REUTERS/Phil Noble via Action Images
Arsenal take part in the opening match of the Premier League season next Friday when they host Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners will be looking to retain their status as champions this term and are highly tipped to do so by many prominent pundits and fans. Sporting director Andrea Berta has been active in the market, bolstering Mikel Arteta's squad to ensure the Spanish manager has the tools he needs to launch another assault on the title.
Bruno Guimaraes has arrived from Newcastle as the marquee addition thus far, while Christos Tzolis has joined from Club Brugge to ostensibly replace Leandro Trossard in Arteta's ensemble.
However, further reinforcements are needed across the pitch, and Arteta will no doubt be dreaming of at least three more before the Coventry fixture rolls around.
Goalkeeper and Defence
REUTERS/Albert Gea
In between the sticks, Arteta should have first-choice David Raya to call upon against Frank Lampard's men. The World Cup winner is yet to feature during pre-season as he's been enjoying a three-week holiday following the tournament in North America. He did, however, return to training this week, which should put him in line to feature in the season's curtain-raiser against Manchester City at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday.
Arteta revealed last week that Jurrien Timber is still weeks away from playing, as the Dutchman continues his recovery from a groin issue. This means Ben White, who has looked sharp throughout pre-season, will assume the right-back spot against the Sky Blues.
At centre-back, there is scope for a new man to be deployed alongside Gabriel Magalhaes. William Saliba is set to miss a significant portion of the 2026/27 season due to a back problem, and this has prompted Arsenal to explore various defensive options on the market. While Cristhian Mosquera showed signs of promise last term, the Gunners aren't prepared to exclusively rely on the young Spaniard for several months.
Ezri Konsa has been linked with a switch to North London, but Aston Villa's excessive price demands have seemingly deterred Berta from making a move on this front. Instead, Arsenal are exploring a deal for Barcelona's Jules Kounde, and there is increasing optimism that a deal could be done for the Frenchman. If Berta accelerates this prospective transfer in the coming days, there's no reason why Kounde couldn't be in contention to start against Coventry.
At left-back, the feeling is that Arteta will turn to Riccardo Calafiori in games where Arsenal are expected to dominate possession next term, while Piero Hincapie will be favoured in the more challenging match-ups against sides with threatening wingers. This means the Italian is in line to start on opening night.
Mikel Arteta's Dream Team vs Coventry City
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Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
Arsenal's midfield has been light on options throughout pre-season. Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino, Martin Zubimendi, Eberechi Eze and Declan Rice all reached the latter stages of the World Cup with their nations, leaving Myles Lewis-Skelly to fend for himself in the middle of the park.
However, all of these players are now back in training, including Guimaraes, meaning Arteta should have a full assortment of midfielders to select from against the West Midlands outfit. In fact, the Spaniard may even be able to field what he likely views as his dream midfield trio.
Rice and Guimaraes are expected to form Arsenal's double pivot for the majority of matches next term, and this could be their first outing together. In front of them, captain Odegaard will slot into his right-half space home, with the likes of Eze, Merino and Lewis-Skelly options off the bench.
Mikel Arteta's Dream Team vs Coventry City
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via Reuters
The forward areas could see the most change for Arsenal next season. Bukayo Saka is the only member of the existing group guaranteed to hold his position down, with the Hale End graduate likely to own the Gunners' right-hand side for another season.
Arsenal continue to be heavily linked with Julian Alvarez, with some reports suggesting the Argentine is Arteta's dream forward signing now that he can't land Vinicius Junior. While a deal for Alvarez certainly isn't imminent, meaning the chances of him signing in time to feature against Coventry are slim, in Arteta's ideal scenario, he'd have the World Cup winner lining up against Lampard's team.
Similarly on the left-wing, Arsenal don't appear to be advanced in their pursuit of a wide forward. However, Bradley Barcola remains a key target, and even with Paris Saint-Germain's outlandish demands, he remains the most attractive option on the market.