Unai Emery hints Danny Welbeck could solve Arsenal’s left-back crisis
Torreira’s impact could allow the attacking trio to be more expansive and Arsenal look likely to hand starts to Henrikh Mkhitaryan, set for his first full season at the club, Mesut Ozil, who enters on the back of a poor World Cup, and Alexandre Lacazette.
Last year Welbeck hit 10 goals for the first time at Arsenal in all competitions, three of which came int the Europa League as squad rotation helped the Gunners to the semi-finals. Emery, even if successful in the long-term, will probably take time to assert himself at a club used to only one man for 22 years.
“He’s bought players that they needed”, Merson said on Sky Sports.
Arsenal are an unknown quantity going into the new campaign, something which should excite and also intrigue fans. And underdogs they will be against Pep Guardiola’s side. “We want to give him confidence”, stated Emery during his pre-match press conference. Although Emery failed to record a victory against Guardiola during that four-year period, his tactical approach often caused serious problems in the first halves of matches.
Arsenal have had a relatively uneventful summer in terms of signings, but there is no denying that reinforcements have arrived all across the pitch. Thus, he is definitely a huge threat for the Manchester City defence, likely to be led by English worldwide John Stones.
Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus have their own battle for the lone striker spot, and there are a number of midfielders who will have to sit out.
City made just one signing over the summer as Riyad Mahrez arrived from Leicester, but despite their lack of acquisitions, it would be hard to bet against City being even better in 2018/19.
Arsenal have named their new captain after Per Mertesacker retired from playing football at the end of last season.
The former Paris Saint Germain boss hasn’t made sweeping changes to the side, but has carefully selected a few key pieces that supporters are hoping leads them back into the top four again. A viewing of last week’s Community Shield might have dampened that slightly; City were superb against Chelsea and that was with Kevin De Bruyne, among others, still to return.