After years of constructing it up, Arsenal now have one in all, if not the perfect, squad within the Premier League.
Some would possibly say that Liverpool and Manchester Metropolis have stronger beginning lineups, however in relation to real high quality depth, the Gunners stand head and shoulders above the remaining.
For instance, they’re presently high of the desk and with out membership captain Martin Odegaard, who seemed wonderful within the couple of appearances he made earlier than his MCL harm.
Furthermore, Mikel Arteta already has somebody within the squad immediately who feels destined to in the future take the Norwegian’s armband and shirt quantity.
Arsenal’s best quantity eights
Being the large membership they’re, Arsenal have had some genuinely unbelievable gamers don their well-known pink and white through the years, and there have been some distinctive gamers with the quantity eight on their again.
Each fan goes to have a distinct high three gamers to put on the quantity, however right here, the third spot goes to somebody who’s not fairly a legend, however most actually a cult hero: Aaron Ramsey.
The Welsh worldwide wore the shirt from the 16/17 to the 18/19 seasons, and whereas he did not win a league throughout his time in North London, he did win three FA Cups.
Furthermore, he scored the winner towards Hull Metropolis and Chelsea, so with out him, the 2010s would have been far bleaker for the Gunners.
Up subsequent is a bona fide legend, and somebody who even managed the membership on an interim foundation in 2019: Freddie Ljungberg.
The Swedish celebrity wore the quantity between the 98/99 and 06/07 seasons, throughout which he made 328 appearances, scoring 72 objectives, offering 40 assists and profitable two league titles, three FA Cups and two Participant of the Yr awards from the membership.
Lastly, in relation to probably the most iconic quantity eight within the Gunners’ storied historical past, it’s inconceivable to look previous Mr Arsenal himself: Ian Wright.
The legendary centre-forward wore the shirt for almost all of his time at Highbury, and had it on his again when he broke Cliff Bastin’s goalscoring document in 1997, which was then damaged once more by a sure Frenchman.
Now, whereas that’s the high three as issues stand, there’s each likelihood Odegaard might change Ramsey if he leads Arsenal to a title this season, and years from now, one in all his teammates might take the eight off his arms.
Arsenal’s future eight
There are a number of choices for gamers within the present Arsenal squad who might take the eight shirt from Odegaard sooner or later, from Ethan Nwaneri to Max Dowman.
Nonetheless, the previous feels extra more likely to inherit the ten, and the latter could possibly be an ideal long-term Bukayo Saka alternative.
Subsequently, the Norwegian’s shirt feels way more more likely to come to Myles Lewis-Skelly.
In spite of everything, whereas he is been enjoying exceptionally properly at left-back during the last 12 months or so, everyone seems to be properly conscious that his most performed place within the academy, and the one he is anticipated to maneuver into in some unspecified time in the future, is central midfield.
Furthermore, as if anybody wanted extra convincing of his means to vary video games from the center of the park, he did precisely that towards Atletico Madrid.
Simply seven minutes after Gabriel Magalhães scored the opening purpose, the 19-year-old monster picked up the ball in the midst of the park, drove previous half the Atleti staff, and offered Gabriel Martinelli an ideal move to place the ball at the back of the web.
On high of that, he has additionally confirmed himself to be far more durable and extra prepared to throw his weight round than individuals would have anticipated for somebody his age.
Lewis-Skelly’s Arsenal document | |
|---|---|
Appearances | 47 |
Begins | 29 |
Minutes | 2659′ |
Targets | 1 |
Assists | 4 |
Factors per Recreation | 2.13 |
All Stats through Transfermarkt | |
It is this fearlessness and unbelievable self-belief which have helped him turn out to be such a outstanding a part of this squad so early on in his profession, and why membership insider Hand of Arsenal has already dubbed him a “future captain.”
These traits have additionally seen England supervisor Thomas Tuchel take a eager liking to him, and as he is already received six senior caps for the Three Lions, there’s each likelihood he is on the airplane to the World Cup subsequent 12 months.
Finally, it is nonetheless extremely early in his profession, however Lewis-Skelly is clearly going to turn out to be a midfielder sooner or later, and if he retains performing the best way he’s, it feels inevitable that he’ll turn out to be Arsenal’s subsequent quantity eight.
