1. Reiss Nelson demonstrates his potential
The circumstances were not ideal for Arsenal. Alexandre Lacazette, so influential throughout last season, limped off with a little over ten minutes played and there was understandably some concern around the Emirates.
But his replacement, 19-year-old Reiss Nelson, injected a real spark of excitement almost immediately. The youngster, who spent the entirety of last season on loan at Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga, was skilful and direct, running at Lyon’s defenders with a level of confidence that belied his relative inexperience.
Nelson was clearly eager to impress, clearly determined to stake a claim for a place in Unai Emery’s first team. On the evidence of this showing, he will not be too far away.
His game can, of course, still be refined. He is still guilty of an occasional loose ball, the odd moment of indecision in the final third. That, though, will come in time. For now, Nelson looks an exciting talent with unquestionable potential.
1/32 Arsenal: Stay or go?
Getty Images
2/32 Bernd Leno – Stay
After a steady integration and a few early errors, the German has settled in well as Arsenal’s No 1 keeper, playing exceptionally against Leicester last week and more than justifying his £25m price tag.
Action Plus via Getty Images
3/32 Petr Cech – Retired
The 36-year-old will hang up his gloves at the end of the season. Arsenal are keen to keep him on in a coaching capacity, however, Cech may prefer a return to former club Chelsea.
PA
4/32 David Ospina – Keep
Napoli have an option to buy, however, the Colombian would prove a perfect, and most importantly free, back-up if the Italians do not take up that offer at a time when Arsenal need to focus on investing in other positions.
REUTERS
5/32 Emiliano Martinez – Sell
The Argentinian has impressed at Reading on loan. But at 26, he’s unlikely to ever establish himself as first-choice at Arsenal and the player is keen to move on and gain first-team football.
Action Plus via Getty Images
6/32 Laurent Koscielny – Keep
A leadership figure at the club with one-year remaining on his contract, the Frenchman is certainly worth keeping on for a final season, despite becoming increasingly injury prone.
AFP/Getty Images
7/32 Sokratis – Keep
Adapted well in his first season and also has genuine leadership qualities in the dressing-room. One of Arsenal’s more reliable options in defence this season and a worthy back-up at the least.
Action Images via Reuters
8/32 Rob Holding – Keep
Flourished under Unai Emery before his season was derailed by an ACL injury. Should establish himself as first-choice next season.
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
9/32 Shkodran Mustafi – Sell
A liability who Arsenal will be desperately regretting not offloading to Inter Milan when they had the chance. Unreliable and error-prone, Emery does not rely on the German in a back-four and the club will be keen to move him on, even if his value has dipped dramatically.
Getty Images
10/32 Konstantinos Mavropanos – Keep
Has been given precious little game time, despite high hopes around the Greek defender. Needs to be given more minutes next season unless Arsenal would consider a loan deal.
AFP/Getty Images
11/32 Calum Chambers – Sell
Utlimately ended up playing as a central midfielder for Fulham this season and, while showing signs of improvment, does not have the quality to re-establish himself at Arsenal. Chambers is only 24 and should command a reasonable transfer fee from a side towards the other end of the Premier League table.
REUTERS
12/32 Hector Bellerin – Keep
Another long-term injury absentee this season. Arsenal’s best defender on his day and one they will certainly look to keep hold of.
Getty Images
13/32 Nacho Monreal – Keep
The under-celebrated cog in Arsenal’s maligned defence. Monreal can play both as a left-back in a 4-4-2 and as a wing-back or left-sided centre-half when Emery opts for five-at-the-back. Valuable versatility and experience that’s worth holding onto as a back-up for the final year of his contract.
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
14/32 Sead Kolasinac – Replace for the right price
Cannot be relied upon in a four-at-the-back formation. Frequently fails to track his marker and is lost for pace against skilfull wingers, despite often being brilliant going forwards. Very effective as a wing-back but Arsenal need a first-choice left-back who can be trusted to help sure up a leaky defence.
Action Plus via Getty Images
15/32 Ainsley Maitland-Niles – Keep
More often used as a right-back, despite favouring a midfield role. Maitland-Niles has improved but is yet to totally convince. At 21, time is still on his side and he clearly has the potential, but he needs to find another level over the course of the next season.
Getty Images
16/32 Stephan Lichtsteiner – Release
Has hardly impressed when filling in and at 35 is well off the pace of the Premier League. Contract expires at the end of the season and is almost certain to depart.
Getty Images
17/32 Carl Jenkinson – Release
A cult favourite at the Emirates but a player who has never lived up to expectation. Will depart when his contract expires this summer.
