Might as well get this going considering there’s plenty of talk about tactics going on in multiple threads already.
Going by what has been said in the media and discussions in this forum, I think we can expect Emery’s desired lineup (at least for the half of the new season) to be built around the following:
EDIT: First XI:
EDIT: Second XI:
Assuming the objective for next season is CL qualification by any means and assuming our rivals strengthen as expected, it is essential that Emery, Mislintat, and company correctly identify areas that need to be addressed relative to next season’s objectives, budget, and rivals expected transfer activities. Assuming the above assumptions are accurate, I have prioritized and classified what I feel are signings/positions of importance, by urgency, and in descending order:
Tier 1 (the objective of CL qualification will most likely not be met)
1. No signings
Tier 2 (the objective of CL qualification will most likely be met)
2. CB – Given Koscielny's injury, this position has become priority #1. This player will replace Mavropanos (or possibly Mustafi) in the lineups above and will need to be someone who can come in and start in the first eleven immediately. At a minimum, he needs to be someone better than Koscielny at his peak.
3. CM – This player will replace Xhaka in the lineups above. There is a certain name going about atm that would not be a bad option for this position imo. Hopefully we get him. If not him then the ideal candidate imo would be someone with tons of energy and good defensive qualities. Addressing this position also improves the cover for this position as Xhaka will be one of the first backup options instead of players like Iwobi
4. DM – This player will replace Elneny in the lineups above. I have confidence in Elneny to do what is required of this position given the above lineups and why I have softened my stance on the urgency of this position a bit. However our lack of options in this area is still a concern. Also, another reason why addressing this position is important is because it also takes care of the right back spot as Niles will be shifted to cover for Bellerin and will no longer be required to fill in the middle as much. Besides these two reasons, it would just be nice to have someone that combines Elneny's energy and stamina with more power and authority. Elneny and another DM not only sets us up nicely for many seasons but also gives more time for Niles to develop if he sees himself as a defensive midfielder.
Tier 3 (the objective of CL qualification will most likely be surpassed marginally)
5. GK – Ideally, this player will replace Cech in the lineups above but Ospina could also be replaced if Emery fancies Cech more. Imo, we can just about meet the objective of CL qualification without addressing this position if the players ahead of him can keep the shots against down to a minimum and this can be done if the previous positions mentioned are fixed. In any case, addressing this position will most likely increase our chances of achieving more than just CL qualification (i.e. an additional FA or League Cup trophy). Ideally, we get someone who has the potential to stay with us for many years
6. WM – This player will replace the worse of Welbeck or Iwobi in the above lineups. Assuming the above lineups is accurate, then this player becomes our trump card. He will be vital because we lack a reliable plan B off the bench.
Tier 4 (the objective of CL qualification will most likely be surpassed considerably)
7. CB – This player will replace Mustafi in the above lineups. Mustafi is an error waiting to happen every game and the sooner this position is addressed the better. The fact, however, that we have many other options for this area (including the new CB mentioned previously), reduces the urgency to fill this position a bit
8. LB – This player will eventually replace Monreal in the above lineups. Monreal is on his last legs and Kolasinac is suspect wrt defending. Once Monreal can no longer be relied on, we need to bring in someone better than both Kolasinac and Monreal and a decision needs to be made about the best course of action to take with the latter two.
It is safe to say that every true member of the Arsenal community wants the same thing for Arsenal next season and there’s a chance someone on the social media team or someone at Arsenal will take a gander at the threads in these forums. My hope is that some of the better ideas will be able to be passed on to Emery, Mislintat, and company assuming they're not already being considered