Analysis

Newcastle United sealed the Championship title ahead of Brighton at the weekend, with Rafael Benitez’ side benefitting from Jack Grealish’s late equaliser for Aston Villa.

The Magpies had already secured an immediate return to the Premier League, with arch-rivals Sunderland set to be relegated, and entered the final weekend of the Championship campaign with a chance of winning the title- but they’d have to better Brighton’s result.

Benitez’ side did exactly that, defeating Barnsley 3-0 at St James Park, and the Tyneside outfit will now turn their sights on securing top-quality signings this summer in order to secure safety in the Premier League next season.

40 points will be the target for Newcastle as they seek to avoid the drop but, led by the experienced Benitez, the Magpies could push higher in the table and potentially lead a charge in the cup competitions.

Whilst it may take a few seasons for Newcastle to be truly competitive, this potential XI is bursting with attacking talent and could set the Premier League alight.

GK: Jordan Pickford

The recently-relegated Sunderland goalkeeper is attracting a lot of attention ahead of the summer and there has been suggestions of an incredible move that would see the England international move across the North East to Newcastle.

However, Rafael Benitez’ side face a huge test to land the goalkeeper’s services as he’s being linked with the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton and West Ham, as well as attracting a price-tag in excess of £25m.

Zlatan suffered that terrible injury in April and it now looks as if his time at Manchester United is over. But who will replace the big Swede? United desperately need a reliable, experienced goal scorer, or two. Missed chances have cost the team too often in the past season and the club look even blunter in attack with Zlatan out injured. They desperately need external solutions this summer, and in this article I take a look at three potential replacements.

1 – Antoine Griezmann

League appearances: 34. Goals: 16. Assists: 7.

The big money signing the world is almost expecting United to make this summer is Griezmann. With a reported £80million+ release clause, it looks as if United will come close to breaking the transfer record they themselves broke to sign Pogba last summer. Griezmann is of very different ilk to Lukaku, and if he were to lead the line for United it would force a stylistic change from United and Mourinho.Or could Mourinho see Griezmann as a wide forward and also look to bring in another centre forward, who is experienced in the Premier League and can lead a line on his own? In Atletico, Griezmann is often deployed in a two man attack, it’s unlikely that Mourinho would want to change to this system, having invested so heavily in midfielders last summer.

If there is any hope whatsoever of Arsenal managing to finish in the top four this season, then they will need to beat Manchester United when Jose Mourinho’s men come to town on Sunday.

Arsenal had looked to of escaped their terrible patch of form when they overcame Manchester City in the semi-final of the FA Cup. But a visit to White Hart Lane showed how they were still struggling to compete with the teams at the top. A home game against Manchester United is the perfect opportunity for Arsenal to bounce back, but can they? For me they need to make several major changes to the XI for it to work. Firstly, I’d like to see a switch to a high pressing 3-4-1-2 formation rather than a 3-4-2-1. Take a look at my team below…

GK – Petr Cech

Cech has improved in recent matches, but let’s just hope he doesn’t have to face a penalty! Amazingly in an Arsenal shirt, he’s yet to stop one.

Defence – Rob Holding, Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal

Gabriel really struggled with the quality Tottenham had, so I’d like to see Holding come back into the team as the right central defender. He’s a player that has impressed whenever he’s been in the team and so deserves to start this game. For me, after Koscielny, he is the best defender Arsenal have. So of course, Koscielny should captain the team at the heart of the defence and I’d like to see Nacho Monreal as a left centre back again.

Midfield – Hector Bellerin, Granit Xhaka, Mohammed Elneny, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Bellerin needs to get back in the team. When he is on form he is one of Arsenal’s best players, he’s lost his confidence and keeping him on the bench will do nothing to help him regain that. Xhaka and Elneny should start in central midfield, Ramsey has been really poor in recent games, but Xhaka continues to be the better midfielder. When Xhaka has been partnered with Elneny in the past it has worked really well, I think they complement each other nicely. The Ox had a poor game against Tottenham, but I would like to see him tested as a left wing back. He’s played on the left often enough to be able to perform on that side of the pitch, and the Gunners will need his pace to help counter the threat of Antonio Valencia.

Attacking Midfield – Mesut Ozil

Get Ozil back in the hole behind the strikers where he performs best. I’d like to see two strikers ahead of Mesut, both with pace…

Strikers – Danny Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez

A two-pronged attacking force would spring a surprise on United, and I think it would work very well. Arsenal have lacked pace and aggression in attack these last few weeks, and Alexis’ influence has been limited from wide areas. I would get him playing alongside Welbeck and pressing from the front, putting pressure on what will be a jaded United side. Arsenal need to set the pace of this game and set it high. If they can do that, they are capable of forcing mistakes out of this United team and getting the much-needed 3 points.

Manchester City’s debut campaign under Pep Guardiola is set to end without a trophy, which is increasing the pressure upon the former Bayern Munich boss to invest heavily this summer.

Guardiola is set to oversee a major reshuffle in his squad, as he replaces players who aren’t cut out for the challenge and looks to replace the ageing guard- which includes his array of full-backs, which has led to the Citizens eyeing big recruits in this area.

Tottenham Hotspur ace Kyle Walker is reported to be the priority signing for Guardiola this summer, who’s understood to be eyeing home-grown talents to add to his squad as the Citizens look to battle up the Premier League standings.

British players come at a premium price this days but City can certainly afford to pay what’s necessary and we’ve identified four more home-grown players that could follow Walker to the Etihad Stadium.

Jordan Pickford

The England international is one of few Sunderland players who can hold their head high following the club’s relegation to the Championship and Pickford is more than likely going to be on the move this summer, as he battles for the number one jersey in Gareth Southgate’s England squad.

With Joe Hart set to be ousted and summer-signing Claudio Bravo struggling, Pep Guardiola’s side have been linked to signing a new goalkeeper and Pickford could be the perfect fit for the Citizens as he’s young, homegrown and should be relatively easy to capture.

Manchester United and Liverpool are both being linked with a surprise name ahead of the summer transfer window, as both Premier League sides eye recruits to improve their chances of success next season.

The Reds are on-course for a return to the Champions League next year and could be joined in the competition by arch-rivals Manchester United, who have two possible avenues to qualification as they continue to battle for success in the Europa League.

Having fallen short of battling Chelsea for the Premier League title this season though, Jurgen Klopp and Jose Mourinho are both expected to splash the cash heavily this summer in order to build a side capable of battling on all fronts- and that’s led to surprise links.

The Daily Star states that Liverpool have joined United in the battle for Chelsea’s World Cup winning midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who is linked with an exit from Stamford Bridge three-years after returning to English football from Barcelona.

Fabregas has been a bit-part member of Antonio Conte’s side this season and is expected to move on in the summer, particularly amidst rumours that Chelsea’s Italian boss is looking to strengthen his midfield depth with new recruits.