Getty
18/32 Granit Xhaka – Keep
Can be a frustrating anchor in Arsenal’s midfield with errant passing and reckless tackling. Ideally Arsenal would replace the Swiss international, but with a replacement for Ramsey already required it’s unlikely Xhaka can be afforded to leave.
AFP/Getty Images
19/32 Lucas Torreira – Keep
The Uruguayan fell out of favour with Emery during the latter part of the season, despite immediately impressing. Still needs time to adapt to the pace of the Premier League but the 23-year-old continues to look brilliant value at just £25m.
Action Plus via Getty Images
20/32 Matteo Guendouzi- Keep
The 19-year-old has been one of the shining lights of this first campaign under Emery, with huge potential and a fearless personality. Can steadily be refined into a first-team starter for years to come if continues to improve and irons out youthful flaws.
Action Images via Reuters
21/32 Mohamed Elneny – Sell
Only used as a last-ditch option by Emery and does not have the technical quality to effectively fill in for those ahead of him. Arsenal should be able to recoup the £5m transfer fee paid for the Egyptian in 2016.
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
22/32 Aaron Ramsey – Joining Juventus
Arsenal will need to replace Ramsey with a midfielder of similar ilk. The decision not to extend his contract has become increasingly mindless during the second-half of the season in which he has been Arsenal’s best player.
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
23/32 Denis Suarez – Return to Barcelona
Who? Barely featured since Arsenal desperately pursued a loan deal for the 25-year-old in January. The decision to sign Suarez, over younger players with more potential, also contributed to Sven Mislintat’s shock departure. One to forget.
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
24/32 Alex Iwobi – Sell for the right price
Showed early improvements under Emery but it’s still hard to say Iwobi has proved he has the quality to stand against the Premier League’s top wingers, with a lacking final ball and paltry goal tally. There’s no need to actively look to move Iwobi onwards, but if the right offer came in Arsenal should consider their options.
Getty Images
25/32 Mesut Ozil – Intends to stay
Arsenal should look to free up their wage budget and sell Ozil, despite a recent upturn in form after a season of quarrels with Emery. There was already an openness to offload Ozil in the January window, but the creative enigma has now claimed he intends to stay and there’s little Arsenal can do to force him out.
Getty Images
26/32 Henrikh Mkhitaryan – Sell
Has never managed to consistently impress at Arsenal and his £180,000-per-week wages are a hindrance on the club. Arsenal should definitely look to move the Armenian on. The 30-year-old iis another one though who may be happy to sit tight.
Getty Images
27/32 Reiss Nelson – Keep
Started brilliantly at Hoffenheim before falling out of favour and then losing his space in the squad for disciplinary reasons. Has great potential and should hope to break through at Arsenal next season.
DFL via Getty Images
28/32 Emile Smith Rowe – Keep
Made an impressive breakthrough before struggling with injury before Christmas, which has since prevented him from getting game time on loan at RB Leipzig. Clearly Arsenal’s best young prospect with clear potential and, despite Leipzig’s interest in another loan deal, Arsenal should look to keep him at the club next season.
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
29/32 Alexandre Lacazette – Keep
Arsenal’s player of the year this season. Build-up play, ability to hold up the ball, added robustness and willingness to drop deep behind Aubameyang has turned him into an ideal striker in Emery’s set-up.
Getty Images
30/32 Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang – Keep
Twenty goals in the Premier League this season, despite being guilty of occasionally missing key opportunities. Has developed a great relationship with Lacazette.
Getty Images
31/32 Danny Welbeck – Released
Arsenal confirmed Welbeck’s contract won’t be extended after the draw with Brighton.
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
32/32 Eddie Nketiah – Loan
Needs more time on the pitch to develop. Almost joined Augsburg in the January window and should look to improve on loan with options currently so limited behind Lacazette and Aubameyang.
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
1/32 Arsenal: Stay or go?
Getty Images
2/32 Bernd Leno – Stay
After a steady integration and a few early errors, the German has settled in well as Arsenal’s No 1 keeper, playing exceptionally against Leicester last week and more than justifying his £25m price tag.
Action Plus via Getty Images
3/32 Petr Cech – Retired
The 36-year-old will hang up his gloves at the end of the season. Arsenal are keen to keep him on in a coaching capacity, however, Cech may prefer a return to former club Chelsea.
PA
4/32 David Ospina – Keep
Napoli have an option to buy, however, the Colombian would prove a perfect, and most importantly free, back-up if the Italians do not take up that offer at a time when Arsenal need to focus on investing in other positions.
REUTERS
5/32 Emiliano Martinez – Sell
The Argentinian has impressed at Reading on loan. But at 26, he’s unlikely to ever establish himself as first-choice at Arsenal and the player is keen to move on and gain first-team football.
