12 August 2023 , 01:00
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Former Arsenal defender Johan Djourou has claimed new summer signings Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber do not get in Mikel Arteta's strongest XI.
Arsenal have spent more than £200m this summer to strengthen their squad ahead of their first Champions League campaign in six years and a renewed Premier League title bid. It took a record £105m fee to sign Declan Rice from West Ham, while a further £65m was spent on Havertz and £38.5m on Timber.
And Djourou, who spent ten years at Arsenal, believes only Rice is an upgrade on the team which challenged Manchester City for the title last season. "Mikel Arteta isn't going to change things in terms of his formation; his strongest XI will come in a 4-3-3, that's for sure," Djourou exclusively told Ladbrokes Fanzone.
"Obviously it has to be Aaron Ramsdale in goal, then Ben White on the right, with William Saliba and Gabriel alongside each other at the back, then it's Oleksandr Zinchenko for me. Jurrien Timber is a good option to have because he's a bit more dynamic but that would be my back four when everyone's fit.
"Then in the middle I'd go with Thomas Partey in the middle, with Declan Rice to his left and Martin Odegaard on the right. And then I'd have to stick with Gabriel Martinelli on the left, Bukayo Saka on the right, and I think Gabriel Jesus has got the upper hand.
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"But what Arsenal now have on the bench is frightening. Someone like Kai Havertz, who is so versatile, Leandro Trossard has been immense in pre-season. [Takehiro] Tomiyasu is a quality option, too. Jorginho offers you so much experience, Timber is also very versatile at the back.
Arsenal spent over £200m to sign Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber (James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)"They have so much quality in depth on the bench now, and that's vital if they're going to challenge for every trophy this season. There's an interesting trend developing in the top teams at the moment, notably Manchester City. And I'm not sure whether Arsenal are going to go in the same direction.
"City won absolutely everything last season with four centre-backs playing in their defensive line. You saw Timber was used as a left-back on Sunday afternoon, and we know he can do that job, but he's more used to playing in the centre. He's more than capable defending anywhere across the line, and the same can be said for Ben White.
"Four solid defenders there in Timber, Gabriel, Saliba and White, they offer you so much protection at the back, allowing the rest of the team to go on and play their game. I see Arsenal being very strong defensively this season, so it's all about those forward players all getting involved with goals and assists this season.
Djourou's strongest Arsenal XI: Ramsdale; Zinchenko, Gabriel, Saliba, White; Rice, Partey, Odegaard; Martinelli, Jesus, Saka