Would Chelsea sell?

The biggest question concerning the links between Fabregas and both Premier League sides is whether Chelsea would approve a sale to direct rivals, as the Spaniard is still one of the best midfielders in the Premier League and a decision to offload him could come back to haunt Chelsea.

Chelsea want to recoup the majority of the £27m they paid for Fabregas, who turns 30 tomorrow, and that fee is affordable for both Premier League sides. However, it’s difficult to imagine Roman Abramovich sanctioning such a big sale to a rival club.

Conte’s side would certainly prefer to sell abroad but they may have difficulty doing so, as it’s unlikely Fabregas would return to Spain after a disappointing few years with Barcelona and has limited suitors elsewhere.

What about Italy?

Both AC Milan and Inter Milan have long been linked with Fabregas’ signature and the two San Siro sides have cash to spend this summer following their recent takeovers. However, The London Evening Standard reports he’s not interested in moving to Italy.

Fabregas is likely to seek opportunities in the Champions League as he looks to establish himself in the pecking order for Julen Lopetgui’s Spain squad for the World Cup next summer and neither Inter or their cross-city rivals will be able to offer that opportunity.

That means Fabregas is likely to reject any offers from China, should they emerge, and he’ll prefer a stay in the Premier League- which could lead United or Liverpool to have to pay over the odds to sign the experienced Spaniard.

Manchester United are targeting Leicester City stopper Kasper Schmeichel as a replacement for David De Gea, according to Sky Sports.

De Gea is expected to finally return to Spain this summer, with a move to Real Madrid on the cards. Schmeichel, who won the league with Leicester City last season, signed a new 5-year contract last summer. A move to Manchester United would surely appeal to the player, but United would have to submit a significant offer to persuade Leicester to part ways with the man who helped them to that historic Premier League title.

In my opinion, United should be targeting keepers of a higher calibre if De Gea was to leave. In this article I take a look at three options, that would be, in my opinion, better investments.

1 – Jan Oblak

Perhaps the dream replacement. Atletico are a great club, but they don’t have the financial muscle of clubs like Manchester United and Real Madrid and you feel that if United came in with a substantial bid for Oblak in terms of transfer fee and wage, then his head would be turned and he would be willing to make the move. Oblak would not come cheap, but United would surely receive a substantial fee for De Gea if he were to move, so it cancels it out a bit. Oblak is just 24 years old, two years younger than De Gea and he’s already made 75 appearances for Atletico, as well as picking up 13 international caps for Slovenia. Oblak is certainly a level above keepers like Schmeichel and he’s arguably just as good as De Gea, some is Spain even consider him better.

Tottenham Hotspur have enjoyed a fantastic season under Mauricio Pochettino and still hold an outside chance of winning the Premier League, as they trail Chelsea by just four points.

Whilst the likelihood is Spurs will endure heartbreak for the second season in a row, Pochettino’s men have come along leaps and bounds in recent years, with a squad breaming with star-players and potential world-beaters.

Naturally, that’s led rival sides to eye moves for Tottenham’s players and a recent transfer rumour has speculation that Barcelona’s major reshuffle this summer could see the Catalan giants make a swoop for Christian Eriksen.

With speculation Ivan Rakitic could leave the Nou Camp, Barcelona will have room in their side for a creative midfielder and Eriksen would certainly fit the bill. However, his agent has played down the exit rumours.

What’s been said?

Speaking to Danish outlet BT and quoted by The London Evening Standard, Eriksen’s agent Martin Schoots said:

“I prefer not to comment on what the newspapers write about the future. The only thing Christian wants to do is focus on playing his matches.”

“We let the rumours be rumoured, even now, when Christian’s merits as a player who sets up a goal are better than anyone else, and now he scores also very important goals.”

“Christian just wants to be important for the team, it is the only thing that matters to him.”

Could he leave?

Spurs definitely face a difficult summer as big clubs are likely to swoop for their star-men but Eriksen isn’t seen as a player who is deemed expendable, which means Barcelona would have to pay well over the odds if they wanted to bring the Danish international to Catalonia.

With Eriksen recently signing a new deal in September, worth a reported £75k-a-week, Tottenham have a good bargaining position. However, they may find it difficult to keep Eriksen if he has his head turned by the Catalan giants.

Fortunately, it’s unlikely Eriksen will leave this season, as Spurs seem to be on the rise, but a move after next summer’s World Cup could materialise if Tottenham fail to make progress next season- when they’ll be playing their home games at Wembley.

Chelsea have enjoyed a fantastic campaign under Antonio Conte but criticisms still remain at the West London outfit’s use of youngsters, as they have an abundance of players waiting for their opportunity behind the scenes.

The Blues have remarkably failed to see an academy graduate become a first-team regular at the club since John Terry, who is approaching the end of his career at Stamford Bridge, and it’s difficult to judge where the next Chelsea-developed hero will emerge from.

Sensationally, it’s now emerged that Chelsea turned down the opportunity to sign Monaco starlet Kylian Mbappe four years ago for just £17k, The Daily Mirror reports, instead promoting Tammy Abraham and Dominic Solanke through the youth ranks.

The decision not to sign the now 18-year-old rated at three-figures seems incredibly wrong, especially as neither Solanke or Abraham have been handed a genuine chance to excel in the first-team.

Where are Solanke & Abraham?

Tammy Abraham has excelled on-loan with Championship outfit Bristol City this season, scoring 23 goals, the second-highest in the division, to help the Robins fend off the threat of relegation and he’s due to return to Stamford Bridge this summer.

Dominic Solanke, meanwhile, spent last season on-loan at Vitesse Arnheim but remained at Stamford Bridgee this season, although he’s set to leave in the summer after being frozen out of the first-team fold following a breakdown in contract talks.

Solanke, 19, made his Blues debut in the Champions League back in 2014 but has not featured for the first-team since. Abraham, meanwhile, made two substitute appearances in the Premier League last season prior to his loan move in the summer.

Would Mbappe have made it?

Whilst Mbappe is widely regarded to be the hottest prospect in European football right now, it’s debatable as to whether he would have had an opening at Chelsea. Given the Blues track record, it’s likely that the Frenchman would be far from where he is now.

As Mbappe prepares for the Champions League semi-final with Juventus tonight and eyes a spot in France’s World Cup squad next summer, it’s clear the teenager has benefitted from the sequence of events four years ago that led Chelsea not to land his services.

Even if Chelsea were to put up the funds to sign Mbappe this summer, it’s difficult to see how he would be managed in West London- especially due to the mishandling of last season’s Ligue 1 breakthrough star Michy Batshuayi.

Chelsea will certainly need a striker in the summer if Diego Costa leaves. The Spaniard has refused to rule out a move to China, whilst their remains interest from former club Atletico Madrid. It did seem back in January that Costa would move on as there appeared to be a rift between the manager and himself.

