Arsenal have reportedly closed the signings of two of the best young players in not just the Premier League but in world football as a whole.
Kai Havertz joins from Chelsea after two disappointing seasons, but before that, he was the attacking hero of the side that won the 2020/21 Champions League. And even before that, he was one of the most touted young players in world football for Bayer Leverkusen, which is what earned him an 80 million euro transfer to the Blues in the first place.
Arsenal, by the way, will be paying about five million euros less than that for his services.
Meanwhile, Declan Rice was an even bigger target for the Gunners and will cost more accordingly. One of the best center midfielders in the world, Rice will set Arsenal back 100 million pounds plus an additional five million in bonuses.
That was the exact fee needed to convince West Ham to let go of the all-world midfielder, and it was also necessary for Arsenal to beat out Premier League title rivals Manchester City.
How will Rice and Havertz fit Arsenal and help the second-place team from the 2022/23 Premier League season?
Here is a possible starting lineup that includes both.
Defense
GK Aaron Ramsdale
LB Oleksandr Zinchenko
CB Gabriel Magalhães
CB William Saliba
RB Ben White
Let’s start with the right side of the defense, because it’s the only place where a transfer could possibly happen. Arsenal could potentially sign a young, true right back to get experience at the position, with Iván Fresneda of Real Valladolid sticking out as one option.
But honestly, Ben White gives the team so much defensive solidity and can drop into the midfield to help keep Arenal resilient against counters. He was one of the best right backs in the Premier League last season in his own right despite truly being a center back at heart.
The main starting center backs for Arsenal comprise one of the best duos in world football, and they are both 25 and under, meaning they can dominate together for the next several years. Gabriel and William Saliba are both complementary profiles, with Saliba having the most long-term upside, particularly on the ball, and Gabriel offering that extra bit of grit every defense needs.
Finally, Oleksandr Zinchenko is one of the most technically advanced left backs in the world and plays an inverted role, often acting as a midfield who recycles possession, picks out passes, and progresses play for the front line. Zinchenko will be even more important if Mikel Arteta plays an aggressive formation with Kai Havertz, Martin Ødegaard, and Gabriel Jesus in the same XI.
In goal, Aaron Ramsdale is a warrior and tends to elevate his game in the most important moments. He isn’t the absolute best keeper in the Premier League, but he has to be considered on the shortlist of the top keepers in the league.
Midfield
DM Declan Rice
LAM Kai Havertz
RAM Martin Ødegaard
Now it gets interesting, because whereas the defense is 100 percent settled with those five players as the best at their respective positions in the Arsenal squad, the Gunners have more flexibility and more decisions to make in midfield.
Granit Xhaka is pretty much guaranteed to be on his way out to Bayer Leverkusen in a Bundesliga return, while Thomas Partey is also the subject of intense transfer rumors. Even Jorginho could go, but it seems as though Partey would net the bigger transfer fee, meaning he is more likely to exit (to Saudi Arabia, potentially).
But regardless of the transfer rumors, this trio makes up the three best players in the Arsenal midfield, and we can expect Arteta to work his magic to try and put all of them on the pitch at the same time. Because of how good the wingers are and because of the playing styles of the fullbacks, he can get away with a two-headed monster of Martin Ødegaard and Kai Havertz.
Oh by the way, Manchester City utilized a flexible back three with an elite anchoring defensive midfielder and a two-headed monster of world-class CAMs to win the real double last year.
Martin Ødegaard’s place in the team is undisputed as captain. He is legitimately one of the most important players in the Premier League, capable of changing games, especially in the most clutch moments, with a goal or assist out of nowhere. With time, he’s become a true leader and a more active part of the team’s ball-winning.
Declan Rice is going to be the foundational piece for Arteta, starting moves and screening for the defense. He is so good at everything an anchor needs to do, and it will be exciting to watch how he links the defense to the attack. As he continues to mature, the 24-year-old will get even better at picking out killer passes from deep for the talented Arsenal forwards.
Although listed as an attacking midfielder, Kai Havertz will be more of a second striker, which is a role that suits him better. He will be able to play off Gabriel Jesus, interchanging positions with the striker and even with the left winger Gabriel Martinelli.
Getting Havertz into shooting positions with that trusty right foot of his will be crucial. And with confidence, the near-misses should become Goal of the Season candidates. Havertz and Jesus are both willing to get physical, as are the wingers, so there shouldn’t be too many worries about a loss of defensive stability. These guys will work.
Forwards
LW Gabriel Martinelli
CF Gabriel Jesus
RW Bukayo Saka
We don’t need to analyze this attack in nauseating detail, because I think it’s safe to say that everyone who even has a passing interest in Premier League football understands that this trio is one of the best and most balanced attacking tridents on the entire planet. They are young, hungry, industrious, creative, and unselfish. All three of them click.
Bukayo Saka had one of the best seasons of any player in Europe’s top five leagues with 14 goals and 11 assists, providing dazzling end product and so much intensity. He won possession, carried the ball, recycled possession, offered width, and took defenders on while still producing at the absolute highest level. He and the electrifying Martinelli, who has has much long-term upside as any winger in the English top flight, are truly the perfect pair.
It was hilarious listening to the usual clueless talking heads in English football punditry criticize Jesus for not scoring enough. Because they missed the boat on literally everything else he did as a smashing success in his first season with Arsenal. He is the attacking leader, the all-around chaos-creator, who completes the team. Jesus will be even more important with Havertz on board, and the two, with time, could carve up defenses together with devastating one-twos and combination play.
