Arsenal’s Strongest Possible XI That Could Play This Season – Featuring Speed Kings Walcott, Sanchez & Welbeck

Arsenal are fresh from breaking their trophy drought that spanned 9 years and now they would want to continue with their re-emergence as contenders for various trophies. Arsenal have a squad that is touch and go for title aspirations. Their first team is very comparable to Chelsea’s and Manchester City’s despite the lack of a solid CDM.

If the players retain form and play out of their skins, we could well be in for a top drawer challenge for the title from the Gunners as nothing is impossible if there is a correct plan and tactic in place. Here we  consider the strongest playing eleven that could play this season. It would be a 4-2-3-1 formation which changes to a 4-3-3 depending on tactical changes.

Goalkeeper:

Szczesny

Szczesny is likely to retain his position at goal despite stiff competition from Colombia’s World Cup goalkeeper David Ospina. The young Polish goalkeeper was often criticized for his errors but he came up top last season with a Golden Glove shared with Chelsea’s Petr Cech to prove his critics wrong.

Defenders:

Right Back: Debuchy

Latest French recruit, Mathieu Debuchy is most certainly going to be the first choice Right Back for the Gunners. He isn’t spectacular but he’s solid and does his job well enough. He’s experienced in the league and would be expected to play a good part in defence.

Center Back: Mertesacker

The big German is a defensive giant and a rock at the back. He is not a very mobile player and has technical limitations but is a good, decisive defender. He has shown good leadership skills at the back as vice-captain and has a very strong defensive presence. He is going to be a very traditional defensive element in Arsenal’s back four.

Center Back: Koscielny

Star man for the Gunners last season, Koscielny will have to retain his form and consistency. He would be required to play a very key role for the Gunners with his ability to utilize space in defensive areas so as to build attacks from the back. A powerful, mobile front foot defender, he would compliment Mertesacker’s traditional style pretty well.

Left Back: Gibbs

It would have been rather disappointing to miss out on a World Cup spot but Gibbs does have a thing or two to prove. He is the first choice left back for the Gunners, and would need to add a bit of spark in his defensive and offensive contributions so as to stand out in Roy Hodgson’s eyes. He is a good functional player and a bit of flair would do him a world of good.

Defensive Midfield: Chambers

Here is the gamble. We all know young Calum Chambers is a very versatile defensive player who can play at right back, center back as well as a defensive midfielder. While he isn’t a specialist in this position, Arsene Wenger would need to utilize him here because he lacks a serious defensive minded player in deep midfield. Chambers already won the Player of the Month award for the Gunners, which means that he’s playing well and has fit in. Chambers playing in defensive midfield and offering the shield to Koscielny and Mertesacker can give a whole new dimension to the Arsenal team that is going to play this way.

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Midfielders:

Central Midfield: Ramsey

Welshman Ramsey had to make it to the team as one of the best Gunners’ players. Playing ahead of Chambers in a double pivot type position Aaron Ramsey will be the engine of the Gunners with his stamina and work rate. His technical abilities have also increased impressively and he would be a key player in terms of goals and assists.

Central Attacking Midfield: Ozil

Mesut Ozil needs to be protected by hard working players in central midfield. Chambers and Ramsey can do that job in the current Arsenal set-up, meaning Ozil can have that freedom to dominate the game once more. The pace of the Premier League has been a bit too tough for the German maestro to handle, but it won’t take long for the World Cup winner to blend into the team once more.

Right Wing: Walcott

Arsenal are waiting for their talisman of 2012-13 season to be fully fit and start influencing the team again. He adds a new dimension to the team with his explosive pace and improved finishing. He can make those runs behind the defence and can be a playmaker’s delight. Arsenal really missed him last season where they were leading the race for the challenge.

Left Wing: Alexis

Alexis Sanchez would definitely be a key player for the Gunners, especially as a player similar to Walcott but with better finishing and passing skills that he learned in Barcelona. With extreme pace in both wings, Arsenal would have a real threat going forward, be it on the counter or during build-ups. Sanchez adds that extra bit of quality in terms of a dribbler.

Striker: Welbeck

Well, Giroud has better hold-up play and vision in his passing as he has shown flair that he developed in Arsenal. But playing Welbeck as a lone striker means Gunners will have another engine player playing centrally. He is such a hardworker that Arsenal’s pressing in offensive areas would improve significantly and Mesut Ozil’s work load will reduce. Let us face it, Ozil may not have the energy to be a typical Premier League player, but when given the defensive protection, Ozil is among the best passers and dribblers in the world and can produce magic. Surrounding the German with top runners and finishers can make life easy for him as all he needs to do is find Welbeck, Alexis, Walcott or Ramsey.

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