Whilst his goal scoring form has faded since the turn of the year, Costa has still managed to score 19 league goals and in my opinion, when he is focused he is the best center forward in the Premier League. The question is, is he focused now? For me it appears he might already be angling for a move away in the summer.

Chelsea will face a very tough task in replacing Costa though, I recently looked at 3 possible alternatives to Romelu Lukaku they could sign. One player that continues to be strongly linked is Costa’s international compatriot Alvaro Morata, who continues to struggle for regular game time at Real Madrid. If he can’t get that though, the question is, is he good enough to spearhead a Chelsea attack that will not only be looking to win the Premier League, but also compete in the Champions League?

Chelsea have already secured Champions League football and look the most likely to win the league, could Costa finish at the league’s top scorer and increase his value? Compare free bets and make the most of the Premier League title run in.

Morata physically looks well built for the Premier League. He’s strong and can bring others into play, something Costa also does for his teammates. But is Morata as deadly in front of goal? Considering he has only been given 15 starts (and 19 sub apps), Morata boasts a pretty impressive return of 18 goals this season. It’s worth considering that in La Liga there is the potential to ‘pad’ your stats against the lowly sides, but Morata has always had a reputation of turning up in the big games, and he has shown that at Madrid and Juventus previously. He’s also picked up 5 assists during his limited game time.

Morata has always been a player rated highly wherever he has been and that is telling. Something he has lacked in recent years is a killer instinct in front of goal but now 24, he is coming of age and becoming more prolific in front of goal.

It looks like Lukaku and Morata are the two front runners to replace Costa should he leave. Chelsea fans, who would you prefer? For me, Morata could be a shrewder purchase and he’d probably be a fair bit cheaper than Romelu, with Everton reportedly asking for £100million to sell him. A bid of half that amount would surely be enough to persuade Madrid to part with their second choice striker, especially with the Spanish giants seemingly looking to fund a major move for Monaco forward Kylain Mbappe.

The Gunners are in desperate need of reinforcements in the summer, and whilst they have looked better with 3 at the back, they still lack the personnel to effectively perform in that system. In this article, I take a look at how the Gunners could look in this formation next season with four next signings…

GK - Petr Cech

Arsenal are looking to bring in a new young keeper in the summer but Cech is likely to keep his place between the sticks for at least one more season. His performances have picked up in recent weeks, though he still hasn’t saved a penalty for Arsenal!

Arsenal travel to Tottenham on Sunday in what will be an epic North London Derby. The Gunners need all three points to stay in the hunt for Champions League football next season, whilst Spurs still have an outside chance of the title if they pick up maximum points.

Poor form has prompted a rare tactical change from Arsene Wenger as he looks to show he can compete with the best managers in the world. The way his team performed in the FA Cup semi-final was reassuring, but perhaps the biggest test of this new 3 man defence formation will come on Sunday when Arsenal will attempt to quieten their noisy neighbours.

Wenger opted to change the team around a bit at home in midweek against Leicester, after 120 gruelling minutes against Manchester City last weekend, he will have had one eye on this North London Derby, a match he knows that for his future, he cannot afford to lose.

Wenger will go back to a full strength team here, but what is his best eleven in this new formation? Here’s the team I would go with…

Goalkeeper: Petr Cech

Big Pete man an important save in the semi-final and kept a clean sheet against Leicester. He seems to be regaining some form between the sticks, like the rest of the team, so should keep his place.

Defence: Gabriel Paulista, Laurent Koscielny, Rob Holding

Arsenal changed things around in midweek, giving Monreal a chance to impress in central defence. I think for this game Holding must come back in, and Arsenal should go with the same central defenders that played so well against Manchester City in the FA Cup. It’ll be another big test in this game for a young Holding, but he showed he plays with composure beyond his years with his brilliant accomplished performance at Wembley last week - there’s no reason he cannot have another great game at White Hart Lane.

Midfield: Hector Bellerin, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Granit Xhaka, Nacho Monreal

I think Arsenal would benefit from playing two more natural defenders in the wing back positions for this fixture, but Ox is in such good form he has to start. With Ramsey struggling to impress, I’d like to see Ox centrally alongside Xhaka in the centre.

Attacking Midfield: Mesut Ozil

I’d like to see the shift to a 3-4-1-2 to allow Ozil the free role in the middle. I think having him in wide areas may not help in a game that will be played at such a high pace. In this number 10 role he can create from deep and have two fast strikers ahead of him to provide the width and make the difference.

Strikers: Danny Welbeck, Alexis Sanchez

I would go with two strikers, I think Arsenal have looked better when they’ve taken Giroud out the lineup and gone with Alexis alongside Welbeck up front. The duo have pace in abundance and a ridiculous amount of stamina between them, which means they can play a pressing game from the front

Arsenal, Manchester United and other clubs interested in Besiktas midfielder Oguzhan Ozyakup have been told they will have to stump up £17million to sign the 24-year-old this summer, according to Talk Sport.

Arsenal approved the sale of Ozyakup to Besiktas after he failed to break into the first team, but he was always a player that was highly rated in the youth ranks at the club, and it was considered somewhat a disappointment when he chose to leave.

Could he return to Arsenal?

The Gunners on paper, do not need a new central midfielder. But with concerns over Santi Cazorla’s long-term fitness, Wenger could be looking for a new conductor in midfield. Is he good enough to replace Cazorla? I would say no, I wouldn’t rate him as good enough for the starting line up and I would also suggest he is of a different style to Cazorla. Cazorla is a conductor but he links the midfield to attack, I’d suggest Wenger would be better going for someone else, someone more mobile to partner Granit Xhaka in midfield.

Where would he fit in at United?

Ozyakup is known for his passing, boasting an 87% success rate in the Turkish league so far this season. He is a player who likes to play deep in midfield, normally as a defensive midfielder. As well as his good passing range, he is known for his defensive ability. Ozyakup averages 1.2 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 1.6 key passes per game. He’s a player that likes to dictate the pace of the game and could be a replacement for Michael Carrick at United, who can no longer be relied upon week in week out, especially if United go into the Champions League next season.

Whilst United will surely have their eyes on players already established at big clubs, Ozyakup would be a relatively cheap purchase and he’s a player that could provide the perfect foil for the superstars alongside him in midfield, for example, Paul Pogba. Ander Herrera has also excelled this season, but he’s not a player to sit and dictate the tempo of the game, so Ozyakup could work well between the duo in a 4-3-3 formation.

Who is he more likely to join?

There’s no strong evidence that suggests either Arsenal or Manchester United have more than an interest in the player. But I would say of the two clubs he is more likely to move to Old Trafford in the summer. Something I am nearly certain on though is, that Ozyakup will not be at Besiktas next season.

