      Eyoma Donovan savvas tabi gilmour, da silva, dragomir, tella
      Robinson hinds fortune nketiah, j.willock

    2. We need one top class in middlefield who can also play false nine. Witout one top singing we are nowhere, fighting for 4th place.

  2. now that’s a fantastic squad apart from TR7 and flamini not to mention OLG.
    if wenger can let go off the two older middfilders and get a DM and add Suarez typ striker we can all start bleave,
    after 10years waiting for arsenal bord to sort out same money problems , we fans deserve EPL AND CHAMPION LEGU trophies,

    1. TR7 is old but man, he can still offer a lot to the team in terms of Leadership and dressing room presence plus I like watching him play

  3. we’re still short for striker and DM.
    AW should play theo versus chelsea on sat and let giroud come in H2 if necessary.

  4. with the presumably numerous players we’ve got……….we had better get serious in all competitions……. Why do we easily get knocked out of the capital one cup?

  5. If we have to we can release Rosicky

    I love him but if it means he is replaced by a WC player then yes,

    he would also be happy as a free transfer what with a posible sighning on fee for him and playing first team

    But only if we are buyin which I doubt

  6. Wenger should sue mourihno for defamation or the FA should protect wenger from mourihno insults.All the headlines here in england*mourihno takes a shot at wenger that arsenal are cautious Spenders*he want to discaurage wenger from buying,

    1. Mourinho will continue to verbally bully Wenger untill that time Wenger beats him…Mou is bullish coz he knw Wenger cnt beat him!

      1. unfortunately I feel the same. that 6-0 drubbing we received in that rape dungeon at the bridge only prooved that tactically Mou is just too far ahead of Wenger. Mou is willing to adapt his system to match the situation..Wenger? He growls at the suggestion of defending and countering our way to victory..the thing is with big teams u just have to defend..this nonsense of playing 8 attacking midfielders everywhere will only get us another defeat at the hands of mourinho. may Ramsey not play as a winger this weekend!!!!

        1. @quantic dream
          No. It only proved our guys didn’t have the balls to step up on the day. We let them do that to us.

  7. the author himself has said with that squad we can make top 3…great..we finished in top 3 last season so unless we are aiming to remain in the same spot again Wenger must get a top class striker and DM to play alongside or alternate with coquelin. the likes of Arteta and Flamini will not win us the champions league or epl. infact i really dont know what flamini and arteta offer the team besides ‘cover’.and as they are always injured..Wenger must get a striker ..be it buying or promoting from the resrve ok..but Giroud and Welbeck will not cut it.

  8. Marco Reus and a young CDM like Samper. Done deal!! Have enough young guys coming through who want to make an impression…Akpom, Crowley, Zelalem, Iwobi etc etc

  9. People say we need a 20 plus striker. I agree with that, but we are not in desperate need of that. Giroud can score 16 to 18 goals and last season he was scoring against big teams as well.
    World class Striker is not much available in the market . I can only see Benzaman . Wenger is after Benzaman if Madrid wants to sell. Theo is constantly scoring. Last few of of his goals are 1st scored goals in that match. So I am not overly worried about that position. Offensively we are in superb shape. I am worried a bit about DM situation as if Coqualan is not playing then we may be in some sort of trouble. Flammini and Arteta are not good enough. I hope Wnger signs some back up or if Hayden can emerge .
    Sunday against Chelsea will answer lots of open question
    Sunny

  10. After the recent loaning of sanogn, jenkinson and szczesny, we have exactly 24 above 21 players with 8 home grown players in them. We have room for one and if we sell/loan anyone else (flamini, rosicsky, campbell) we can have more space

  11. @ quantic dream “wenger must get a striker..be it buying or promoting from the reserve” – you’ve said it all

  12. West Brom’s Saido Berahino rejects transfer, says ‘not ready for a Club like Spuds’

    ‘I’ve got a feeling for Arsenal’ – Harry Redknapp is tipping Gunners to end title drought

  13. “A” squad. 23.
    Cech Ospina Bell
    Deb Koz Mert Gabe
    Chambers Gibb Mon Coque (DM)
    Ramsey Wilsher Cazorla Ozil
    Sanchez Walcott Ox Giroud Wellbz Akpom (Str.)

    Release: Flamini Arteta Rosicky.

    Loan: 12:
    Szcz Martinez Jenks Sanogo Toral Campbell
    Gnabry Iwobi Wellington Zelalem Niles Crowley.
    u21
    Fortune Adelaide Bielik Crowley Willock Moore

  14. Getting a bit sick of seeing Costa’s name being mentioned in the same breadth as someone like Aguero, Suarez, Lewandoski – he is nearer to Giroud’s class than he is to theirs. Might change my mind if he has another 2 good seasons and scores regularly in UCL.

  15. We need a World-class Striker. Unless we don’t want to stay in the race…. Giroud simply can’t!!!!!
    Sign a Striker Wenger plssssss!!!!!!

  16. Still not happy that Mertesacker will probably keep Ist team place. His faults, principally lack of pace, poor defending and lack of courage will not and cannot be remedied. I place him behind both Gabriel and Chambers but I fear that we will have to wait for our manager to see the light. I fear also that if Gabriel doesn’t get a chance soon he will be off. Already I sense that he is trying too hard because he probably thinks he has to. And please don’t drag up this hate/fave rubbish. I don’t hate Mertesacker any more than I love Sanchez. I only love my club and want what I think is best. Mert will never be that in my mind. Ever heard any rumours that other clubs might be trying to snatch him away from us? I think not.

    1. I agree Mert is probably as a player not as good as Gabby or Chambo. BUT he adds to the unit. I don’t know why, or what it is exactly he does but our defence as a unit is better with him then without. This, I am hoping, will change this season as Chambo or Gab step up, but until they do I can’t say that he needs to be dropped for them because as a unit we work better with him in it.

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