With the new additions made by Arsenal this summer, they have added depth and quality to their side. Alexis Sanchez will add power, pace, and finishing to Arsenal’s front three, where he can play across the line. David Ospina, a regular in the Colombian national team, will be more than an able backup to Wojciech Szczesny and will challenge him for the starting spot in goal. Mathieu Debuchy will fill in seamlessly at right back, vacated by Bacary Sagna. Calum Chambers will provide solid back up at right back, center back, and defensive midfield, something he showed at the Community Shield.
Arsenal will undoubtedly add to the current squad in the transfer window, but they do have players in the squad who will make a jump this season, and have big seasons. They will be, as Arsene Wenger likes to say, like new signings.
Before anyone jumps up to say why is Jack Wilshere not on this list, it is because he has already established himself as integral to Wenger’s vision of the club. His issue is to do with injuries rather than consistent performance. You could argue, and I would agree, that he has not progressed recently in his development as a player, but he is already playing at a very high level. Wilshere can improve and will improve. If this were a list of players who play regularly but have not hit their ceiling yet, Wilshere would be on top of the list.
Joel Campbell is not on the list simply because I do not believe he will be able to get a stretch in the first team. There are too many people in front of him who already give what he would to the team, plus more. He is not a bad player; he has a good work rate, is creative and is a good finisher. But he really only had one very good game at the World Cup, against Uruguay. The World Cup always provides us with one player who is supposed to be the next star based on one game. I think that Campbell was this tournaments player who was given too much hype.
Click on No. 2 below to start the list of players who will step into the first team on a more consistent and regular basis and make important contributions this season.
