Your Ideal First XI

Clrnc

Think it's the first time we can do this and that we have no confirmed first XI. Can't drop Trossard the way he has played in pre season so far but I don't see Arteta dropping either of Jesus Martinelli or Havertz for him too.

Can't drop Partey as he is still the glue for our entire structure but if Rice plays 8 both Havertz and Trossard misses out?

And then you have Timber vs White vs Zinchenko vs Tierney vs Tomiyasu vs Kiwior etc.

What's your ideal xi? Here's mine based on current showings

Ramsdale
Timber Saliba Gabriel Tierney
Partey
Odegaard Havertz
Saka Trossard Martinelli

Big Willie

Clrnc I agree with your lineup. Only change I'd make is Rice for Havertz. If Timber plays RB I'd want Tierney, if White plays RB I'd want either Timber or Zinchenko LB. Zinchenko probably offers more going forward but Timber, whilst still being really good attack-wise, being a CB naturally he is more solid defensively.

Jesus missing out is a shame but Trossard has been on fire since joining us. He should keep his place until he loses form then we can bring a hungry Jesus back in. Havertz has to make do as a sub for me because Saka and Martinelli are just that good that we can't leave either one out.

So I'd either have the following to start the season.

Ramsdale
Timber Saliba Gabriel Tierney
Partey
Odegaard Rice
Saka Trossard Martinelli

Ramsdale
White Saliba Gabriel Timber
Partey
Odegaard Rice
Saka Trossard Martinelli

Clrnc

goon I also think it's too early to really call

Exactly why its interesting to see everyone's thoughts, rather than after we settled on an XI. Tierney was excellent again when he came on against Barca. That cross for Trossard goal was superb.

Big Willie If Timber plays RB I'd want Tierney, if White plays RB I'd want either Timber or Zinchenko LB

Yeah agree. Tomi will be in there too. Timber plus Zinchenko is too attacking for me. I think Rice will definitely be in the starting XI (duh 105m) but would hate to lose the space finding ability of Havertz.

goon

Tierney doesn't belong in any XI imo. It's not about how good he is at what he does, he just doesn't fit with any style we're going for. Maybe we'll see some variation this season that will allow us to play with a more traditional full back, but right now I can't see it.

I'm quite relaxed about XIs and I think we'll see quite a few combinations this season depending on opposition etc. I also think it's too early to really call, the new boys have barely had time to settle. If I had to choose right now though, I'd actually go with as close to last season as possible.

invisibleman18

goon I'm quite relaxed about XIs and I think we'll see quite a few combinations this season depending on opposition etc

Agree with that. We shouldn't be as obsessed with starters and backups. The additions so far this summer should mean we have more than 11 starter level players.

Burnwinter

At home to Forest on match day one? I'd start:

          Ramsdale
Timber Saliba Gabriel Zinchenko
            Rice
    Ødegaard      Havertz
Saka       Trossard    Martinelli

Give the new boys a chance to impress, remind Havertz he's expected to defend, and let's try out dual inverting fullbacks. The above should be a highly press resistant XL with significant defensive weaknesses, but extraordinarily rich going forward.

White, Partey and Jesus know their roles better and can be saved for bigger fish.

goon I'm quite relaxed about XIs and I think we'll see quite a few combinations this season depending on opposition etc.

Feels to me like maybe the first time ever the Arsenal squad's so thick the players won't really be able to maintain that being benched is a major insult. Likewise I think there's enough talent and intelligence there for several variations to be used through the season—if Arteta's got the head for it.

Pepe LeFrits

goon Tierney doesn't belong in any XI imo. It's not about how good he is at what he does, he just doesn't fit with any style we're going for.

I think he'd be pretty much ideal for a non-inverting LB/LCB role if we have the RB inverting.

In response to the OP, I don't think we have an ideal XI anymore, and that's a good thing. It should vary depending on the circumstances.

KingslandBarge

goon If I had to choose right now though, I'd actually go with as close to last season as possible.

