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After the weekend’s results Arsenal currently sit in fourth place, with three points and a game in hand over their North London rivals, Tottenham Hotspur.

The midweek defeat against Liverpool served as a reminder that the side are not fully there just yet though. However, that being said Arsenal cannot be too displeased at the progress they have made this season.

The defeat was the first time Arsenal had lost since the 1^st of January in the league, after the side put together their fifth successive win against Leicester, the first time the side have accomplished this since the 2018/2019 season, showing that the Arteta rebuild is well on the way.

To partner this, Saturday’s victory away from home against Aston Villa meant the side had won five successive away fixtures for the first time since the 2014/2015 campaign.

Arsenal in recent years have rarely been considered as a side who could and more importantly, would compete in both Europe and in the Premier League, but things are starting to change at the Emirates.

Arteta’s squad is the youngest in the league, meaning that Arteta and his young Gooners can only develop as time goes on, but there is still great room for improvement in this Arsenal squad that could take them from European contenders to potential contenders for the league.

As Pep Guardiola’s understudy at Manchester City, it is no doubt that Arteta has learnt from one of the very best in the modern game and yet still is implementing his own bits of tactical input.

Arteta’s system operates mainly in a 4-2-3-1 formation, so the improvements suggested will be regarding players to upgrade in these roles as opposed to suggesting a switch to a different formation.

Right Back

In recent years, Arsenal have struggled defensively and there is no doubt about this, however, this year Arteta’s defensive line has had an excellent campaign. Summer signings Benjamin White, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Aaron Ramsdale have excelled so for the Gooners who currently have the fifth-best defensive record in the league behind Wolves, Liverpool, Chelsea, and then Manchester City.

 

That being said Tomiyasu has recently been less present. The Japanese international has suffered a series of injuries that have kept him out of the side since the defeat to Manchester City, whilst he was on the bench against Brentford, he didn’t make an appearance.

Arteta spoke before the loss to Liverpool, saying:

“He needs to be consistently training for a period [so] that we can minimise the risk of having another recurring injury”

With the former Genoa man also not receiving a call-up to the national team, it requires his position in the team to be thought about. Whilst Cedric offers good backup, to be a title-contending side the club needs to invest in another right back.

Who better to provide that cover and to challenge Tomiyasu for the starting spot than Noussair Mazraoui?

 

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With the 24-year-old Moroccan stating earlier in the season that the chances of staying at his current club are “maybe 5%” Arsenal can be hopeful of picking up the Ajax man when his contract ends at the end of the current season.

Whilst Barcelona are also said to be interested in the right-back, Arsenal can feel confident in their chances if the youngster is given assurances over playing time and ambitions to potentially play at the top level with Arsenal.

Mazraoui offers a good balance of youth and experience if he were to sign for the Gooners. At just 24 he already has over 90 appearances for Ajax with a further 37 appearances in the Champions League.

This season especially though the Moroccan has excelled, with 31 appearances across all club competitions, the right-back has scored five times, assisting four times too, showing that his attacking outlet can be an asset to the Gunners.

Midfielder

It is no doubt that Granit Xhaka has been an excellent servant to the Gooners over the past six years, however, his time at the club has been filled with controversy and criticisms.  Under Arteta though, the Swiss international has had the chance to prove himself and reintegrate himself into the side. However, if Arsenal are to challenge the league’s elite he needs to be improved upon.

There are two players who Arsenal should be looking at as a partner for Thomas Partey, those being Ryan Gravenberch or Nico Barella.

Gravenberch has been linked with a move away from the Johan Cruyff Arena for the 12 months now, with Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, and a host of European elites all shortlisting the 19-year-old.

 

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The Ajax starlet currently has 18 months left on his contract and has vowed to not leave the club after his contract expires, only fuelling rumours that he will leave Amsterdam in the summer.

With a price tag in the region of £15 million to £25 million, it is difficult not to see why the elites are not going for a player that will likely be a focal point of their side for years to come.

However, with Bayern Munich said to be front runners for the Dutchman, it is difficult to see Arsenal getting a look in.

This leads on to Nico Barella, who is in no way a downgrade on Gravenberch.

Barella offers almost the ideal complimentary style to Thomas Partey and gives the Ghanaian more defensive reliance allowing Barella to offer the creative threat that has made the Inter man so sought after.

 

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Statistically, the Italian’s numbers are amongst the best for midfielders, reaching the 90^th percentile in key attacking factors. Such as the 3.53 shot-creating actions per 90, or the 0.33 non-penalty goal or assist per 90 stat.

With 6.1 progressive carries per 90 and 5.58 progressive passes, the Italian could be the player to get the best out of Arsenal’s young frontline by providing creativity beyond the front third.

Striker

It is no doubt that Arsenal are without a goalscoring striker. Alexandre Lacazette this season has shown glimpses of his days at Lyon this season and with an output of four goals and seven assists he is not having the worst season in the world. That being said Arteta needs to bring in a goalscorer if his side are to challenge at the top.

There are two names that would make sense for the Gooners’ young project, those being Jonathan David and Alexander Isak.

The most likely to be on the move is Isak, with the Swede having been linked heavily to Arsenal over the January window. The past two seasons have been the ‘breakout seasons’ for the youngster. Following his arrival in San Sebastian, Isak has been at the forefront of the club’s European push.

 

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With nine goals in his first season at the club, followed up by 17 the season after Isak was heavily linked away from Sociedad, this season has seen a drop in his numbers, with the striker only scoring four this campaign in 24.

With the 22-year-old’s dribbling abilities too, it makes him that bit more dangerous, and he could see his best days potentially under Arteta at the Emirates.

 

However, with the goalscoring numbers dropping it may lead Arteta and the Gooners to look instead to Jonathan David, who is only building on two incredible seasons and is looking likely to improve his goal tally from last season.

After his move from Genk to Lille, the Canadian adjusted instantly and played a pivotal role alongside Burak Yilmaz as Lille claimed the Ligue 1 trophy.

This showed that the striker is able to adapt and adjust his game easily when fitting into different settings as he did when he left Genk for France and could likely do again if he left Lille for London.

 

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In 2021, the Canadian has played 64 times, scoring 34 and contributing six assists across the national team and club competitions, which only expands the demand for the striker, and with the Canadians potentially set to qualify for the World Cup, the demand may only rise.

Arsenal’s hopes of a top-four finish this season could just be the spark that relights their chances of getting high-level players back to the Emirates and could be the start of a long-term push towards challenging for a title.

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