Arsenal's deadline day swoop for Thomas Partey crowned a successful transfer window for the Gunners as they look to return to Champions League football after four seasons away.
Partey joins new arrivals Willian and Gabriel Magalhaes, while Danie Ceballos has arrived for a second loan spell and new deals for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bukayo Sako have added to the feel-good factor surrounding the club.
Mikel Arteta will hope Arsenal’s transfer business this summer provides him with greater squad depth and tactical flexibility during the 2020-21 season.
A key example of that is in defence, with Arteta preferring to play a back-three during Arsenal’s run to FA Cup glory last season.
The £25m signing of Lille defender Gabriel Magalhaes will provide competition for fellow left-footed centre-back Pablo Mari, while long-term he looks like an ideal partner for the right-footed William Saliba.
Saliba has made a slow start to life in north London, though, and so instead Arsenal could line up in a back-three of Gabriel, David Luiz and Tierney - but Arteta may opt for a pair of Gabriel and Luiz going forward.
The Spaniard is believed to be keen on playing a 4-3-3 formation long-term, with Tierney and Hector Bellerin the two full-backs.
Bernd Leno has returned in goal, reestablishing himself as Arteta's No1 with Emi Martinez joining Aston Villa.
In midfield, Arsenal will lean on Ceballos, who has returned for a second loan spell after forming a good partnership with Granit Xhaka last season.
Partey will come into the midfield after Arsenal activated his €50million (£45m) release-clause, with Ceballos and Xhaka his likely partners.
Ahead of that, if Arteta goes for four in defence, we could see a new attack this season.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang may start on the left and Willian on the right, with Lacazette still leading the line. The Frenchman attracted interest from Juventus, but there were no concrete offers for him.
(4-3-3): Leno; Bellerin, Luiz, Gabriel, Tierney; Ceballos, Partey, Xhaka; Willian, Lacazette, Aubameyang.