Agree, and since I don't see it listed as yet, here's my thinking on the starting XI, which its still too early to call.

              Turner
   White Saliba Gabriel Tierney
           Partey Rice
             Ødegaard     
      Saka  Jesus  Martinelli

Timber and Havertz eased in, Zinchenko injured (and rather dropped), Trossard, Smith-Rowe and Tomiyasu knocking, Ramsdale dropped.

If it ends up being something like @Burnwinter's lineup , I won't mind, even if we initially struggle to collect maximum points.

invisibleman18

Timber looked good in the MLS All Stars game but I've not seen the other two games so can't really comment. Don't feel White as the incumbent deserves to lose his place at this stage.
I'd go with Willie's second lineup above, just undecided at LB. Probably stick with Zinchenko for now.

Coombs

Clrnc Tierney was excellent again when he came on against Barca. That cross for Trossard goal was superb.

I dunno. I thought it was a terrible cross that Trossard turned into a good assist with an exquisite piece of control.

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

White instead of Saliba, and keep an eye on Ramsdale. Might need to give Turner a go.

Qwiss

Ramsdale
White Saliba Gabriel Zinchenko
Partey
Odegaard Rice
Saka Jesus Martinelli

First day of the season if they're all fit thats how I'd line up. I think most of the new guys need more time to adapt. Half tempted to swap Rice for Trossard for the same reason plus Trossards form.

HomeSteak

Ramsdale
White Saliba Gabriel Timber
Partey
Odegaard Rice
Saka Trossard Martinelli

Coombs

Right now I'm leaning:

Ramsdale
White Saliba Gabriel Zinchenko
Partey
Odegaard Havertz
Saka Martinelli Trossard

MistaT

White deserves to start simply because he has a solid partnership with Saka. No need to jeopardize one of our best routes forward.

I think Trossard has done enough to start over Jesus. It’s a huge call but he’s on form and I’d rather let Jesus ease into things than lose Trossard’s conviction.

Can’t say I’m too fussed by Zinchenko vs Timber, or really even Tierney.

Ramsdale
White - Saliba - Gabriel - Timber
Partey
Odegaard — Rice
Saka - Trossard - Martinelli

For that line up to work I see plenty of swapping between Trossard and Martinelli, and ample cover for that flank from Rice / Timber. Let Rice press high (which Xhaka couldn’t) and have Timber narrow to cover Rice.

Mirth

Ramsdale
White Saliba Gabriel Zinchenko
Partey
Odegaard Rice/Havertz
Saka Trossard Martinelli

Think we need to get Trossard involved somehow

Kel Varnsen

Ramsdale
White-Saliba-Gabriel-Zinchenko
Ødegaard-Partey-Rice
Saka-Trossard-Martinelli

Gazza M

Kel Varnsen agreed.

peak jesus is better than trossard, but we haven't seen peak jesus for a while

partey-rice-ode is my midfield of choice until havertz does what trossard has done and brings something to the table consistently

lorddulaarsenal

———————-Ramsdale
———Timber——-Saliba——-Kiwior
—————Partey————Rice
—Saka——Odegaard—Trossard—Nelson
—————-———-Jesus

Asterix

Who the hell knows - which is great!

I'd try to sneak one or two extra players on the field and hope no one notices.

Phil

-----------------Ramsdale
------White-------Saliba-------Gabriel
-------Timber-Partey-Rice-Zinchenko------Tierney
-----------Odegaard--------Trossard
--Saka-----------------------------------Martinelli
--------------------------Jesus

That's more like it.

Big Willie

Phil -----------------Ramsdale
------White-------Saliba-------Gabriel
-------Timber-Partey-Rice-Zinchenko------Tierney
-----------Odegaard--------Trossard
--Saka-----------------------------------Martinelli
--------------------------Jesus

That's more like it.

If you can manage to get refs to allow us to smuggle in an extra 3 players then that would be awesome. That team would destroy any in the history of football.