How will new signings and returning players impact Arsenal next season 

Coach Mike assesses Mikel Arteta's Arsenal squad and possible future additions 

Sverre Nypan and Max Dowman - the creative plan?

If Arsenal get Sverre Nypan in the summer, I think the plan is that he would be a creative eight option.

Arsenal have relied too heavily on Martin Odegaard and we need options. The other benefit of Nypan is his ability to run with the ball which is a profile that Arsenal need to add.

Many called for Ebrechi Eze, and Nypan is this profile, but genuinely two footed.

He is the one of the most exciting prospects I’ve seen since Santi Cazorla. Any player with the ability to pass, dribble or shoot with either foot separates themselves from others as they have twice the tools.

Arsenal are unlikely to integrate Max Dowman until next season but they have to offer him a pathway as other huge clubs will be prowling.

He will be another fantastic option as a driving, line breaking attacking midfielder. I don’t expect Arsenal to buy a senior creative player due to blocking this pathway and noting that Nwaneri could be an option too.

Thomas Partey, Jorginho and Zubimendi:

It looks likely that both Thomas Partey and Jorginho, who are out of contract in June, are leaving.

Personally, I would retain both if they would agree to the terms. I don’t think we fully realize what fantastic assets they are.

Jorginho is a coach on the field and is perfect for certain games and game states.

While Partey is arguably the most composed and secure defensive midfielder in Europe.

He is also a huge defensive asset when play is settled. The criticism comes in defensive transition, but it’s hard to find a player that is top level at all of the skills needed.

I think if they leave, we will feel it. I think Jorginho is most likely to leave and this would make sense for Arsenal if they wanted to keep one, as Partey can play two positions.

With the strong links to Martin Zubimendi and with him being a DM specialist, I’m sure that he is the future. I just think that it’s a risk asking any player coming from a different league to be first choice with no obvious back up. Declan Rice could of course do this, but I don’t think this is what Arteta wants.

Ben White:

We need to put less stock in a ‘starting 11.’ We certainly have players that if fit, will always start in big games, but we are building a squad where the drop off is not noticeable.

This will be the situation with Ben White. It’s hard to imagine Jurrien Timber sliding to becoming an alternate, so what I see is more likely is that Takehiro Tomiyasu, Timber, White and William Saliba will be the options for the RB and RCB positions.

More the latter three as Tomi cannot be trusted to stay fit, unfortunately. The biggest benefit will be if three of them are fit, then Saliba doesn’t have to play every week. 

Takehiro Tomiyasu:

I think he will be seen by Arteta as a ‘bonus.’ Not a player that the club rely on. Almost as if he isn’t there. A club like Arsenal can afford a player to be a ‘bonus,’ so I’d imagine that this would be his role. When fit he would be an incredible bonus as he has played in all four of the defensive positions and as you know, is an excellent defensive player.

Loan players:

As Arsenal improve and find increasing success, it will be even harder for those players on loan to find a squad place at the club.

Talent isn't enough, and Fabio Viera is a great example of that. Nuno Tavares proves that even though he has some of the best assist numbers in Europe as a wing back, you have to be able to do more than one thing and you most certainly can't be a defender who struggles at defending in order to play for this Arsenal team.

We saw that Sambi Lokonga had talent, but couldn’t catch Arsenal in their improvement.

Reiss Nelson has always had the talent but plays submissively.

The only player that I think has half a chance to return from loan and be a part of our team is Karl Hein.

Even though his team is struggling, he has been very impressive and the club might see him as a worthy second choice goalkeeper.

It is still doubtful however, as Arsenal looked like they will return to sign Españyol goalkeeper Joann Garcia.

All this to say that I think it's unlikely that any of them stay at the club but at the same time they have been given an opportunity for playing time at other clubs and will mature in age and experience so it cannot be discounted entirely.

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