Now Torreira’s arrived, how will Arsenal line-up next season?

Torreira jets in, so how do we line up next season? by Konstantin Mitov

In the most un-Arsenal fashion, another signing will be coming up this week as we all know Lucas Torreira is coming in! This is very exciting as we finally sign a player known for being a defensive midfielder! Not a DM, wanting to be a number 10 or a creative midfielder! This is very important and also adds the question of what happens with the squad we have right now?

I firmly believe that we will start Leno in goal instead of Cech. Then comes the defence which will have Monreal, Sokratis, Mustafi/Chambers or a new CB and then Bellerin. Even though we signed Lichtsteiner I think we’ll give Bellerin the starting role and use the swiss only if Hector fails us again.

Then comes midfield and the options here are plenty. Emery is best known for playing 4-2-3-1 which he used a lot in Spain as well as the 4-3-3 he used in PSG. If he opts for the first tactic which is very familiar to Arsenal, then you could argue that the 2 DMs could be Torreira and Xhaka, with the swiss given more freedom to move forward.

Then the three players behind the striker will be Mikhi, Ramsey and Ozil and up front we’ll have Auba or Lacazette. We have two very good strikers and this creates a dilemma with this system. Do we drop one, or move one to the wing? If we do so, then a midfield player has to drop out and I’d opt for Xhaka.

We can put Ramsey next to Torreira and give and move either of our strikers to the wing. I’m not sure I like this too much, because I feel having both worked well last season, even though everything else in the squad was falling apart. The problem is that someone will have to be a make-shift winger. And with Iwobi being the closest thing to a winger we have we might have to have 2 make-shifters.

Some obvious candidates for this are Henrikh Mikhitaryan and Danny Welbeck. Ozil, Auba and Laca are also options, but Mesut is a definete no in my opinion, and I don’t like either of the other too much on the wing. It’s difficult to put out the best 11 on paper that we have into this formation as we’re overloaded in some areas like the number 10 and very short in others like the wing.

We could try playing a 4-4-2 with a diamond shape, With Torreira as the DM, Xhaka and Ramsey in midfield then Ozil/Mikhi as the number 10 and Auba and Lacazette up top. It’s very interesting what we do with Ozil. He had a poor season and a poor World Cup, but we’ve given him the number 10 shirt and we need to rebuild his mentality for the upcoming season.

So a lot of work is still to be done and a lot of options are available. Do share your own opinions in the comments but keep in mind we might yet sign some more new players as Banega and N’zonzi are linked so this could further change our plans. Anyway, I’m very happy so far. It’s so nice to see the transparency with Arsenal after Wenger left.

You can clearly see the emphasis on the new training methods, something that was obviously neglected during the Arsene days. Another great thing is that honestly I don’t know what to expect next season as there won’t be silly excuses if we fail to win a game. That’s me done for now. Wish you all a happy summer!

KONSTANTIN

42 Comments

  1. I’m not saying I said Torreira was a done deal but alas people can see the deal was imminent.
    I can’t believe you considered our negotiators to be so incompetent such that after weeks and weeks of negotiations we couldn’t even agree a fee for him despite everything pointing to the fact that it was a “done deal”.Do not listen to the media too much.At times allow logic to work.

      1. That was not the point of my comment.I did not want to do that.Sorry.I didn’t mean it that way.

      1. As I have previously said, no deal is ever done until the actual contract is signed. Up til then all you have is an agreement which has zero legal validity. That is WHY contacts are provided. Seems obvious but so often overlooked by those who hype a deal as done, when it is not.

    1. Funny that with your Almighty contacts with arsenal i never saw you post that emery was going to be our coach before everyone knew it. What about Matteo Guendouzi ? sky sport says we have a deal only medical and personal terms remains.

      Admit it you just have a good reliable site which is good for you so sometimes you get good info but that insider info is bullshit. People must be really naive to believe that.

      FYI i never once doubted that torreira deal was off since it was heavily speculated on 2 reliable sources

      1. You don’t get it I was never an ITK.I just do my research and from there I conclude.I just make sure that several reliable sources be it through twitter or anywhere converges on a particular news far ahead of time.Ive stated this several times.Its not easy though because there are lot of lies so at times I just have to observe and study things before I come out with a solid conclusion.

