Who I think our strongest XI is when fully fit
Arsenal have had a good season so far, and coming into the second half of the season we look to be in prime position to fight for the title again this season. With a lot of players having injuries along the way, it’s made it harder than it probably should be, but now we are starting to see everyone beginning to come back and become fully fit. I wanted to take a dive into who I think our strongest line up is when everyone is fit, here’s my take.
In goal, I’d have to say Raya has impressed me this season. He seems to really be coming into form in the second half of the season and looks a lot more comfortable. Ramsdale is a great keeper but with Arteta also making it very clear that Raya is in the future plans over Ramsdale. There hasn’t been many games we’ve got to see Ramsdale this season and although Raya hasn’t been at the club long, he does seem to be the type of keeper that Arsenal have been looking for. He stays calm and composed and is very good with his feet.
As a back four, I would personally go for White, Timber, Gabriel and Tomiyasu. Arteta started timber at RB in the games he’s played him, and I personally don’t think that’s where he plays best, I saw him play at Ajax and he’s a great centre back, but he is dynamic and can pretty much play across the defence wherever you need him. Although Gabriel and Saliba have been great this season, Saliba for me isn’t better than Timber, and with time I think him or White will lose their spot to Timber. Tomiyasu hands down is our best Left Back, I think he’s got so much potential, he’s so well disciplined and brings life into out backline.
In the midfield, I’d say Rice, Odegaard and Havertz. You could put Jorginho in there too but the fact that Havertz has looked so good since joining, I think it would be harsh not to include him. Rice is unreal, he’s probably my favourite signing in the past 15 years, he was worth every penny, and I just hope he stays at the club forever. Odegaard, although he hasn’t been at his very best this season is still a class above the rest. The way he creates things for our forwards and himself is elite and he’s up there with one of the best midfielders in the league.
And in attack, I’d say Saka, Jesus and Trossard. Some might disagree with me on Trossard over Martinelli but for me he just slides in perfectly, they’re both very different wingers and they both produce a lot but Trossard for me is a smarter player and reads the game well, he’s settled into the Arsenal squad perfectly and constantly looks dangerous when going forward. Jesus when fully fit is a great striker and the best striker we’ve got at the moment but that could potentially change in the summer depending on who we bring in.
Saka, for a young lad, has a lot of pressure of his shoulders because people know how good he is, but he’s our best right winger hands down.
What’s your thoughts Gooners? What do you think our strongest XI is?
Daisy Mae
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How many times have you actually watched Timber? Probably very few so how to you choose Timber over Saliba? Bizarre.
Once Timber and Tomiyasu become fit to play, I think Arteta will play one of them in the inverted-LB position to cut inside and shoot as Cancelo did for Man City
Zinchenko may be moved up to play the left-sided AM role and feed our inverted-LW with his wonderful left foot
Jesus, Havertz and Nketiah could conpete for he CF role
@Gai, I think I would take a clue from the lineup of players that played the community shield to guess what Arteta would do. I will go with same lineup with one Change and addition
Raya
White
Saliba
Gabriel
Timber
Odegard
Pathey
Rice
Saka
Matinelli
Havertz/Jesus
If Partey is being phased out, his status could get relegated to a squad rotation player
Confirm timber at LB Zinny move to Xahaka former position we’re ok with our striking force
How can you pick Timber and leave Saliba out ? He has arguably been our best defender this season and your picking Timber over him who we have hardly seen play. I think Daisy Mae is just being controversial to get a reaction to her post. Which I have just done !!
I think so too
Imagine saying if everyone is fit ND partey is not part of the strongest squad funny isn’t it 😂😂😂
No player is better than party in midfield when he is fit. Cant really put havertz before partey play partey at 6 rice box 2 box oodegard as AMF.
Rice might be the “better” player over the course of the season, but there’s no doubt partey is one of our best players and would always start if fit.
