Arsenal will open the 2021/22 Premier League season with an away game against new boys Brentford toniught. The jury is out on Arteta to deliver this season after two back to back 8th place finishes. No significant improvements have been made to the squad yet but there’s a lot to be optimistic about. Arsenal still have until 31 August to bring in and move out players. This means we will start with the same squad as that of last season with only three new signings added.

Since January Arsenal had one of the best forms in the league second only to Manchester City, despite finishing 8th. Arsenal will start the new campaign unbeaten in the last 5 and having a winning streak of 5 out of 5. Arteta will look to continue on that form. Lets hope we kick off the new campaign well.

Who is missing?

Thomas Partey is out and will only return to training in about 3 weeks after picking up an injury during the friendly against Chelsea last week. The club also updated that Nketiah suffered an injury in training that will keep him out for 4 weeks. And there’s no certainty on Gabriel’s injury yet but the club believe he will return to training in the next few weeks. Lucas Torreira wont be available for selection because he’s not back at the club yet.

Potential lineup:

GK:
Bernd Leno is the only recognized starting goalkeeper at the club. Unless something happen to him before the game. The club still has until end of the transfer window to bring in a number 2. But as for now he starts.

DF:
Ben White is expected to make his Premier League debut for Arsenal tomorrow. He will partner Pablo Mari in center of defense. In the full back areas Arteta will go with Tierney on the left and Chambers on the right.

MF:
With Partey unavailable, it means Lokonga and Xhaka will start the season as partners in midfield. Smith Rowe is the only number 10 at the club as things stand and by default he plays ahead of them. Unless Arteta play Willian or Saka in that position.

FW:
We have a lot of options to select from. Balogun has looked very lively as well as Nelson. Martinelli and Saka are also back. But Arteta will probably go with the more senior players with the front 3 of Pepe, Aubameyang and Lacazette.