Liverpool have once again endured a transitional season, with Jurgen Klopp’s men challenging for a spot in the Champions League but falling quite a way short of pushing for the Premier League title.

The Reds have certainly made a meal out of their European qualification too and have left themselves with a lot to do in the final weeks of the season, as top-four rivals Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal could take advantage of their games in hand.

It’s clear new faces are needed at Anfield this summer and a wealth of top-names have been linked with a move to Merseyside, although fans need to be aware that their finances mean that the club run the risk of losing out to their rivals in the chase for big deals.

Liverpool can probably afford to go all-out to get one or two big names this summer though, especially with added funds from the likely sales of Mamadou Sakho and Daniel Sturridge, and this potential XI next season could certainly challenge for honours.

GK: Antonio Adan

Liverpool’s goalkeeping ranks have come under intense criticism this season and Jurgen Klopp is likely to move to solve that this summer, with 29-year-old Spaniard Antonio Adan eyed as the ideal recruit- and his arrival could spark the end for Simon Mignolet.

Last summer’s signing Loris Karius has struggled in his debut season in the Premier League but, aged just 23, there’s plenty of time for him to develop and moving for an experienced keeper like Antonio Adan would be a wise move.

Currently with La Liga minnows Real Betis, Adan’s services shouldn’t be too difficult to capture.

Arsenal host Leicester City in the Premier League on Wednesday night, as they look to get their quest for Champions League football back on track.

The Gunners will be high on confidence after their semi-final win over Manchester City and with Liverpool losing at the weekend and the Manchester sides playing each other in midweek, Arsenal have a chance to gain some ground in the race for the top four. 3 points would put the Gunners right back in the mix - but how should they line up? I take a look below.

Goalkeeper: Petr Cech

Cech has not won enough points for Arsenal this season, but on Sunday he helped his team reach the final with a wonder save from Yaya Toure’s shot. He will keep his place between the sticks and rightly so after that key FA Cup moment.

Defence: Gabriel, Laurent Koscielny, Rob Holding

Arsenal need to keep this back 3 together for a bit. Mustafi is a top defender but he’s not fit at the moment and he has struggled recently. I do feel, however, that he would do really well as a right centre-back in this formation, but whilst Gabriel is playing well - keep him there. Holding was arguably man of the match against City at the weekend and he just looks so comfortable in this team. It’s amazing really considering his age and the fact he’s playing in a new formation - Arsenal look like they’ve signed a real gem for just £2million.

Midfield: Hector Bellerin, Granit Xhaka, Aaron Ramsey, Nacho Monreal

Oxlade-Chamberlain was man of the match at Wembley, but he picked up a knock and Arsenal should not risk him against Leicester City if there is any question marks over his fitness. Bellerin will be fresh and ready to impress, I’m sure he can also thrive in this new wing back role. The rest of the midfield should remain the same. Ramsey was the only player to put in a concerning performance at Wembley, but there’s no point in changing too much when the team is on a high.

Attacking Midfield: Mesut Ozil

I would like to see Arsenal go with a 3-4-1-2 rather than a 3-4-3 as this allows for us to play with two strikers and also put Ozil in his favourite number 10 position.

Strikers: Alexis Sanchez, Danny Welbeck

Giroud has struggled in this new system, so despite the misses at the weekend I would like to see Welbeck partner Alexis in a two-man attack. The duo have a high work rate and lots of pace, so I would like to see Arsenal press high with these two setting the tone. Welbeck desperately needs a goal, because every other part of his game is perfect - and really suits Arsenal and this new formation.

Chelsea are being strongly linked with a big transfer move for Romelu Lukaku in the summer. It looks as if Diego Costa could be on his way out the club and Antonio Conte will be keen to secure a big name striker to lead the line.

Whilst it goes without saying that Lukaku is a very talented striker (the top scorer in the Premier League at the time of writing), he is, in my opinion, not the best option for Chelsea, especially with Everton reportedly slapping a £100million price tag on the player.

Below I take a look at 3 possible alternatives to Lukaku that Chelsea should pursue.

1 - Kylian Mbappe

Chelsea have the money to get this deal done. Most of Europe’s top clubs will be in the market for Mbappe this summer but with the future of Diego Costa up in the air, Chelsea could offer Mbappe both Champions League football and a place in the starting eleven. Wherever he goes, if he does move, Mbappe will want guarantees that he will be playing regular football and I think he’d have a good chance to do that at Chelsea. He would cost a lot but so would Lukaku and for the little bit extra Chelsea would probably have to pay to sign Mbappe, I think they would be getting a player with much more potential. Yes, Lukaku has already proven himself in the Premier League and would probably make more of an instant impact, but Mbappe has the potential to be the next big thing in world football, I feel Lukaku has technical limitations that will never enable him to reach such a level. When you’re spending the kind of money that it would take to sign either of these players, I think you need a player that is capable of being very very special and Mbappe is just that.

Arsenal have adapted to a 3-4-2-1 formation and it seems like they are performing well in it in its early stages. Arsene Wenger, should he be in charge next season, will have been encouraged by the positive performances in this new system and may consider changing to it permanently.

But not every player is excelling in the formation. One who has visibly struggled in both games where the formation has been deployed is Olivier Giroud. The Frenchman has been in and out of the XI this season and has been linked with a summer move back to France. If he continues to struggle in what might be Arsenal’s future formation, then the Gunners could be open to selling him in the off-season.

If he does move on, Arsenal would be in the market for a replacement. Below I take a look at 3 possible replacements that would be better suited to this new look Arsenal side.

1 - Andrea Belotti

A phenomenal striker that has somewhat flown under the radar this season. Belotti has scored a ridiculous 25 Serie A goals in 30 appearances, also notching up 5 assists. It’s a brilliant record that at his age (23) deserves more recognition than he is getting.

But the big clubs are not ignoring his form. Arsenal are one of many clubs to be linked with a move for Belotti, who would cost in excess of £40million. It’s extremely hard to find goalscorers in the current market but Belotti is a natural one. He is a striker that works very hard and can play a pressing game from the front, likes Alexis Sanchez. If Alexis were to stay and Arsenal played a 3-4-1-2 formation I think the Chilean would partner perfectly with Belotti. Both are hungry and energetic forwards that can provide width when needed. As an attacking pair they could provide energy and hunger up top and help give Arsenal a new identity. The Gunners are often too passive in attack but if these two partnered up that would all change.

Manchester United have been heavily linked the services of big-name players this summer, with one particular man attracting a wealth of attention in the back-pages during the past few months.

The man in question is of course Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann, who has been identified as the prime-target to bolster the Red Devils front-line next season- and United’s interest in the Frenchman may have risen following Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s injury last week.

