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Three Players who Need to Step-up Big Time to Earn a Place in the Arsenal First Team

Arteta's Arsenal, Mikel Arteta, contract extension

Mikel Arteta has been making constant personnel changes to get the best possible lineup for the Gunners. The variations have helped Arteta to find out which players in his squad he can rely on for a positive outcome by the end of this season and has derived some idea about the best possible lineup for Arsenal.

Arsenal, Arteta, players
(Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

Arsenal have invested heavily this summer, bringing in Ben White, Aaron Ramsdale, Sambi Lokonga, Nuno Tavares and Takehiro Tomiyasu, besides securing a permanent deal for Martin Odegaard. With the influx of new players, it has become tough for some players to get into the Arsenal first team or have missed their mark when given opportunities by Arteta.

Here are three Arsenal Players who need to step up to get a place in the first team under Mikel Arteta

Alexandre Lacazette 

The French forward was heavily linked with a move away from Emirates this summer. Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and few others were said to be interested in the player’s services, but none of the clubs made a move for the striker, which saw him stay at Arsenal for another season.

Alexandre Lacazette has a contract at the club until 2022, meaning he is in the last year of his contract. He failed to move to another club and to add to his frustration, his time in the first team has been cut short since the start of this season.

Injuries have taken their toll on the player’s performance, but the French striker is yet to impress the manager to make him the preferred No.9 for the team. Aubameyang is the first choice for Arteta with Nicolas Pepe, Emile Smith Rowe, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka preferred for the attacking ranks.

However, there can be no doubt about the player’s professionalism. The 30-year-old is an experienced campaigner and has scored a total of 50 Premier League goals in 130 appearances during his time at the club. His experience and expertise can certainly help the team.

Moreover, there is a long season ahead and the young guns will need a break. Lacazette can form a good partnership with Aubameyang in the attacking third as we have seen in earlier seasons. However, it remains to be seen whether Mikel Arteta includes the striker in his rebuilding project at Arsenal.

Rob Holding 

Considering how well the pairing of Gabriel Magalhaes and Ben White is performing and being an instrumental part of the team’s positive display in the past few matches, getting into the first team will be very hard for Rob Holding. He looked shaky and unsure on the pitch against Chelsea which was followed by another poor performance against Man City.

Since then, Holding has not featured in the starting lineup for Arsenal and Arteta has made the right decision in pairing the two players, White and Gabriel, which has proven to be very effective for the team. The results speak for themselves and currently, the 26-year-old English defender has no place in the team.

However, a return for Rob Holding can not be completely ruled out as Arteta is known to play three centre-backs in his system. This could present the player with an opportunity to return to the first team, but he will need to prove himself worthy of the spot and deliver the next time he plays for Arsenal.

Bernd Leno 

The 29-year-old German shot-stopper was the no-brainer choice for Mikel Arteta between the sticks, even to the point where Emi Martinez was sold to Aston Villa. But, he is now seen as the second fiddle to new arrival Aaron Ramsdale, who has quickly risen to the occasion and cemented his place in the Arsenal starting line-up. Leno’s struggle for consistency and some poor performances has displaced him from the No 1 spot.

Out of the 10 goals conceded in the Premier League by Arsenal, 9 went in when Leno was in charge of the goalkeeping responsibilities. Meanwhile, Ramsdale has only conceded a single goal in his last 4 PL games. One cannot blame Mikel Arteta for choosing Ramsdale over Leno.

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While Leno might get some opportunities over the course of the lengthy season, he is expected to feature in cup games for the Gunners which could pave a way back for him. Ramsdale’s arrival has certainly sparked a fire in the German keeper’s belly and will look to give his best when given the next opportunity. A healthy competition between the keepers will only be welcomed by the Arsenal boss, but Leno will have to come out strong and imposing next time if he wants his place back in the first team.

Stay tuned to know more about Arsenal.

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