With the summer transfer window closed and the international break in full swing, Mikel Arteta is preparing to unleash Arsenal’s strongest matchday squad yet. As the Gunners look to keep pace with Manchester City and Liverpool in the Premier League title race, reinforcements are on the horizon. The upcoming North London Derby, a Champions League opener, and a clash with City will demand nothing short of Arsenal’s very best.
Last weekend’s draw against Brighton was a stark reminder that Arsenal must operate at full strength to finally dethrone Manchester City. The margins between the two clubs have been razor-thin—just five points separated them two seasons ago, and last season it was reduced to two. Now, the gap is the same as Arsenal chase their rivals once again. But with seven key players returning or joining the fold, Arteta’s squad could soon reach its peak.
As the clock ticks down to the North London Derby, Arteta’s squad will be bolstered by some fresh faces and returning stars. The first name fans will be eagerly searching for on the team sheet? Raheem Sterling. The deadline day loan signing from Chelsea missed the chance to debut against Brighton, but after building fitness in training during the break, he could make an explosive debut against Spurs.
Joining him in the squad will be Neto, Arsenal’s new backup goalkeeper on loan from Bournemouth. The Brazilian wasn’t registered in time to face Brighton, but he’ll be stepping into the backup role behind David Raya, allowing Arsenal some crucial depth between the sticks. Raya, who has quickly established himself as Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper, will continue to anchor a solid defense alongside Ben White, William Saliba, and Gabriel Magalhaes.
Gabriel Jesus is another name Arteta hopes to add to the bench. The Brazilian striker has been sidelined with a groin injury since the season opener, but his return is nearing. While it’s uncertain whether he’ll be ready to start against Spurs, having him as an option off the bench will be a huge boost as Arsenal look to reclaim dominance in the attacking third.
However, Arsenal’s midfield will feel the absence of Declan Rice against Spurs due to his suspension after the controversial red card against Brighton. Though a loss for the derby, Rice will be fresh and ready for the critical showdown against Manchester City the following week. In the meantime, Arteta will need to shuffle his midfield and hope that the returning Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard can help steady the ship.
Despite the injury setbacks to Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kieran Tierney, and summer signing Mikel Merino, Arteta still has a wealth of options in defense and midfield. Tomiyasu and Tierney are both nursing knee and hamstring injuries, while Merino faces a longer recovery after injuring his shoulder in training shortly after joining the squad. These absences will be felt, but Arsenal’s depth remains strong.
Luckily, both Odegaard and Jurrien Timber, who picked up knocks during international duty, appear to be on track to feature in the coming weeks. Odegaard, the Arsenal captain, played a full 90 minutes for Norway and allayed fears of any long-term concern. Timber also saw game time for the Netherlands, suggesting his knock was nothing too serious. Arteta will breathe a sigh of relief knowing these two key players should be ready for the critical fixtures ahead.
One last concern for Arsenal fans is the fitness of Riccardo Calafiori. The Italian left-back picked up an unusual injury during international play and has returned to London for assessment. His availability for the North London Derby is uncertain, but his presence would certainly offer more defensive flexibility.
Despite the challenges, Arteta can still call upon his core players, including Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, and Kai Havertz, who have all started the season in strong form. Combined with the likely return of Sterling and Jesus, Arsenal’s frontline will have plenty of firepower as they aim to put Spurs and Manchester City to the sword.
Arteta’s juggling act of assembling a full-strength squad is nearly complete. With seven key players—Sterling, Neto, Jesus, Rice, Tomiyasu, Merino, and Calafiori—set to strengthen the squad, Arsenal is about to hit their stride at the perfect time. The race for the Premier League title is already heating up, and Arsenal’s reinforcements might just be the key to finally toppling Manchester City.
Arsenal’s strongest 20-man matchday squad
Starting XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Trossard.
Substitutes: Neto, Calafiori, Tomiyasu, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Merino, Martinelli, Jesus, Sterling.
The stage is set—can Arsenal’s bolstered squad deliver when it matters most?
