Fofana starts, Jesus on the bench – Mikel Arteta’s ideal Arsenal lineup for Premier League opener
Arsenal will kick off their 2024/25 Premier League season by hosting Wolverhampton Wanderers at Emirates Stadium. The match is scheduled for 3pm on Saturday, August 17, with Mikel Arteta aiming for a victory to set a positive tone for the season.
The Gunners have successfully won their opening Premier League games for the past two seasons, defeating Crystal Palace in 2022/23 and Nottingham Forest in 2023/24. They also have a strong record against Wolves, winning the last six encounters, including a double victory last season.
As the summer transfer window opened last Friday, Arsenal fans are eager to see new signings in the starting lineup. Football.london speculates on what the lineup could look like for the opening match.
David Raya, who is set to join permanently from Brentford for £27 million after a successful loan, is expected to be Arsenal’s main goalkeeper. This may lead Aaron Ramsdale to seek a move for more playing time.
Arsenal finished the 2023/24 season with the best defensive record, conceding only 29 goals. Therefore, significant defensive signings are not anticipated. William Saliba and Gabriel will likely continue their strong partnership in central defense, with Ben White at right-back. Jurrien Timber, returning from an ACL injury, might secure the left-back position if he has a solid pre-season.
In midfield, changes are expected with potential new signings. Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard are set to be key players. While Jorginho, Thomas Partey, Kai Havertz, Fabio Vieira, and Emile Smith Rowe also featured last season, football.london suggests Edu is prioritizing another midfielder this summer. Youssouf Fofana from Monaco is a realistic candidate and could be acquired for around £20 million due to his contract situation.
Up front, Arsenal is looking to strengthen their forward line. Although Benjamin Sesko extended his contract with RB Leipzig, making his transfer unlikely, Bukayo Saka is assured a starting position after scoring 16 league goals last season. If a new striker is signed, Gabriel Jesus might start on the bench. While Victor Osimhen is not a likely target, Alexander Isak, Ivan Toney, Joshua Zirkzee, and Artem Dovbyk have been linked, with Isak being the most favored option.
On the left wing, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard are competing for the starting spot. Despite Martinelli’s underwhelming performance last season, he might be preferred by Arteta to exploit Wolves’ defensive gaps.