Who would you choose in naming Arsenal’s very best starting XI this season?

Arsenal's English midfielder Bukayo Saka celebrates scoring his team's first goal during a pre-season friendly football match between Arsenal FC and FC Barcelona at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on July 26, 2023. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)

My strongest XI this 2023/24 season

As we approach the last day of the season, we get to look back at what has been an exciting and entertaining season of football from our Gunner’s, on and off the park. We obviously sit biting our fingernails waiting and praying that Manchester City drop points and that we get the job done at The Emirates, as we get set to welcome Everton for the last game of the 2023/24 season.

We’ve had our injuries and concerns this season but for the majority we’ve managed to stay solid, here’s who I think has been our best starting lineup this season.

There’s hasn’t been much competition when it’s come to goalkeepers this season, Arteta decided early that he was going to back and trust David Raya and he’s done just that. In return, Raya has proved that he was the right choice and looks like he could be here for the long term. I knew Raya was good, but this season he managed to take the pressure and stepped up and he’s the perfect keeper for Arteta’s style of play.

In defence you can’t go past White, Saliba and Gabriel, who have all been unbelievably consistent this season as a backline and have played almost every single game together, which I think has made our backline more cohesive and made it easier for the players to work together when they already know what their teammates will do next, like second nature.

We’ve had our injury problems at left-back this season but I would probably say all in all Tomiyasu has had the better season, he showed a style of play that I hadn’t seen from him before and showed Arteta how versatile he can be and I think that’s why he was awarded a new contract.

In the midfield, this one was a bit tricky because we’ve been consistent with Odegaard and Rice and they both have had incredible seasons, Rice’s breakout season with Arsenal has been top class, made everyone forget about the price tag and has settled into life at Arsenal no problem.

Odegaard has a shaky start to the season but once he got going, he was unstoppable, the difference maker on many occasions and a great captain. And Trossard, I know he’s played on the LW more but I think he deserves to get a shout in the strongest XI because he’s been unreal since joining the club and can play anywhere.

In attack, Saka, Havertz and Martinelli. Havertz has had a top first season, finding his shooting boots in the new year and has looked like a new player ever since, the confidence that playing under Arteta and with Arsenal has brought is evident in the way he’s improved over such a short period of time and really stepped up when he was needed up front.

Saka has had one of his best seasons and looks to be continuously improving and growing as a player. And finally Martinelli, this was hard because he’s been injured a bit and Trossard has played a lot on the LW but I think when Martinelli has been 100% and fit, he’s been in top form and his pace down the wing has been vital all season.

What’s your thoughts Gooners? What’s your strongest XI this season?

Daisy Mae


ADMIN COMMENT

So here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….

You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.


CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, please contact us through this link

Tags Arsenal starters

15 Comments

  1. Trossard. Havertz. Saka

    Rice. Jorginho. Odegard

    Tomiyasu. Gabriel. Saliba. White

    Matinelli, Pathey and Jesusnot regular enough

    1. Pretty much agree with this or Oyama below – the doubt is because LB is the big unknown.

      I’d also question Saka – only because it’s hard to say someone is “best” in a position when nobody else has played there.

      For example, Jesus might be a better RW but we can’t tell if he never starts there for Arsenal.

  2. Raya
    Ben, Saliba/ Gabriel, Kiwior

    Jorginho/ Rice/ Odegard

    Saka/ Havertz/Trossard

    I go with Kiwior over Tomiyaso because when he was we were hammering teams and there was more balance, other than when he was exposed by Sane. Lastly Jorginho hasn’t been spectacular but he did his job wonderfully, can’t forget his performance against Liverpool it kept us in the title race.

  3. In my opinion, Jesus could’ve been an excellent left-sided AM, so here’s my dream line-up:

    …….………….…….…. Raya
    ………. White .… Saliba …. Magalhaes
    ………………. Rice………..… Zinchenko
    Saka . Odegaard . Jesus . Martinelli
    ………………………. Havertz

    1. Now this would be a dream line up, full of pace and alot of players with good technical abilities . One wonders why arteta never tried this.

        1. I suspect he has it agreed in his contract or verbally – since he either plays CF or he doesn’t play at all.

          Even though most ppl seem to think RW is his best position.

    2. Hai don’t you think Jesus may not be strong defensively?
      Matinelli easily loses form compared to Trossard? Though posses more threat when fit. Just hasn’t been consistent lately even before his injury.

  4. ,………………………..Raya
    White…..Saliba….Gabriel…..Kiwior
    ………………..Rice………..Zinchenko
    Saka………….Odegaard………Trossard
    ………………………Havertz

    I think Zinchenko could be an excellent creative influence if he actually played in midfield next to Rice.

    Additionally, I would actually like to see Jesus play RW and Saka play LW. I prefer players playing on their natural side.

  5. The eleven who lost against Villa (0-2) and ruined everything… Swell, Isabelle, swell… It was just one of those things.

  6. We lost the title in the first half of the season. We took too long to find Havertz’s best form and his best position. We also took too long to replace Martinelli with Trossard and pair Jorginho with Rice We also needed to sort left back out sooner. If only we had found the solutions sooner
    Raya
    White
    Saliba
    Gabriel
    Kiwior
    Odegaard
    Jorginho
    Rice
    Saka
    Havertz
    Trossard

  7. Remarkable some of the comments here

    We are guaranteed second the the 2nd year…got our joint most wins ….only lost 1 since turn of the year

    Onwards and upwards !

Comments are closed

Top Blog Sponsors