Action Plus via Getty Images
6/32 Laurent Koscielny – Keep
A leadership figure at the club with one-year remaining on his contract, the Frenchman is certainly worth keeping on for a final season, despite becoming increasingly injury prone.
AFP/Getty Images
7/32 Sokratis – Keep
Adapted well in his first season and also has genuine leadership qualities in the dressing-room. One of Arsenal’s more reliable options in defence this season and a worthy back-up at the least.
Action Images via Reuters
8/32 Rob Holding – Keep
Flourished under Unai Emery before his season was derailed by an ACL injury. Should establish himself as first-choice next season.
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
9/32 Shkodran Mustafi – Sell
A liability who Arsenal will be desperately regretting not offloading to Inter Milan when they had the chance. Unreliable and error-prone, Emery does not rely on the German in a back-four and the club will be keen to move him on, even if his value has dipped dramatically.
Getty Images
10/32 Konstantinos Mavropanos – Keep
Has been given precious little game time, despite high hopes around the Greek defender. Needs to be given more minutes next season unless Arsenal would consider a loan deal.
AFP/Getty Images
11/32 Calum Chambers – Sell
Utlimately ended up playing as a central midfielder for Fulham this season and, while showing signs of improvment, does not have the quality to re-establish himself at Arsenal. Chambers is only 24 and should command a reasonable transfer fee from a side towards the other end of the Premier League table.
REUTERS
12/32 Hector Bellerin – Keep
Another long-term injury absentee this season. Arsenal’s best defender on his day and one they will certainly look to keep hold of.
Getty Images
13/32 Nacho Monreal – Keep
The under-celebrated cog in Arsenal’s maligned defence. Monreal can play both as a left-back in a 4-4-2 and as a wing-back or left-sided centre-half when Emery opts for five-at-the-back. Valuable versatility and experience that’s worth holding onto as a back-up for the final year of his contract.
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
14/32 Sead Kolasinac – Replace for the right price
Cannot be relied upon in a four-at-the-back formation. Frequently fails to track his marker and is lost for pace against skilfull wingers, despite often being brilliant going forwards. Very effective as a wing-back but Arsenal need a first-choice left-back who can be trusted to help sure up a leaky defence.
Action Plus via Getty Images
15/32 Ainsley Maitland-Niles – Keep
More often used as a right-back, despite favouring a midfield role. Maitland-Niles has improved but is yet to totally convince. At 21, time is still on his side and he clearly has the potential, but he needs to find another level over the course of the next season.
Getty Images
16/32 Stephan Lichtsteiner – Release
Has hardly impressed when filling in and at 35 is well off the pace of the Premier League. Contract expires at the end of the season and is almost certain to depart.
Getty Images
17/32 Carl Jenkinson – Release
A cult favourite at the Emirates but a player who has never lived up to expectation. Will depart when his contract expires this summer.
Getty
18/32 Granit Xhaka – Keep
Can be a frustrating anchor in Arsenal’s midfield with errant passing and reckless tackling. Ideally Arsenal would replace the Swiss international, but with a replacement for Ramsey already required it’s unlikely Xhaka can be afforded to leave.
AFP/Getty Images
19/32 Lucas Torreira – Keep
The Uruguayan fell out of favour with Emery during the latter part of the season, despite immediately impressing. Still needs time to adapt to the pace of the Premier League but the 23-year-old continues to look brilliant value at just £25m.
Action Plus via Getty Images
20/32 Matteo Guendouzi- Keep
The 19-year-old has been one of the shining lights of this first campaign under Emery, with huge potential and a fearless personality. Can steadily be refined into a first-team starter for years to come if continues to improve and irons out youthful flaws.
Action Images via Reuters
21/32 Mohamed Elneny – Sell
Only used as a last-ditch option by Emery and does not have the technical quality to effectively fill in for those ahead of him. Arsenal should be able to recoup the £5m transfer fee paid for the Egyptian in 2016.
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
22/32 Aaron Ramsey – Joining Juventus
Arsenal will need to replace Ramsey with a midfielder of similar ilk. The decision not to extend his contract has become increasingly mindless during the second-half of the season in which he has been Arsenal’s best player.
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
23/32 Denis Suarez – Return to Barcelona
Who? Barely featured since Arsenal desperately pursued a loan deal for the 25-year-old in January. The decision to sign Suarez, over younger players with more potential, also contributed to Sven Mislintat’s shock departure. One to forget.
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
24/32 Alex Iwobi – Sell for the right price
Showed early improvements under Emery but it’s still hard to say Iwobi has proved he has the quality to stand against the Premier League’s top wingers, with a lacking final ball and paltry goal tally. There’s no need to actively look to move Iwobi onwards, but if the right offer came in Arsenal should consider their options.
