Arsenal 2021-22 Premier League Preview

Arsenal are entering their first season in 25 years without European football, and the pressure is on manager Mikel Arteta to deliver. The Spaniard starts his second full season with the club since taking over in 2019, and after finishing 8th in the league over the past two campaigns, the club must arrest the decline and produce the results on the pitch.

Transfers

Arsenal have displayed a clear transfer strategy in this window and have targeted younger players with high potential that can grow alongside the promising set of youth players that have emerged from Arsenal’s Hale End Academy – Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Folarin Balogun.

The statement signing of the summer so far has been the purchase of Ben White from Brighton for a fee of £50 million. The Englishman was part of Gareth Southgate’s squad that reached the final of the European Championships and will replace the ball-playing ability of David Luiz, which is integral to Arteta’s style of play.

The Gunners have also added left-back Nuno Tavares (21) and central midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga (21), although both players have been signed to add squad depth rather than improve the first team in the short term.

Player to watch out for: Nicholas Pepe

It’s fair to say Nicholas Pepe has had an underwhelming two years in North London since his club-record £72 million move from Lille in 2019. While the Ivorian has largely struggled to adapt to the pace and physicality of the Premier League, Pepe did show a significant improvement towards the back end of last season. The 26-year-old scored four goals in his last two league games, and the Gunners will need Pepe to continue in the same vein at the start of this campaign to solve their troubles in front of goal. 

Possible starting XI

Bernd Leno remains the only senior keeper in the squad with the departure of Mat Ryan and will start in goal for Mikel Arteta’s side. In defence, Kieran Tierney and Calum Chambers have emerged as the two first-choice full-backs while Gabriel is set to partner new signing Ben White at the heart of the backline.

Granit Xhaka flirted with a move to Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma throughout the summer, but the Italian outfit couldn’t match Arsenal’s asking price, and the Swiss midfielder will continue to anchor Arsenal’s midfield alongside Thomas Partey.

Emile Smith Rowe is expected to start in the attacking midfield role after being awarded a new contract and the number 10 shirt over the summer. Bukayo Saka and Nicholas Pepe will occupy the two wings, with club captain Pierre Emerick Aubameyang preferred over Alexandre Lacazette as the centre forward.

Leno; Chambers, White, Gabriel, Tierney; Xhaka, Partey; Pepe, Smith Rowe, Saka; Aubameyang