How Arsenal’s dream £618m starting XI of instant Premier League title contenders could look next season

Arsenal will already be preparing for the new season after an impressive campaign that ultimately ended in tears.

The Gunners led the Premier League for much of the season before eventually falling short amid immense pressure from champions Manchester City. Mikel Arteta’s men picked up some valuable experience along the way, though, and they now know what they need to get over the line next time around. As a result, Arsenal are likely to sign a number of players this summer, with a healthy budget set to be made available to Arteta and Edu.

With that in mind, we have taken a look at the ideal starting XI for the Gunners next season based on what we saw this season and some of the transfer links that have surfaced over recent days and weeks. We’ve added in their estimated market value, too.

GK - Aaron Ramsdale - £32.7m

Ramsdale did a superb job in goal for Arsenal last season, and while he will want to take another step forward, there is no disputing his position at number one. Arteta won’t be in the market for a starting goalkeeper this summer.

LB - Oleksandr Zinchenko - £44.4m

Zinchenko proved to be a fine signing last summer, playing a key role in Arsenal’s title bid. He is an undroppable at this stage. Jakub Kiwor has proved he can provide competition, so this is another position Arteta and Edu are unlikely to strengthen this ssummer.

CB - William Saliba - £47.4m

Arsenal need to get a handle on Saliba’s long-term future with talks still ongoing, but he is not going anywhere in the near future. Saliba was a key part of the back-line last season, and that is not likely to change heading into the new campaign. Though, Arteta could add some more competition at centre-back, particularly if Rob Holding moves on.

CB - Gabriel Magalhaes - £44.4m

Gabriel is another key piece of the defensive jigsaw, and he will be expected to lead the back-line again. Naturally, Ben White will be pushing for one of these positions if he doesn’t get the not at full-back.

RB - Ben White - £44.4m

On that note, we turn to White - who famously isn’t really all that into football - at right-back, and while the Gunners are likely to strengthen here, potentially with the more than £20million signing of Sacha Boey from Galatasaray, you can expect White to start early in the season, given his experience and how he performed there last term. Takehiro Tomiyashu is another option, but his future is unclear amid injury issues last season.

CDM - Declan Rice - £69m

Arsenal are going to need a marquee signing or two in midfield, and West Ham star Declan Rice is tipped to be one of them. The England star is set to cost £100million or more, but the Gunners want to strengthen the middle of the park, and Rice is recognised as one of the best players in the world in his position. Not only that, but the Hammers skipper has bags of Premier Legaue experience.

CM - Martin Odegaard - £69m

Odegaard is Arsenal’s captain and one of their most talented players. He will be a key fixture in Arteta’s midfield next season, and there is no scenario where the Norwegian is sold or displaced ahead of the season.

CM - Moises Caicedo - £47m

This midfield spot is another that will need filling amid Granit Xhaka’s likely exit. The Gunners need a more youthful and energetic player, and they are said to be in the race to sign Brighton star Moises Caicedo, along with a number of other clubs, including mega-spenders Chelsea. The Colombian is a relentless midfielder with bags of talent, but the transfer race is going to be a tricky one to win. If Arsenal do come out on top, and they also sign Rice, this midfield will look incredible, at least on paper.

RW - Bukayo Saka - £94.8m

Saka has now signed a new long-term contract, and he is going nowhere. He was a serious contender for Premier League player of the year in the most recent season, and he will play a staring role in the Gunners attack again next term.

CF - Gabriel Jesus - £65m

Arsenal arguably need more depth up top, but Arteta seems to be fully convinced that Eddie Nketiah can continue to be a solid back-up for Gabriel Jesus. Jesus will go into the season as the starting striker after an impressive first season at the club, getting involved in so much of the build-up play, as well as the goals. Arteta loves how well Jesus fits his system of play.

LW - Gabriel Martinelli - £60m

Much like Saka, Martinelli was a key part of Arsenal’s attack last season, and he is not likely to relinquish his starting spot any time soon. Reiss Neilson will want to put up a fight, though, and Arsenal could do with more competition in these wide areas given how clear-cut the options currently are. That might seem a good thing on the face of it, but competition is important to keep players razor sharp.