Getty Images
25/32 Mesut Ozil – Intends to stay
Arsenal should look to free up their wage budget and sell Ozil, despite a recent upturn in form after a season of quarrels with Emery. There was already an openness to offload Ozil in the January window, but the creative enigma has now claimed he intends to stay and there’s little Arsenal can do to force him out.
Getty Images
26/32 Henrikh Mkhitaryan – Sell
Has never managed to consistently impress at Arsenal and his £180,000-per-week wages are a hindrance on the club. Arsenal should definitely look to move the Armenian on. The 30-year-old iis another one though who may be happy to sit tight.
Getty Images
27/32 Reiss Nelson – Keep
Started brilliantly at Hoffenheim before falling out of favour and then losing his space in the squad for disciplinary reasons. Has great potential and should hope to break through at Arsenal next season.
DFL via Getty Images
28/32 Emile Smith Rowe – Keep
Made an impressive breakthrough before struggling with injury before Christmas, which has since prevented him from getting game time on loan at RB Leipzig. Clearly Arsenal’s best young prospect with clear potential and, despite Leipzig’s interest in another loan deal, Arsenal should look to keep him at the club next season.
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
29/32 Alexandre Lacazette – Keep
Arsenal’s player of the year this season. Build-up play, ability to hold up the ball, added robustness and willingness to drop deep behind Aubameyang has turned him into an ideal striker in Emery’s set-up.
Getty Images
30/32 Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang – Keep
Twenty goals in the Premier League this season, despite being guilty of occasionally missing key opportunities. Has developed a great relationship with Lacazette.
Getty Images
31/32 Danny Welbeck – Released
Arsenal confirmed Welbeck’s contract won’t be extended after the draw with Brighton.
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
32/32 Eddie Nketiah – Loan
Needs more time on the pitch to develop. Almost joined Augsburg in the January window and should look to improve on loan with options currently so limited behind Lacazette and Aubameyang.
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
2. Joe Willock impresses in midfield
It is easy to forget that Joe Willock is still a teenager. The 19-year-old is heading into his third full season as an Arsenal player, and the signs are promising.
He was amongst the top performers in the first half against Lyon, an assured, calming presence in midfield. He might have added a goal, too, twice testing Anthony Lopes before firing a rebound over the bar from close range.
There is a maturity to Willock’s game by now, a sense that he is ready to step up, to play more than a bit part role. Following the departure of Aaron Ramsey, it could be that Willock’s dynamism and intelligence is exactly what Arsenal need.
3. Arsenal might be better off without Koscielny and Mustafi
Laurent Koscielny’s future at Arsenal remains in doubt after his refusal to travel with the club on their pre-season tour. And Shkodran Mustafi’s deficiencies are evident to anyone who watched him play last season.
Arsenal, then, might not miss either of them, particularly given the assured performances of both Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Calum Chambers against Lyon. It can, of course, be difficult to draw too many conclusions from pre-season friendlies. But there were, for the most part, fewer defensive lapses, fewer mistakes at the back for the Gunners (at least until late on).
Such defensive security was rare last season. Goalkeeper Bernd Leno was constantly called into action throughout the campaign.
There was no clean sheet, but there are signs of a burgeoning partnership between Sokratis and Chambers which can reassure worried Arsenal fans. It is an area of the pitch that Emery must prioritise, given the concerning number of goals conceded last season.
Chambers, back from a season on loan at Fulham, gives the Spaniard another option. And he is clearly keen to establish himself ahead of the new season.
Lyon caused more problems in the second half and there is still plenty to work on for Arsenal. But Emery, in the absence of any new signings, might choose to persist with his new defensive duo.
4. Signs of improvement from Mkhitaryan
It has not been an easy year and a half for Henrikh Mkhitaryan at Arsenal. The Armenian has been plagued by inconsistency, unable to perform at his best and often left to dwell on his poor form on the bench.
Perhaps, though, this season will represent a fresh start for the former Manchester United man. He certainly appeared unrestrained against Lyon, willing to get involved and influence the game as he did so brilliantly for years at Borussia Dortmund.
Mkhitaryan created Arsenal’s first half goal, drilling a cross into the path of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who converted clinically. And he was lively throughout, linking up cleverly with his teammates and creating a number of quality chances.
5. Ceballos cameo bodes well for Arsenal
Arsenal’s new man was given a brief period to impress, introduced with 70 minutes played. But he needed just a few touches to bring applause from the Emirates crowd.
His quick feet, eye for a pass and ability to glide past opponents caught the eye. It seems that the on-loan Real Madrid midfielder is already a popular figure at Arsenal.
That ability to create from midfield will be crucial following the departure of Ramsey to Juventus. And Ceballos, based off his cameo in this friendly, looks a shrewd signing.