    2. sometimes you’re right, sometimes wrong. You explicitly said Wilshere was singing for Fenerbache and that isn’t happening. Still, you have a good track record. I just dont like when ITK’s pretend to know everything and can’t hold their hands up sometimes and admit they get stuff wrong. And many things could’ve happened between WC and now that stopped Torreira transfer. A few months ago we all thought Arteta was 100% our new manager and that fell through despite everybody and their mothers saying it was done.

      1. You don’t get it.My comment wasn’t to insult anyone.I just wanted to make people know that at times we should allow logic to take charge rather than being lied to and not seeing things actually as they are.
        Lucas Torreira was basically confirmed by everyone under the son.What I mean is reliable journalists,Sampdoria president,a friend and other reliable people.My hope is that Arsenal fans should be told the truth.Sorry if you felt offended.

        1. not offended in the slightest. I think it’s the fact Arsenal transfers always end up being complicated and the unexpected becomes expected with Arsenal so we play it safe until it is 100% official. Appreciate the updates you give us btw

        2. I’ ll say one thing for you Kev; you are polite and not pushing your “knowledge” in peoples faces. I am older than most on here and through my life experience have learned never to take much notice of any of the constant rumours that follow all top clubs all the time. Some come true, most do not. That’s life and as you yourself say, you are not an insider. So you are merely a gatheter of the rumours you personally consider most likely and you state what you hear. It is for all us us to believe or doubt, as we see fit. I never accept any deal is ever completed – which is quite different from a mere verbal agreement- until the contact is signed. Many a slip twixt cup and lip, as the saying goes!

  2. We are going to have some line up next season ?
    I am so excited…. like it’s Christmas ?
    Emery is working the team harder.. so hopefully when it comes to the City game, we’ll be ready!

  3. I don’t want Lacazette on the bench and I don’t want PEA on the bench…
    So I think the best formation we could really get with both of em is a 4-3-1-2.

    Bellerin-papa-Chambers-Monreal
    Ramsey-Torriera-Mhiki/Xhaka
    Ozil
    Aubamenyang-Lacazette

    We have Steel and Engine in Ramsey and Lucas, while Creativity in Mhiki and Ozil…left with Pace and killer players up front..
    I’d like to see this formation someday

    1. Re: Eddy Hoyte, this line up makes sense to me. That is great. Can you please add your favourite substitutes….to make 18 for match day

      1. withe the players we have i still think 3-5-2 is best suited for us, we can use this formation in every game home or away just by changing two or three players we could be playing offensive or defensive, playing with the same formation week and week out will help avoid any misunderstanding where how players should play

        i would love to see these amazing players be first choice Ozil, Mhiki, Ramsey, Auba, Laca

  4. ………………….Cech/Leno
    Bellerin…Sokratis…Kos…Monreal
    ………………Torreira…Xhaka
    Mkhitaryan…..Ozil…. Welbeck/Perez
    ………………Aubameyang

    1. Ramsey on the bench is what I can’t see happening if the rumors of his new contract offer turns out true, and please no Lacazette on the bench, he formed a deadly partnership with Auba each time they played.. I’d like to see them both lead our attack, goals will be guaranteed, Goals bro Goalsss…. Then we could give Eddie the chance in Europa nd cup games

  5. So we’ve signed a backup right back, a centre half and a new keeper, his shirt is number 19 btw. Hopefully two new DMs will sign today as both Torreira and Guendouzi are having medicals right now. Looks like we’re sorted apart from a winger but I’m not expecting one in this window.

  6. get rid of mustafi , loan holding and bielik.
    get soyuncu .

    this should be the era of change , mustafi is not good enough for us..

  7. At PSG , Unai used a Left midfielder behind Neymar to accommodate Julian Draxler, might do the same with MKHITARYAN

    1. I reckon Mkhitaryan could fit Emery’s system better than most if not all of them. The quick passing and running, Mkhit is good on the ball and off it, I reckon he’ll suit the system better than Ozil. Ozil will still be Ozil, provide, but Emery will want him in the box more and he’ll expect a more sure strike than the passive sort of striking he usually attempts. Ramsey is another that has an off the ball game and hopefully Emery will improve his decision making. Torriera, that’s why we’re all so excited about him, off the ball he’s a terrier at closing down the space, and on it he is better than many others who play that position. My favorite players have always been the all rounders, it’s such a difficult game to be competent in all areas. If Emery can get them working as a team, get them to hate losing duels never mind points, we could surprise a great many people …fingers crossed. My highest hopes would be the Europa league and top three finish along with a cup final. Minimum hope would be to finish fourth so we can target higher calibre/priced players.

