Where Arteta’s first Arsenal XI are now including five forgotten stars

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reviews the Southampton game

Mikel Arteta has been credited with completely rebuilding Arsenal so that they have emerged as title contenders this season. The Spaniard’s reshuffle is almost complete, so much so that the first eleven that he fielded is almost unrecognisable.

The Gunners are currently five points clear at the top of the Premier League, though their advantage has dwindled over recent weeks. A crucial match against title rivals Manchester City looms, with a victory for either side likely to prove decisive when the campaign concludes.

Arsenal were not expected to challenge for the league this soon in their rebuild, though failing to lift the trophy would certainly be underwhelming given how the season has panned out. Arteta has completely reshuffled his ranks since his appointment in 2019, with only three players who started his first match as a manager still at the club. Express Sport looks at how the Gunners lined up for Arteta’s managerial debut against Bournemouth on the Boxing Day of 2019…

Bernd Leno

Goalkeeper Bern Leno enjoyed a stint under Arteta as Arsenal’s No 1 before being replaced by Aaron Ramsdale in 2021. The German now plays his football at Craven Cottage for Fulham, proving a smart signing by their London rivals after extended negotiations over the summer.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles

Academy product Ainsley Maitland-Niles is set to become a free agent at the end of the season after it was revealed that Arsenal would not be renewing his contract. The versatile playmaker is currently on loan at Southampton, making 18 league appearances for the club to date.

David Luiz

Former Brazil international David Luiz is now playing out his career in his homeland with Flamengo. He joined the club on a free transfer in 2021 but has struggled with injuries this season.

Sokratis Papastathopoulos

Sokratis was one of the first stars to be fazed out of the first team by Arteta, with the Greece international joining Olympiacos in 2021 – where he still currently plays.

Bukayo Saka

One of Arsenal’s stars of the season, Bukayo Saka, was handed his league debut by Arteta against Southampton and he hasn’t looked back since. The winger was initially brought into the first-team fold as a left-back but it soon became clear that he had the attributes of a top-quality forward.

Lucas Torreira

In one of the more public fallouts, Lucas Torreira was another signing made by Arteta’s predecessor Unai Emery that did not work out in north London. The Uruguay international joined Galatasaray over the summer and is one of the first names on the team sheet at the club following loan stints at Atletico Madrid and Fiorentina.

Granit Xhaka

Although his days at the Emirates Stadium looked numbered previously, Granit Xhaka has been reborn this season and remains an integral player in their system. The midfielder has managed to keep a lid on his emotions more regularly and thrived in a more attacking role, allowing him to link up with forwards and be a presence in the final third.

Mesut Ozil

Another ex-Arsenal star to leave the club in favour of Turkey was Mesut Ozil. The playmaker retired aged 34 last month after recurring issues meant that he was unable to find his best form at Istanbul Basaksehir.

Reiss Nelson

Another Gunners player still at the club is Reiss Nelson, though for how much longer remains to be seen. The forward is out of contract at the end of the season and negotiations over a new deal are ongoing, with Brighton and Aston Villa hoping to seize any opportunity to acquire the playmaker as a free agent.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

One of the most significant changes that Arteta has made at Arsenal is ridding the dressing room of players with big egos and that aren’t fully focused on his vision, including then-club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The forward left for Barcelona before joining Chelsea, a move that has seen his career stall once again.

Alexandre Lacazette

French striker Alexandre Lacazette re-joined Lyon over the summer after opting not to renew his contract with Arsenal. The 31-year-old has thrived back in the Ligue 1, scoring 24 in 33 appearances for the club and he may be the one that got away too soon for Arteta.

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