MARTIN KEOWN: Mikel Arteta has shaken up his Arsenal squad this summer, but will the Gunners fire? Last season’s runners-up have taken on major surgery but they look like they mean business
As we enter the 32nd edition of the Premier League, Manchester City are the team to beat. They have won five of the last six titles and are chasing an unprecedented fourth straight success.
But with the Premier League boasting six of the world’s 10 richest clubs, it should be a fiercely-fought contest after another eventful summer in the transfer market. Last year’s runners-up Arsenal spent more than £200million and look like City’s greatest threat again.
After topping the table for 248 days with no trophy to show for their efforts, Mikel Arteta looked at how and why they fell away towards the end of last season.
He felt competition among his starters was clearly lacking and so strengthened his squad by targeting quality players who can play in a variety of positions and systems.
Jurrien Timber, at £38m, is an aggressive, tough and quick defender comfortable in possession who can operate anywhere across the back line. Declan Rice, at £105m, will add character and personality to the team and is one of best ball-winners in England who can be used anywhere across midfield.
Arteta looked at how and why Arsenal fell away at the end of last season and has strengthened
The Gunners have signed Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber so far this summer
Kai Havertz, at £65m, is a versatile attacker who can play in any forward position and in advanced midfield, but he will need to replicate the energy shown by Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah when it comes to running into the channels.
Now David Raya is coming in to compete with Aaron Ramsdale in goal. This latest signing further demonstrates Arteta’s desire to create stiff competition among his starters from last year.
Arsenal made only 38 changes to their starting line-up last season – by far the fewest of any Premier League club – whereas Chelsea made 139, Liverpool 107 and City 106.
Arteta will have looked with envy last season when he saw Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez each scoring hat-tricks, only to find themselves sitting on the bench in City’s next games. Pep Guardiola could make changes successfully without destroying the team’s spirit and or the confidence of the individual player.
This will be something new for Arsenal and Arteta will be working hard to retain the confidence of those who don’t start in the opening weekend with a view to them playing big parts as the season unfolds.
It is the strongest squad that wins you the Premier League, not necessarily the best XI, and Arsenal’s boosted strength in depth was on show in the Community Shield when Arteta made five quality substitutions after 75 minutes at Wembley.
Arteta felt competition among his starters was clearly lacking during last-season’s title charge
Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper has complained they have not made enough signings
Those changes helped him win another trophy, capping a positive pre-season for Arsenal as they look to challenge for the Premier League and Champions League. Today’s opponents Nottingham Forest have had a very different transfer window this summer compared to last year when they signed 21 players.
Manager Steve Cooper has complained they have not made enough signings this time around. Results have been far from perfect in pre-season, and it is important they keep fan-favourite Brennan Johnson and that last season’s best signing Morgan Gibbs-White continues his outstanding form.
Cooper may be worried that Forest’s away record was the Premier League’s worst last season but a fine run-in saw them survive, with Taiwo Awoniyi scoring in each of their last four games.
One of those was against Arsenal when they won 1-0 to secure survival and crown City as champions. The Premier League is back from its break and Arsenal’s supporters, with renewed belief and ever-increasing expectations, will be urging Arteta and his new-look team to go one better this time around and win their first title in 20 years.
