Football
Sesko, Guimaraes and Timber all feature in a dream Arsenal XI for next season
Although the last season has only just finished with the European Championships fast approaching, eyes have already turned to the next season for some. As Arsenal just missed out on a first Premier League title in 20 years, the desire to put that right next season is of course significant.
Therefore, many are expecting the club to be ruthless in the market and bring in quality to help close the gap to Manchester City. There is also the chance to exploit the changes managerially at Liverpool and Chelsea with further uncertainty over Manchester United as well with Pep Guardiola potentially entering his final season with City.
What Arsenal need is reinforcement across their squad and Mikel Arteta will welcome back players who were hardly available to him due to injury. With that said, football.london takes a look at what a dream line-up could look like for Arsenal next season as they aim to end their title drought.
In goal, David Raya is indeed expected to arrive at the club on a permanent basis with the £27million option in his loan from Brentford being exercised. football.london has been told not to expect any surprises there with it being a matter of when rather than if the signing is rubber-stamped, but Aaron Ramsdale could still leave meaning a new No.2 will need to be found to push the starting stopper.
Into defence and any signings Arsenal make will find it extremely difficult to break past Ben White, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes. However, one player who is expected to break into the back four is Jurrien Timber and the magic of the summer signing from last year is the unpredictability about where it could be in that defensive line; for now, left-back looks a very strong potential option.
Into the midfield and it is worth pointing out that neither Declan Rice nor Martin Odegaard will be dislodged from the middle three. There are even shouts to see Ethan Nwaneri get more chances in the midfield this season, and quite rightly so.
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In terms of a senior signing who would perfectly complete things, Bruno Guimaraes certainly stands out. The big problem Arsenal have with a move continues to be the £100million release clause in his contract which looks impossible without major outgoings. But in a dream world, who knows what could happen?
Bukayo Saka is the only player in attack whose place looks assured for the next season but Arsenal do need to find a competitor for the England winger whose injury issues are slowly catching up with him after excessive minutes in his younger years. Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli will be fighting it out on the left with little expectation that there will be a signing there.
However, up top the chase for Benjamin Sesko is on and his potential could indeed displace Kai Havertz and send Gabriel Jesus into something of a utility role for the forward line. The 6ft 5ins Slovenian has been very impressive for RB Leipzig and look ready so soon to make the next jump in his career.
Dream Arsenal 2024/25 XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Rice, Guimaraes, Odegaard; Saka, Trossard, Sesko.