However, Manchester United aren’t the only club interested in the services of Antoine Griezmann but the Frenchman’s advisor, Eric Olhats, handed United two huge boosts- stating the Red Devils have shown the most interest, whilst also stating Paris Saint-Germain are no longer keen.

What was said?

Speaking to French outlet Telefoot, Olhat said:

“There was Manchester United who came, who inquired, they told us about their project. They were the first and most concrete in their wish.”

“Last year, there was a real interest, and this year, no, it’s not part of their plans.”

However, Olhat also reiterated that any interested party will have to match Griezmann’s mammoth release-clause, whilst he questioned whether the Red Devils were a lucrative option for the 26-year-old forward.

“We are currently in the area of ​​taking information from clubs that have concrete means. There is a clause, which is 100 million euros, which is unavoidable. Of candidates. These candidates are the English clubs like Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea. In Spain, Barcelona, ​​Real Madrid.”

“If Diego Simeone, his mentor, is leaving, he has to leave too, and afterwards, in relation to the different choices he has, I think the most obvious, and here I forget the Madrid problem.”

“He’s a great player, but you have to raise trophies, Real Madrid seems to me a lot better than Manchester United because there’s Zizou, there’s a team Where things seem clear, structured.”

“Manchester United is not yet relaunched, they had to revive themselves this year, even in a transitional year, but they are lagging behind their passing times.”

What does this mean for United?

Although the quotes ended with a damning assessment of Manchester United’s current situation, the possibility of Antoine Griezmann moving across Madrid to join Zinedine Zidane at the Santiago Bernabeu is extremely unlikely.

The same can also be said for Barcelona, who boast the best attacking trident in world football and seem unlikely to make any changes there, so realistically it should just be a one-horse race for Griezmann’s signature- but United will have to convince Griezmann to move.

With Atletico once again in the semi-finals of the Champions League, Griezmann has vast opportunities available to him and can lead Atleti next season in their move away from the Vicente Calderon. Should Simeone leave this summer though, Griezmann will almost definitely follow.

Chelsea have enjoyed a fantastic season this term but Antonio Conte’s side face a challenge in the summer to bolster their ranks and prepare for a return to the Champions League next season.

In truth, Chelsea’s squad depth is fairly lacklustre across the board and injury problems this term could have created havoc, had they occurred. Therefore, it would be unwise to run the same risks next season by failing to strengthen.

Whilst Chelsea have been defensively solid and impressive in attack, it turns out that those areas are where the Blues are keen to strengthen most this summer- with star striker Diego Costa looking inevitable to leave, whilst veteran skipper John Terry is also on his way out.

Conte has identified targets already though and these four signings could leave the Blues boasting an exceptional side, as shown by this incredible line-up.

GK: Thibaut Courtois

Chelsea’s goalkeeper is widely regarded to be one of the best in the world and the Blues will face a battle to retain his services in the summer, with Spanish giants Real Madrid reportedly eyeing the Belgian as an alternative to long-term target David De Gea.

Courtois seems loyal to Chelsea though and the Blues would command an audacious fee for any move to materialise, so it seems highly likely that the goalkeeper will remain at Stamford Bridge for the forthcoming Premier League campaign.

Arsenal seem to be on the rise again, having sealed their place in next month’s FA Cup final following a 2-1 victory over Manchester City at Wembley.

Goals from Nacho Monreal and Alexis Sanchez saw the Gunners come from behind to take the win, having conceded the opening goal to Sergio Aguero, but the positives of that performance could be overshadowed by continued concerns regarding the futures of Arsenal’s star-players.

Match-winner Alexis Sanchez is one of many players who face an uncertain future at Arsenal, as the Chilean is rapidly approaching the final 12 months of his contract and is attracting vast interest from across Europe.

Whilst many feel Alexis will move on this summer, Arsene Wenger has a different view and has issued a huge statement following yesterday’s victory- claiming the former Barcelona man is going nowhere.

What was said?

Quoted by The Sun, Wenger said after yesterday’s win:

“Alexis Sanchez was like the team, he had problems to start with and became stronger and stronger. He is an animal, always ready to kill the opponent. He will never give up.”

“He will be here next year because he has a contract with us and hopefully we will manage to extend it.”

What does this mean?

Wenger’s comments are a major statement of intent from Arsenal, as a sale of Alexis Sanchez now would see a target drawn on the back of the French boss as fans would see him as either going back on a previous promise or simply lying.

However, it’s a risky move from Arsenal as it opens up the possibility of their star-man leaving on a free transfer next summer and the Gunners would be powerless to stop him joining a Premier League rival, whereas they could force a move abroad at the end of this season.

The most crucial comment is therefore Wenger’s hope of extending Alexis’ deal, which suggests that negotiations are not dead in the water and an agreement could still be reached- although Arsenal will have to prove their competitiveness.

Arsenal will be looking to invest heavily this summer and must show Alexis they can build a title-winning side, especially if they fail to secure a position in the top four of the Premier League, which would see Arsenal not feature in the Champions League for the first time under Wenger.

Chelsea’s fantastic season is at risk of being handed a blow this summer, should star players decide to leave Stamford Bridge this summer in search of new challenges abroad.

One of the big names regularly linked with an exit this season has been that of Eden Hazard, who has been linked with a big-money move to Real Madrid. With Zinedine Zidane a keen admirer, and Hazard seeing the Frenchman as an icon, it’s easy to see why it would appeal to the Belgian ace.

However, The Sun now claims that Real Madrid have ended their interest in Eden Hazard as they will instead focus their attention of developing the talents of young Marco Asensio- who has exploded onto the scene this season.

Instead of spending what could end-up being a three-figure sum on Hazard, Real Madrid’s development of Asensio, who cost them just £3.5m, would see Los Blancos boast a new homegrown hero amongst their ranks.

Could it still happen?

As with any transfer report, you have to take it with a pinch of salt. Whilst Real Madrid may want to develop Asensio, turning down any opportunity to sign Eden Hazard wouldn’t be wise- especially in the coming years as Cristiano Ronaldo approaches the end of his career.

Real Madrid have established themselves as a club who boast some of the best players in the world and missing out on the likes of Paul Pogba and then potentially Hazard and Antoine Griezmann could really cause issues in their fanbase.

On a personal level for Hazard, moving to a club that have won two Champions League finals in three years would be understandable as Chelsea are unlikely to challenge for Europe’s elite crown anytime soon.

Is Asensio the real deal?

Simply put, yes. The 21-year-old has impressed at the Santiago Bernabeu following spells with Mallorca and Espanyol, scoring four goals in 18 La Liga appearances. Here’s also impressed in the Champions League, scoring two goals in five appearances- including a strike against Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals.

He’s now made his international debut for the Spanish national team and is one of the youngsters to watch at the World Cup next summer, where he could make his full emergence onto the world stage.