  8. so with the latest news our signings are/will be:
    Lucas Torreira £26m
    Stephan Lichtsteiner free
    Sokratis £17.6m
    Leno £19.3m
    Matteo Guendouzi £8m

    Thats 70m which was ‘rumored’ to be our budget this summer. A GK,CB, Backup RB, DM and backup DM. i think any further signing if there is will be after we sell some players as we have 30 players over 21.

    1. many reports have said Torreira fee is being spread out over a few years, so we’re not spending 26mill on him in one window. Still, I agree, we will now have to sell before we buy anyone. Monreal could realistically be going unfortunately since he is 32 and has one year left on his contract. Welbz also has one year left, but there has been no links for him interestingly. Maybe in Jan. we can sell him. I think it’s very likely we are busy in Jan.

      1. regarding Welback he is our third Striker we need him desperately but hes needed more so as an attacking LW which i recon he dose a better job there then being a striker, he is fast strong and fit he works the line really well he just needs to cross the ball in time instead of trying to finish of himself

        1. I agree he has his uses, but do you think we will extend his contract, or are we going to lose him for free?

          1. if we have any sense we would extend his contract ASAP its cheaper then anyone with his potential will cost three times more to buy unless he wants to play as the main striker then BYE BYE

      2. most transfers over 10m are spread out that’s why there was so much talk about neymar transfer as psg paid his 200m clause in one instalment. Welbeck likes to press defenders, has top workrate and average at the rest, if we don’t get a winger he will stay as bench-option just like nacho if he doesn’t want to return to spain.

        It’s refreshing to see arsenal finally addressing the weakness in the squad even if they aren’t big names which is understandable since the former coach left us at an all-time low from the last 20 years. No champ league, in rebuilding stage, reduced budget, its a miracle auba even came to us.

    2. Don’t forget we are paying for Torreira. In instalments so only 50m spent so far, Also if we sell some fringe players – Perez, Campbell, Jenkinson, that should give us another 20m approx, Leaving enough for a winger. Lozano???

  9. I personally believe that arsenal will do better next season i can’t wait for 11 Aug to start watching this players in action come on gunners

    1. i think we won’t let stupid goals in as we have been for few seasons now, lover teams always had belief that they can get one over us on counter if they defended well, also team’s above us will have to work harder to beat us

  10. I like the 4-4-2 diamond formation. We have two incredible strikers and it would be a shame if we don’t use them both. The problem with the diamond is that I don’t feel like our first choice LB,RB are good enough without a traditional winger tracking back and support them. I am more interested in who is leaving right now. We need to purge the squad of a few players. We have way too many not quite good enough players.

    4-4-2 for me. Leno- Bellerin( lost his way but I have a feeling Emery will be good for him) – Chambers- Sokratis- Sead

    Torreira at the bottom of the diamond. – Ramsey & Xhaka if Nzozi doesn’t sign. Ozil or Mihki in number 10 – Laca and Abu up top.

  11. I don’t agree that Leno will start. Cech will hold onto it and Leno will have to win the place from him. Unless Leno looks head and shoulders better in training then I reckon it’s Cech’s place to lose. It’s a very positive move bringing in an unexpected defensive midfielder along with the one that we were expecting, it makes it seem like he sees the same deficiencies as the AFC fans have seen for eons. Also what’s good about this is that the both of them look handy on the ball, none of this one dimensional bs.

  12. Watch for Joel Campbell on the wing under Unai Emery. I’m a fan a d he’s a great winger we have there.

    1. This is a player whi failed to impress when given opportunities at Arsenal and has NEVER impressed any team he has been on loan at.Basically NOBODY really fancies the player.ButYOU feel he should be our new winger.I suppose you also feel we should dump Lacazette and Aubamayang and play IWOBI as our main striker do you?
      Just get real.There is a reason Joel Campbell is not wanted by anyone.He is absolute RUBBISH

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