Arsenal: 2019/2020 Premier League Restart Preview
If my calculations are correct, Arsenal will resume the 2019/2020 Premier League season 102 days since their last match. So much has happened globally since March 7th, that Arsenal coming back feels inconsequential.
I’d argue however that the return of world soccer, along with the NBA, MLS, Golf, (MLB you awake?) represents hope in the fight against COVID-19. For months, sports returning this year felt impossible. While seeing a stadium full of fans still feels like a stretch, the momentary distraction from the global chaos is a huge win. While recently the world’s attention has rightfully switched from COVID to a fight for basic human rights, the return of sports will help amplify that fight. Teams are and will continue to, make statements in support of the BLM movement which will send waves through the predominantly white ownership across world sports. Watching the world’s response to Jadon Sancho, after revealing his support for George Floyd after scoring in the Bundesliga, was a welcome reminder that athletes have the platform to make a difference. Arsenal, as expected, also had a class statement before the match with Brentford. In a fight as big as what we are seeing today, support from the superstars will go a long way towards victory.
Arsenal’s first match back will be Wednesday against Manchester City at the Etihad. Upon first glance, this matchup will have Gooners reeling with dread as Pep’s side has every player in his squad healthy for the first time this season. Since optimism is always at an all-time high on Matchday 1, I’m choosing to look at this match with rose-colored glasses.
Arteta has had 102 days to instill his philosophy with the team and by all accounts, the players have relished working with a manager with his level of detail. Pre-COVID Arsenal was looking strong with 0 losses in the last 8 PL matches and 3 straight wins. Lacazette was back on the scoresheet in the 1-0 win against West Ham and the team looked rejuvenated following the Europa League exit vs Olympiacos. I choose to bring up that painful match in hopes that it will motivate the squad. While there were two games between Olympiacos and the break, it must have felt like losing a Cup Final for those involved. Aubameyang, most notably, will have spent this break planning his revenge tour which the team will hopefully feed off of.
As for Wednesday, my guess is Arteta sticks with what was working with this Starting 11:
Leno
Bellerin, Mustafi, Mari, Tierney
Ozil, Ceballos, Xhaka
Pepe, Laca, Auba
As for the rest of the season, here are the five things to watch out for:
The Rise of Pablo Mari
Remember the first few months of Mustafi’s career? We refused to lose during his first matches in Red and White and it looked like he had the confidence our back line needed for years. The same thing could be said for multiple defender’s early in their Arsenal career before a notable match derails their confidence and they become a punching bag for Gooners on Twitter. Let’s not let that happen again ok?
Pablo Mari is saying all the right things early in his Arsenal career and his performances against Portsmouth and West Ham were very assured. Unlike Mustafi, he’s steering clear of posting “Back on Top” on Instagram and instead, showing poise for a left-footed CB which we’ve been missing since the early days of Thomas Vermaelen. He’s been confident in the air, smart with his feet, and focused for 90 mins. With Saliba due to be integrated as soon as possible, Arteta and co. would be ecstatic if Mari established himself as the starting LCB. Imagine we didn’t have to spend big for a CB in the transfer window and instead, spent on building depth behind KT, Mari, Saliba, and Bellerin.
If Mari can continue his positive performances, hopefully starting against his old club on Wednesday, it will go a long way towards Arsenal competing for the Top 4.
The Battle in Midfield
If the rumors are to believed, Thomas Partey is coming to the carpet next season. First things first… If Arsenal does not qualify for the Champions League, I highly this transfer is happening. Hopefully, Arteta is waving this signing as a carrot at the end of the finish line for the team. However badly Gooners want this to happen (me included), this potential signing has huge implications for our midfielders this season.
Heading into Wednesday’s match, Arsenal’s recognized midfielders are Ceballos, Torreira, Maitland-Niles, Willock, Guendouzi, and Xhaka. Based on our recent friendlies, Arteta is rolling out a 4-3-3. With that in mind, the competition is between Torreira, Guendouzi, and Xhaka for CDM and Ceballos, AMN, and Willock for CM. Dani gets the nod since it looks like Willock will back-up Ozil in the #10 role and AMN, as it stands, is finding his feet in his preferred midfield position.