Manchester United are already looking ahead to the summer and would like to make some big money signings it seems. The likes of Antoine Griezmann have been linked, but they are also being linked with a move for a Brazilian defender…

The player in question is Marquinhos. Widely regarded as one of the best young prospects in the game, the PSG man is said to be high on the wish list of Jose Mourinho as he looks for defensive reinforcements in the summer.

The report comes from Goal who state: “Ligue 1 champions PSG are, however, reluctant to sell one of their key players and Goal understands they will not consider a sale in the summer, even for a bid of €100m.

Jose Mourinho’s side would be willing to offer €10m per year in wages to attract one of the top young defensive players in Europe as they look to build a team capable of winning the Premier League title.”

Mourinho has already invested big in his defence with the signing of Eric Bailly, but it seems he would like to add another central defender. Phil Jones continues to struggle with fitness whilst Marcos Rojo and Christ Smalling have failed to perform to the level Jose wants.

Marquinhos would walk into the United XI at the moment, most likely to partner Bailly at the heart of the defence. It would be a fairly inexperienced defence though, which would be something new for Mourinho, who has always favoured having at least one experienced head in his back four.

But it is clear United need some fresh young legs in their team and Marquinhos would be a fine addition. He is a player that can play out from the back with a very impressive 93.5% pass success rate in Ligue 1 and the Champions League this season.

Whilst he has shown promise at PSG, he is far from the finished article, but Mourinho will be confident in helping him become a better player. Mourinho did a great job with Varane at Madrid.

Marquinhos’ defensive statistics are not incredible this season (1.6 tackles, 1.4 interceptions, 3.6 clearances per 90) but he has the raw attributes to become a top player.

Another advantage of signing Marquinhos is his versatility. Although United have a top quality right back in Antonio Valencia, they do lack quality depth in that area and Marquinhos has experience of playing in this position.

In my opinion, Mourinho will bring in another defender in the summer and Marquinhos is a very good candidate. He would be a significant investment for United but as we have seen with the signing of Paul Pogba, United are not afraid to do that. Marquinhos would probably cost in excess of £50million, but I don’t think United will be afraid to invest such an amount in a player that is only 22 and has already proven himself at the top level.

Despite his youthful age, Marquinhos has managed to play nearly 100 games for PSG and has already been capped 17 times for his country.

Manchester United look set to spend big this summer with a huge move for Griezmann being talked up.

Arsene Wenger made a bold decision on Monday night, to shift to a back 3, something he has not done during his reign at the club. Will he stick with this formation against Manchester City on Sunday in the FA Cup semifinal?

It’s anyone’s guess, but surely after getting back to winning ways against Boro, Wenger will be tempted to stick with what got him the 3 points on Monday and what the team have been working on in training most recently.

Below I take a look at the 3-4-3 eleven that, in my opinion, would be best equipped to help Arsenal advance to another FA Cup final…

Goalkeeper: Petr Cech

Cech hasn’t won Arsenal many points this season, so it would be nice for him to make the difference in this semi-final. He’ll certainly need to have a good game to keep City at bay and keep the Gunners in the tie.

Defence: Gabriel, Laurent Koscielny, Rob Holding

Mustafi is out with an injury still, so it looks like Arsenal will go with the same back three that they selected against Boro. Holding may seem the obvious player to drop out due to his age and inexperience, but his performance against Boro and whenever he has featured for Arsenal means he deserves to keep his place. Monreal is an option as a left-sided centre-back too, and I personally would rather him than Gabriel, but Wenger will not do that.

Midfield: Hector Bellerin, Granit Xhaka, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Kieran Gibbs

Arsenal opted for Monreal and the Ox as wing backs against Boro, but I think both of these players would struggle in those positions against a team with City’s attacking quality. Here I’d like to see the quick full-back duo of Bellerin and Gibbs. Both players can offer a good attacking threat, but they also have the pace and defensive experience to do the dirty side of the role. Monreal’s lack of pace would see him get seriously exposed on the left and I feel Gibbs is better equipped to handle the threat of City down the right.

In the centre, I think Xhaka is an essential part of the team, whilst the in-form Ox should be his partner. Contrary to popular belief, I think Ramsey did very well against Boro, but Ox has shown more consistency in recent weeks and does not deserve to get dropped.

Attack: Theo Walcott, Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil

Giroud seriously struggled in this formation at Boro and I think he should certainly be dropped for the game against City. I’d have Alexis as the main man through the middle, with the pace of Walcott and creativity of Ozil supplementing him either side. Giroud is often selected for his added height to help Arsenal defend and attack set pieces, but with three central defenders in the team I think we will be fine in this department, and this is hardly a strength of City’s.

The PFA Team of the Year was announced this morning and it’s fair to say the majority of people were underwhelmed by the selections, with the announcement going down like a lead balloon.

Naturally, the team was dominated by players from Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, who currently sit in the top-two positions in the Premier League, but both sides can feel aggrieved by certain members of their team that missed out.

Arsenal, Manchester United, Everton and Manchester City fans will also share their frustrations, as they’ve had star performers overlook in favour of some rather questionable choices from the PFA.

Here at FreshFootball, we’ve also been left underwhelmed by the selections (seriously, Sadio Mane) and rather than discuss who should be in or out of the side, we’ve elected to select an entirely new team altogether.

Have we missed anyone out? Let us know in the comments below!

GK: Hugo Lloris

Spurs’ number one has been an ever-present figure this season between the sticks for the most resilient defence in the Premier League, with the Lilywhites conceding just 22 goals so far- significantly lower than anyone else.

Whilst David De Gea at Manchester United has been similarly impressive, and being selected in the PFA Team of the Year as a result, overlooking the goalkeeper for the league’s best defence is a decision that doesn’t really add up.

Tottenham Hotspur have enjoyed a fantastic season and it’s no surprise to see the Lilywhites boast a wealth of names in the PFA Team of the Year.

Announced this morning, Spurs stars Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Danny Rose and Kyle Walker all found their place in the starting eleven, although there were some questionable absentees from the ranks of Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

Despite boasting the best defence in the Premier League this season, conceding just 22 goals so far, none of Spurs key defensive trio of Hugo Lloris, Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertoghen made the cut- with their places instead going to Chelsea pairing David Luiz and Gary Cahill, with Manchester United’s David De Gea in goal.

It’s a decision that many Spurs fans cannot get their head around and fans flocked to social media to have their say on the situation, which they believe is a major oversight from the PFA and is one that cannot be ignored.

Alderweireld and Vertonghen left out of TOTY purely because their names are too hard for the PFA to spell correctly

— LAUGHING! (@DemPele) April 20, 2017

Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen missing from the Premier League team of the year? Answers needed from the @PFA. #THFC pic.twitter.com/RVmo0RNdMN

— Hotspur Related (@HotspurRelated) April 20, 2017

Luiz and Cahill better than Alderweireld? Joke of the season @PFA . Out defensive record speaks for itself.