Interesting choice to leave out Saliba.I take it the writer is simply playing the Devils advocate, but if not, she clearly lacks the ability to recognise a top class CB when it’s staring her in the face.I too have seen Timber in action with Ajax and Holland and basically he is a first class right sided defender who is effective at RB or at right centre back.Prior to moving to Arsenal he has never even filled in at LB and the same applies to Tomi.Both are excellent man markers but neither are productive as an inverted left back and the suggestion by GAI that they would be played in that position because of their shooting proess made me spill my wine as they are rarely likely to be found in the final third of the pitch.As for our best left back, injury issues aside he is currently on loan in Spain.
This admin is shit for deleting my messages
Big
Maybe write comments that are interesting and have a point maybe?
Otherwise, don’t bother writing shit messages.
Okay?
Thank God writer is not our coach. Partey and Saliba out. What are you smoking boy. This is football not personal beef bro. Poor selection from you..
Dont be sad everybody got different opinions. I dont believe timber should bench anybody he played pre season and half a game. He should start om the bench then we shall see maybee the guy should play nr 6 seen him there before. Sell partey timber for nr 6
The writer lost all credibility by leaving out Saliba for Timber.
Firstly, Timber has only played around 130 minutes for us across the Community Shield, and one home league game against a rubbish team. Yes he was great, but one cannot form an opinion after barely seeing him play for us.
Secondly, Saliba has almost been perfect since playing in the EPL. Hard to find a better CB over the last 2 seasons, and look how our defence collapsed in his absence last season.
Have you even watched Saliba?
That question was to the writer
If fully fit I can’t see why Partey is not mentioned here. On his day he is a beast.
Timber at left back and Partey in midfield. So Saliba as CB and Tomi and Havertz out. But otherwise looks correct. I agree on Trossard.
Timber over Saliba? Choosing someone who haven’t completed one full EPL game over a proven World class CB? If you put both of them in the market today, you think any of the top teams will pick Timber over Saliba?
I think timber was meant to be our left back this season, I don’t think he was ever intended to start at CB, unless needed to cover for injuries. On the basis of the very little I saw of him, and White’s relatively poor form this season, imo our best defensive lineup might well be tomiyasu, saliba, Gabriel and timber – however, the white of last season might be our best rb as he was solid defensively but very influential in our attacking play, and it’s possible timber isn’t as good as I thought on first viewing, in which case I’d swap him for Tomi, who’s a real top quality defender but only decent on the ball imo.
bizarrely Arsenal seem to better against elite opponents like Man C and Liverpool, than ‘park the bus’ West Ham and Fulham
so it is a matter horses for courses
starting XI for elite opponents
———- Raya ———-
White —— Saliba —— Gabriel ——– Tomi
Saka —— Jorgihno —— Rice —— Martinelli
Odegaard ——– Havertz
for 11 behind the ball low block opponents
———- Raya ———-
Timber —— Saliba —— Gabriel ——– Zinc
Odegaard —— Rice —— Havertz
Saka ——– Jesus ——– Trossard
Very interesting take and good point with different team depending on the opponent.
As others have rightly said, to leave out SALIBA, a widely accepted Rolls Royce of a CB for a new player, injured all season long, is way beyond satire.
I SUGGEST IN ALL SERIOUSNESS that it is impossible to take seriously the thoughts of a novice Arsenal fan who would willingly drop SALIBA.
ITS BEYOND BELIEF!!
The predication that everyone would be fit necessitates the inclusion of Saliba and Partey. It is unfathomable to drop them. I would go for the following lineup:
Ramsdale
White/Tomi
Saliba
Gabriel
Timber
Partey
Rice
Odegard
Martinelli
Saka
No strong preference here, we need to plug this hole here. For now, Havertz/Jesus depending on the opponent.
I think the partnership of Saliba and Gabriel is unparalleled. Timber might replace White in the long run. Zinchenko for me is a must. He inverts and will allow Havertz to push and break opponents on attack. For this, Martinelli is essential. No back line in the world will push to play offside if Martinelli plays. I do agree with the rest.
When everyone is fit this is who I’d like for the run in..
Raya
White. Saliba gab tomi
Rice. Partey
Ode
SAKA. Kai martinelle
On the bench…
Ramsdale
Timber
Kiovor
Zinc
Jorg
Esr
Trossard
Jesus
Sa