How will the Arsenal squad are ‘terrible’ next season?

Zubimendi – Strategic piece for the middle line

One of Arsenal’s biggest weaknesses this season is the depth and stability in the middle line. Jorginho was too old and decided, Thomas Partey was constantly injured, and Declan Rice, although excellent in the role of Box-to-Box, could not “carry” the entire midfield.

Martin Zubimendi, a cylinder midfielder of Real Sociedad, is considered an ideal choice for the role of anchor in Arteta’s 4-3-3 diagram. The Spanish player possesses the ability to read the match very well, pass the ball stable and escape the smart pressing – the qualities that coach Mikel Arteta attaches special importance to.

After docking the Emirates, Zubimendi will kick at the real No. 6 position, enabling Rice to rise higher, maximize the mobility and higher pressing of the British player.

Zubimendi is not a American player, but the stability and accuracy in each of his decisions can help Arsenal achieve the median control as the way Man City owns Rodri.

Before that, Arsenal was negotiating to renew with Partey and he would be a strategic plan for Zubimendi. Mikel Merino will also be returned to the midfielder as a backup plan for Rice.

Thus, the main trio where the midfield is likely to be Zubimendi that plays a deep -back midfielder, helping to stabilize the ball and protect the defense; Rice is pulled on the left stone, taking advantage of the ability to recover and move wide and Odegaard captain is still the conductor of the game, regulating and creating mutations in the middle.

Nico Williams – The wind on the left wing

Although Arsenal owns Martinelli and Trossard on the left corridor, both have not really maintained a stable performance in big matches. Nico Williams, a young star of Athletic Bilbao, is a player who can make a difference from the left wing thanks to the speed, the ability to dribble and the bold breakthrough.

At the age of 22, Williams proved his class in both La Liga and the Spanish team. Not only good ball, he also knows how to create opportunities (key passes) and good defense support. More importantly, Nico Williams brings a difference with a direct kick, in accordance with the philosophy of “control – fast conversion” that Arteta is building.

In the 4-3-3 or 3-2-4-1 diagram that Arsenal often uses, Williams will be the ideal drill on the wing opposite Bukayo Saka, creating a speedy winger and damage.

If you cannot recruit Williams, Arsenal still have backup options like Rafael Leao or Jamie Gittens. Although they are not as high as Williams, they can also bring a new breeze to the Gunners’s left wing.

Gyokeres – Muscular but flexible

In the context of Gabriel Jesus often injured and no longer maintained a good scoring performance, Kai Havertz has never been a standard number 9 and Nketiah is still not enough to play regularly, the addition of Viktor Gyokeres is a significant upgrade.

The Swedish striker is in a booming form at Sporting CP, with nearly 40 goals in all competitions of the 2024/25 season. Gyokeres is a modern striker: tall (1m87), strong, but plays smart football, knows pressing and links the game. The ability to operate independently, run wisely and finish diverse is what Arteta needs to help Arsenal’s attack system more complete.

Gyokeres will help Arsenal have a clear option in the matches that require physical strength and ability to crush with deep defense. He can also combine well with wide players like Saka, Williams or Odegaard in small combination and high pressing phases.

In addition to bringing 3 quality rookies to upgrade the squad, Arsenal will also try to negotiate to retain the pillars like Gabriel or Saliba. If successful at all of these goals, the Gunners will have a strong enough squad to take a step further in the journey to win titles.