— Martin Fjeld (@martinfjeld) April 20, 2017

PFA awards think that Cahill and Luis are better than Alderweireld and Vertongen.😂

— Gary Chapman (@Gazby77) April 20, 2017

David Louis and Gary Cahill in the PFA 'team of the year' instead of Alderweireld?

This is why I have no faith in humanity.#COYS

— Jason Marquis (@thebigjase) April 20, 2017

When you see Toby Alderweireld isn't in PFA Team of the season pic.twitter.com/iOMxRuNOAU

— Max (@xDuoMax) April 20, 2017

Gary Cahill in the PFA Premier League team of the year ahead of Toby Alderweireld pic.twitter.com/eRdjUPR5EP

— Coral (@Coral) April 20, 2017

The PFA Team of the Year was announced on social media this morning and it’s fair to say it’s gone down like a lead balloon.

Hoards of football fans have been left angry by the eleven players selected by their fellow footballers, with Arsenal supporters particularly agitated to see star-man Alexis Sanchez left out of the side despite his sensational performances.

The two-time Copa America winner has excelled for the Gunners this season, scoring 19 goals and contributing nine assists in the Premier League- numbers that significantly dwarf the contributions of Liverpool’s Sadio Mane, who was selected in the team.

Doing what fans do best, Arsenal supporters flocked to social media in vast numbers to declare their dissatisfaction at what they believe is a major oversight, which is understandable given that Alexis is one of the top-scorers in the Premier League.

The omission was made more surprising by the fact that Alexis Sanchez is in the running for the PFA’s Player of the Year award, so why wasn’t there space in the team for him?

Alexis this season (19G+9A) & Özil last season (6G+19A) not making the TOTS shows how the PFA mainly focus on the second half of the season

— Patrick Timmons (@PatrickTimmons1) April 20, 2017

BREAKING NEWS: The @PFA are under investigation after revealing their Team of the Year which features Sadio Mane and not Alexis Sanchez.

— Marcus (@madmark_96) April 20, 2017

Alexis Sanchez not in the PFA team of the year. Surely he has to go there instead of Dele Ali Mane or Kane.What a joke #PremierLeague #joke

— Dean Farrell (@DeanFarrell19) April 20, 2017

When you find out Alexis Sanchez was not selected in the PFA team of the year

19 goals
9 assists pic.twitter.com/zluAfTUpI8

— Jase The GÖÖNER (@JaseTheGooner) April 20, 2017

how can @Alexis_Sanchez not be part of the PFA Team of the year #EPL

— kennelynko (@kenchijo) April 20, 2017

How is Alexis not in @PFA team of the year when he's part of the 6 candidates up for @PFA player of the year and Mane is???? joke

— ㅤ (@ArsenalsChilean) April 20, 2017

Sanchez nominated for PFA Player of the Year
- Doesn't make Team of the Year

Mane not nominated for anything
-Gets in the Team of the Year👏

— Jesse Nagel (@NagelJesse) April 20, 2017

Sanchez didn't make the PFA team of the year but Mane did? that team is nonsense.

— broke boi 🦋 (@Bathandwa72) April 20, 2017

Ibra is a debatable one fair enough. but how on God's earth is Sanchez not in the team of the year 😂

— Gavin Mawn (@GavinMawn) April 20, 2017

If you think Mane deserves to be in the TOTY ahead of Alexis Sanchez then you're probably a weirdo who puts milk in before the tea bag

— Gunnervision (@Gunner_vision) April 20, 2017

Arsene Wenger surprised a few on Monday night when he opted to switch Arsenal to a 3-man defence. He hoped that the decision would see similar success to Antonio Conte’s.

Chelsea were struggling in the early stages under Conte but after changing to a 3-man defence they produced stunning form that will surely see them lift the title. Title challenging manager Pochettino has also demonstrated tactical flexibility, successfully implementing 3-man defence on several occasions. Arsenal won against Boro on Monday in the new formation, but they didn’t flatter. It’s clear that if Wenger wants to implement this system in the long-term then Arsenal need to make some signings. According to The Mirror, this is exactly what Wenger wants to do, and he’s willing to heavily invest in a special Premier League talent to do just that. The player said to tickle Wenger’s fancy is Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk, a player widely considered amongst the best in his position in the league, however his club value him at £50million. With the likes of Chelsea interested, Arsenal may have to pay close to that amount as a summer bidding war is likely.

But if Arsenal are to seriously compete for major honours, they need to start winning these bidding wars. If van Dijk is the player the club want and the player the club need, then they should do everything in their power to sign him. Laurent Koscielny, Shkodran Mustafi, Rob Holding and even Calum Chambers all have the potential to be successful in a 3-man defence, but there is something that Arsenal don’t currently have amongst their rank of central defenders and that is a strong, aerially dominant centre-half. Van Dijk ticks those boxes and also has a lot of technical ability – something that would make him well suited to Arsenal’s style of play and also a great spearhead for the defensive 3.

He’s a good age to invest in too, at 25 years old he has established himself in the league as a top player and still has his prime years ahead of him.

Van Dijk has won on average 4.7 aerial duels per game won in the league this season – greater than Mustafi (3.8) and Koscielny (3.7). The Dutchman’s 6ft 4’ presence will be one of the biggest additions to the Arsenal back line if he were to arrive. Arsenal have lost too many points this season via a lack of defensive authority, particularly in aerial duels and with organisation. A back three of Mustafi, van Dijk and Koscielny would make Arsenal very hard to beat and certainly aid their title challenge next season.

Southampton will be reluctant to sell another top class player this summer, but there must be a reluctance to some degree that van Dijk will want to move on and play European football next season. Will Arsenal flex their financial muscle and beat Chelsea to this signing though? It seems the Gunners missed out on N’Golo Kante for financial reasons and they will not want to let another top quality Premier League established player join a title rival.

Everton face a huge test to keep hold of Romelu Lukaku’s services this summer but Ronald Koeman can look forward to having an abundance of cash to spend in the market if the Belgian is prized away from Goodison Park.

With interest in the 23-year-old rising, Everton are looking for a major profit on the club-record fee they paid Chelsea for the striker’s services and The Liverpool Echo has reported that the Toffees want an astonishing £100m.

Such a fee would see Lukaku become the world’s most expensive player, surpassing the £89m Manchester United paid for Paul Pogba last summer, but it’s hard to argue that Lukaku wouldn’t be worth that figure in the modern day market.

Whilst it would take a massive bid to lure Lukaku away from Goodison Park, Everton are likely to be already contemplating how they could spend that money- and we’ve identified five top-class additions they could make.

