Who Starts on Saturday? It’s Not a Foregone Conclusion.

As the new season looms just days away, Arsenal fans worldwide are buzzing with anticipation, hoping to kick off another title challenge with a convincing win against Wolves. While we all have our ideas of what the starting lineup might look like for the season opener, Mikel Arteta may have different thoughts. Some positions in the starting XI seem locked in, but there are still some question marks.

Let’s dive into the positions still up for grabs and the players vying for those starting spots.

Left-Back:

With the arrival of Riccardo Calafiori, who could slot into the left-back role, and the impressive pre-season form of Oleksandr Zinchenko, deciding who starts on Saturday is no easy task for Arteta. Adding to the complexity, Tomiyasu and Timber are potentially returning from injury, making it even tougher for the boss to choose. However, these selection headaches are positive, highlighting Arsenal’s strength in depth.

Defensive Midfield:

Assuming no last-minute signings like Mikel Merino, the choice for the deepest-lying midfielder on Saturday is anyone’s guess. Will it be Jorginho, Partey, or Rice? Partey featured heavily in pre-season and looked solid enough to start, but Arteta might drop Rice deeper to accommodate Havertz and Jesus. Alternatively, Jorginho could be preferred, as we saw at various points last season.

Left-Wing:

The battle for the left-wing spot is a direct shootout between Martinelli and Trossard. Both options are fantastic, though I slightly lean towards Trossard due to his ability to operate in tight spaces against low-block defenses. Either way, whoever starts will have the full support of the Arsenal faithful.

Center-Forward:

The center-forward position presents another intriguing battle, this time between Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz. With no new striker likely to join before the transfer window closes, this could be a recurring story throughout the campaign. Jesus looked sharp and in form during pre-season, scoring three goals, including one in a behind-closed-doors friendly. However, Havertz’s strong finish last season and solid performances in the Euros make him a viable option as well.

With several positions still up in the air, Saturday’s lineup is far from certain. But one thing is clear: the depth and quality in Arsenal’s squad mean that whichever eleven players take the field, they’ll be ready to push for three points and set the tone for the season ahead.