Arteta has used Xhaka – Ceballos in the last 3 PL matches so let’s assume that’s the preferred setup. This leaves Torreira and Guendouzi to go head to head over the next 10 matches to secure one spot in Arteta’s squad next season. While Guendouzi has youth and hype on his side, Torreira has put in strong substitute performances so far under Arteta and has created a soft spot in the hearts of Gunners for his performances under Emery, notably vs Tottenham.
If we clinch a Champions League spot, Arteta will have to make a choice between Torreira and Guendouzi to make room for Partey. If we don’t buy Ceballos, I would pick Xhaka to move to CM, and unless he hits a purple patch, Guendouzi to be sent on loan.
Is the future now?
From Saka’s rise at LB, Martinelli shining, Willock’s confidence, and Eddie stealing starting minutes from Lacazette, the future is now for Arsenal in many positions. However, when Project Restart begins and Arteta has 10 games to wrap up a season that needs to end in the Top 4, we’ll see how many minutes the kids get.
Martinelli has not had as many moments to shine under Arteta as he had under Emery. However, Arteta has given nothing but positive reviews for the young Brazilian’s game and when you have a talent like him, you want to preach patience. Saka is completely different because there was no senior player ahead of him for over two months and he made the role his own. He’s taken the league by storm at LB and shown Arteta he’s ready for any role necessary. In a bittersweet situation, Saka will lose his starting 11 spot to Tierney but come off the bench in his preferred role at LW. Willock has scored in both friendlies before the restart and looks poised to learn from Ozil in the #10 role. Eddie is a goal machine and will fight tooth and nail to get an appearance in every single match.
Barring injury, look for Martinelli to get a few chances to impress, throughout the season and Saka, Willock and Eddie as the first names off the bench.
Just a bromance? Or a dream marriage?
Is Laca good enough to keep Auba out wide? Are we misusing Auba at LW? Will Auba, Laca and Pepe capitalize on it’s potential?
All of these questions will be answered in the remaining games of this season. If Arsenal qualifies for the CL, you can bet the front three of Auba, Laca, and Pepe will be back for 20/21. If not, one of Auba or Laca will be gone, if not both. Once the season restarts, Arteta is not going to waste time experimenting when he’s had 102 days to do that by analyzing the film.
While the bromance of Auba and Laca has been the preferred drug for Gooners, many are unsure that Laca can perform as well as Auba in the starting ST spot. Arsenal has what I like to call a “champagne problem” with two top players occupying the same position and when one falls out of form, people rush to change the setup. In all reality, we have two amazing players who are each in the Top 10 strikers in the PL and we should use that to our advantage by playing Auba at LW.
We will live or die by the Auba, Laca, and Pepe front three and let’s hope that two players who are best friends off the pitch can deliver wins on it. If Laca struggles, look for Auba to move up top and Reiss Nelson or Martinelli to take over at LW.
O Captain, My Captain
My choice for Club Captain for the 2020/2021 season is Hector Bellerin. The boy has lived and breathed Arsenal since 2011 and has recently shown tremendous leadership capabilities by spearheading the salary cut conversations and being a key voice in Arsenal’s stance supporting the BLM movement.
In order for Heccy B to be the captain at the beginning of next season, he needs to take his spot back in the starting 11 after the restart. His pace isn’t what it used to be after his injury and there have been transfer rumors circulating around him for the past few years. If we were to give up on him now as many fans are suggesting, it would feel similar to Szczesny and Gnabry and others who are true Gunners but were given up on after struggling. Let’s not make that same mistake with someone who should be the Club Captain.
The goal he scored against Chelsea not only reminded fans of his passion for the club, but showed the rest of the squad that he’s going to pick up the team in moments when they are down. The first goal against Brentford in the recent friendly showed the best of his marauding ability, notably through the middle following a set piece, to set up a goal for Willock. If Bellerin does not seize this chance after the restart, Arteta could be forced to look for outside solutions to start 2021, much to his dismay as he’s earmarked Hector as a leader.
Look for Bellerin to hit the ground running and claim his spot as the true club captain before next season.