Kieran Tripper: £5.1m

With Seamus Coleman’s injury absence likely to span deep into the start of next season, Ronald Koeman is eyeing additions at right-back to bolster his options in that area- and Tottenham Hotspur’s Kieran Tripper is one target.

Tripper’s opportunities at White Hart Lane are extremely limited due to Kyle Walker’s starring role in the side, so the former Burnley man may consider a move. A deal for the 26-year-old would also be affordable, as TransferMarkt values his services at just £5.1m.

Arsene Wenger surprised everybody with his team selection for the Middlesbrough game, as the man often describe as stubborn and a tactical dinosaur made major changes to his side and altered his formation majorly.

For the first time in two decades, Arsenal adopted a make-shift three-man defensive line consisting of Laurent Koscielny, Gabriel Paulista and Rob Holding, utilising Nacho Monreal and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as wing backs.

Whilst there were some defensive frailties shown, the likes of Oxlade-Chamberlain, Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil performed well, leading some to suggest that the Gunners to adopt this formation more regularly in the future.

It certainly needs some work but Chelsea have shown this season that a three-man defence can work well, whilst Juventus have demonstrated similarly on the continent as they push for success in the Champions League.

With a few tweaks and summer additions, Arsenal’s new-look XI could launch an impressive assault for glory next season and it could work whether Arsene Wenger or someone else is in charge.

GK: Jordan Pickford

Arsenal are reportedly looking to shake up their options between the sticks this summer, with Petr Cech failing to impress, and not getting any younger, whilst David Ospina seems increasingly likely to leave the Emirates Stadium in the summer.

Wojciech Szczesny is also likely to leave, having spent two successful seasons on-loan with Roma, and Jordan Pickford has been identified as the ideal target- and he could excel in North London, developing into the Gunners first-choice stopper and learning from the extremely experienced Cech.

Whilst Arsenal might be having managerial problems, they are also having some consistent problems on the pitch. With the end of the season approaching, Arsenal cannot afford to dither in the market and allow rivals to sign quality talent ahead of them. It seems that despite all the noise around Wenger’s future, he and the club have already managed to sign a very highly rated Bundesliga talent…

Left-back has been an area of concern all season, with the previously consistent Nacho Monreal falling out of form. Kieran Gibbs, Arsenal’s current backup option also hasn’t managed to offer much in terms of quality and I am sure that a new left back will have been high on the wish list for many fans this summer. It seems Arsenal may have already bagged a top talent in this position. With Schalke defender Sead Kolasinac’s contract set to expire at the end of the season, many of Europe’s top clubs have been lining up to agree a pre-contract deal with him. Arsenal appear to have won that race, with Juventus and Everton amongst the clubs who reportedly missed out.

Kolasinac is considered to be a very good player at both ends of the pitch. Defensively he is solid and known for his good tackling. He stands at over 6ft and is good in aerial duels, a rare trait for a full back and something Arsenal need. He has averaged 2.9 tackles, 2.1 clearances and 3.6 interceptions per 90 minutes this season – a very impressive set of defensive statistics.

In an attacking sense he’s scored 3 goals and assisted 5 in 21 Bundesliga appearances this season, a phenomenal return for a full-back.

Another poor performance from Monreal against Middlesbrough just fueled the fans thirst for a new left back. Here’s some reaction to the Kolasinac news…

Cant wait for Kolasinac.
Cant watch Monreal anymore, he'll be a terrible wing back

— Römeo (@Arsenal490304) April 17, 2017

Can't wait till Monreal is sold this summer. Main man Kolašinac coming next season

— Najyah (@ClassicArsxnal) April 17, 2017

Kolasinac wouldn't have let Downing cross

— renato (@rehnato) April 17, 2017

It's a shame he can't make overlapping runs, too old and immobile for that. Kolasinac would offer us a great improvement in that aspect. https://t.co/4RXO9H3ygb

— M'A8 (@mezzalaEN) April 17, 2017

Kolasinac is a decent signing for Arsenal. Huge improvement on Monreal

— ryan (@KeenanAndKeI) April 14, 2017

In my opinion this is a really good signing for Arsenal. Wenger showed he could switch to a wing back system in the game against Middlesbrough, and Kolasinac would thrive in such a system. You can see from the goals and assists he’s produced this season that Kolasinac has the potential to tt

Arsenal are in a bad place at the moment, but with no announcement on Arsene Wenger’s future, the players and fans must focus on the remainder of the season and pick up the points they need to finish in the top four. We take a look at what needs to change in the Gunners next game.

On Monday night they face a Middlesbrough team that are equally as desperate for Premier League points and it will not be an easy game as the Gunners once again face an away game on a Monday night against a relegation candidate.

The game is being shown live on Sky Sports on Monday night and you can get a NowTV day pass and watch the game for just £6.29 with our fantastic 10% off a day pass offer.

Goalkeeper: Petr Cech

According to the Daily Star, Cech will be back fit again to face Middlesbrough, in which case he will come back into the line-up. If this story is not true, then I’d like to see Martinez start between the sticks again. He didn’t have his best game against Palace by any means, but he’s a promising keeper that needs minutes.

Defence: Hector Bellerin, Shkodran Mustafi, Laurent Koscielny, Kieran Gibbs

I think something needs to change at the heart of the Arsenal defence. Neither Mustafi nor Gabriel have been good enough recently but Mustafi is the senior of the pair and should keep his place in my opinion. Koscielny will hopefully be fit again and walk back into the XI, if not young Holding should come in for Gabriel. I think Holding has really impressed when given the chance for Arsenal so far, and he is already more mature mentally than Brazilian Gabriel. At left-back, it was another shambolic display from Monreal against Palace, Gibbs isn’t great, but he deserves a chance to show he is better than the Spaniard.

Central Midfield: Granit Xhaka, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Before his injury ‘The Ox’ was arguably Arsenal’s best player and now he is fit again he needs to be put back into central midfield, the position where he impresses most. His contract situation is up in the air at the moment and if Arsene wants to keep him, he needs to play him more regularly. Alongside Xhaka I think Arsenal would have a bit of everything at the base of the midfield, this would enable them to break down a resilient Boro team.

Attacking Midfield: Alex Iwobi, Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez

Dropped from the squad against Palace, now could be the game to bring back Iwobi. He has a point to prove and after another quiet performance from Theo Walcott at Selhurst Park, Iwobi could regain his first-team place with a good performance against Boro. They are a team that will be tight and hard to break down, so Iwobi’s creativity may be needed from wide areas.

Striker: Olivier Giroud

Wenger has given Danny Welbeck an extended run in the team but that has seen Olivier Giroud sit on the sidelines for an extended period of time. In my opinion, he again deserves to come back into the starting eleven, with Welbeck struggling to find the net in his recent appearances. Giroud will be need to help combat the physicality of Middlesbrough on Monday night, with West Brom and Crystal Palace exploiting those weaknesses in recent weeks.

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