How Arsenal’s team this season compares with the XI that crumbled against Man City at start of last campaign – The Sun
ARSENAL have pulled off some stunning moves in this summer's transfer window – and look a world apart from last season's flops already.
On the opening day of last season, the Gunners fell to a 2-0 defeat at the Emirates to Manchester City in a wildly sub par showing.
But after a surprisingly superb transfer window – with £141million worth of talent arriving – Gooners' optimism is high – here's how this season's team compares to last.
Should Alexandre Lacazette recover from his injury and Nicolas Pepe get up to match fitness this week, they could join Pierre-Emerick Aubamaeyang in a fearsome front-three.
A year ago, the attacking line was led by Aubameyang, Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
In midfield, Arsenal look set to start with Matteo Guendouzi, Dani Ceballos and Granit Xhaka.
NEW-LOOK ARSENAL
The only change there is the input of Real Madrid loanee Ceballos for Juventus new-boy Aaron Ramsey.
Lucas Torreira will be a late call for the game and could come in to replace Guendouzi should he recover from injury.
In goal, Bernd Leno replaces last season's opening day stopper Petr Cech, while the back-four looks vastly improved.
Hector Bellerin is injured and will be replaced at right-back by Ainsley Maitland-Niles – who started on the left a year ago.
Sokratis Papastathopoulos retains his spot in the heart of the defence, with super-flop Shkodran Mustafi replaced by £8m arrival David Luiz.
Another new Gunner, Kieran Tierney, should start on the left of defence after Arsenal finally got their deal for the Celtic star over the line.
Unai Emery will hope his new-look squad can do much better than last season, where they finished fifth, with just 70 points, 28 adrift of Manchester City.
ARSENAL'S £141MILLION SUMMER
NICOLAS PEPE – £72m
WILLIAM SALIBA – £27m
KIERAN TIERNEY – £25m
DAVID LUIZ – £8m
GABRIEL MARTINELLI – £6m
DANI CEBALLOS – £3m
Source: Read Full Article