The 3 biggest position battles at Arsenal this season
Arsenal are due to kick off their Premier League campaign against Coventry this Friday evening. After what feels like an eternity, aided by the extended World Cup format, the Premier League champions are finally back in action.
For a change, it was nice to miss Arsenal. Once again, fans are heading into a new season with a renewed sense of optimism except, this time, Arsenal genuinely have something to defend.
There has been some action in the transfer window. While Arsenal's transfer business might not be complete just yet, some of the reinforcements have forced Mikel Arteta into rethinking his strongest lineup.
As we preview the season ahead, here are the three biggest position battles at Arsenal this season.
3 biggest position battles at Arsenal this season
CM: Martin Ødegaard vs Myles Lewis-Skelly
The most prominent battle actually features two players who are in incredible form, and that's the battle between Martin Ødegaard and Myles Lewis-Skelly for that advanced midfield spot.
Both midfielders are different in their own right, and they could easily make the team together while maintaining that balance. However, with Declan Rice and Bruno Guimarães already locking down two midfield spots, it's up to Ødegaard or Lewis-Skelly to prove their worth in the long-run of the season.
Lewis-Skelly will likely get the nod against Coventry, but then again, so will Ødegaard. Rice is likely to be rested for the start of the season, so we will see which midfielder impresses the most in his absence. My prediction is that Arteta will stick with his captain for the long-term.
CF: Kai Havertz vs Viktor Gyökeres
The second most contentious position battle is one that might not even happen. At this stage, though, Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyökeres are the two contenders to play centre forward for Arsenal.
Before the season starts, Havertz is currently winning this battle. He has different strengths and weaknesses to Gyökeres, but overall, Arsenal look like a better collective unit with Havertz starting than Gyökeres starting.
Havertz is likely to start more games for Arsenal this season, but Gyökeres will still get minutes from the bench and/or in cup games. Balancing their minutes and making them both happy is a nice problem for Arteta to have.
LB: Riccardo Calafiori vs Piero Hincapié
With Piero Hincapié now serving as a permanent Arsenal player, Arteta must consider who the strongest option between him and Riccardo Calafiori is.
On paper, it's obvious. Calafiori found himself in some promising positions against Man City in the Community Shield, and that left side was a prominent part of Arsenal's philosophy, in all thirds of the pitch.
With a full summer of rest under his belt, Calafiori is bound to be one of Arsenal's most important players. However, in those games where Arsenal will get pinned back and they need some resolute defending to see them to the end, that is where Hincapié will get called upon.
