>Finally after an extremely busy Monday, the summer transfer window has come to an exciting close.
Radamel Falcao made an astonishing switch to Manchester United, with Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez making room for the Colombian by moving to Real Madrid and Arsenal respectively.
With Olivier Giroud injured for the rest of the year, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will need to switch around his personal in order to get the best out of his squad.
It is expected the French boss will stick with his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, but which players – not including the injured Giroud – will best fit his system?
Here is Arsenal’s best starting XI this season until January.
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Goalkeeper: Wojciech Szczesny
Wojciech Szczseny has been Arsenal’s number-one the past few seasons, putting in some impressive displays but has the knack to lose concentration from time to time.
He will however be kept on his toes by new signing David Ospina, who had a good World Cup for Colombia this past summer.
Expect the hard-to-spell Poland international to be between the sticks at the Emirates, but a costly mistake could give Ospina his chance to become Arsenal’s main goalkeeper.
Left-Back: Kieran Gibbs
When fit, the speedy Englishman is a guaranteed starter on the left-sick of Arsene Wenger’s back-line. Unfortunately Kieran Gibbs seems to have a problem staying fit, which has seen his playing time limited the past couple of seasons.
Gibbs is extremely quick on his feet and has the ability to supply an excellent cross into the box with his left, and while his replacement Nacho Monreal is decent on the ball, he is nowhere nearly as fast.
Sadly only 51 minutes into the first game Gibbs has already limped off, but will be keen to stay in the regular 11.
Centre-Back: Per Mertesacker
Per Mertesacker arrived from Werder Bremen back in 2011 and has been a mainstay at centre-back for Arsene Wenger.
The big German may be considered slow, but he makes up for his lack of speed with a keen reading of the game and being a strong presence in the air.
Centre-Back: Laurent Koscielny
Laurent Koscielny is the other definite starter in Arsene Wenger’s line-up, forming a perfect pairing with Per Mertesacker.
Koscielny’s tough and direct approach greatly compliments Mertesacker’s slow and thoughtful approach, as the Frenchman is quick as well as powerful.
Unless one or the other is injured, it’s hard to see new £16million wonderkid Calum Chambers get the nod in the middle.
Right-Back: Mathieu Debuchy
After the departure of Bacary Sagna to Manchester City, Arsene Wenger’s priority in the summer was to sign a replacement, and Debuchy is an excellent replacement to Sagna.
Bought from Newcastle for just £8million, Debuchy is quick, tough, fast, and has the ability to maraud down the right flank to supply a decent cross.
Debuchy was able to oust Sagna from being the starting right-back for France, and should be considered an upgrade for the Gunners.
Defensive Midfielder: Mikel Arteta
The Arsenal captain this season, Arteta will start as one of the defensive midfielders in the double pivot.
The Spaniard has a good eye for the pass, but has his focus more on keeping possession than adding an attacking impetus.
Arteta’s style of play causes there to be the need of more creative players in front of him, which fortunately Arsenal have in abundance.
Central Midfielder: Aaron Ramsey
When he isn’t away from the papers being caught with a cigar, Jack Wilshere is Arsenal’s best central midfielder when fit.
But Wilshere hasn’t developed as earlier predicted, allowing Aaron Ramsey to blossom into one of the best goal-scoring midfielders in the Premier League.
In just 23 league appearances last season, Ramsey scored 10 goals and provided a further nine assists, showcasing his attacking abilities from the middle of the park.
If Arsenal have a fully fit squad, it’s hard to see Ramsey left out for Wilshere at this form.
Left Midfield: Santi Cazorla
Arsenal’s abundance of talent in their attacking third is dilemma any manager would love to have, and Santi Cazorla is the best Gunner to play on the left.
Cazorla combined amazing technique with accurate passing, but his ability to use either foot with such ease makes him a dangerous player in and around the box.
After a blistering first season in the Premier League – with 13 goals and 12 assists – last season the arrival of Mesut Ozil saw him sidelined for much of the campaign but Wenger realizes the Spaniard is too good to leave on the bench.
Expect to see much more of Cazorla once again this season.
Right Midfield: Theo Walcott
Theo Walcott is known, like many other speedy players, as one of Arsenal’s best, when fit.
The right-winger has been England’s big hope ever since making Sven Goran Eriksson’s 2006 World Cup squad as a 16-year-old, but has been blight by injuries.
Now still only 25, Walcott is set to enter the prime of his career and will be a mainstay on the right side of the Gunners’ attacking midfield if he can keep his injury problems away.
Remember Robin van Persie and his injury issues before?
Attacking midfield: Mesut Ozil
Arsenal’s most expensive ever transfer had an indifferent campaign last season, starting off well but not living up to the massive expectation placed on his shoulders.
The German has however been touted to improve this time around having adapted to the English game, and after his World Cup hangover should come out firing on all cylinders with assists.
Even last season, when he was considered under-par, Ozil managed to supply 10 league assists. Now he needs someone on the end of his creative passes, someone with a deadly finish.
Centre-Forward: Alexis Sanchez
Yes Arsene Wenger splashed £16million on Danny Welbeck on deadline day, but once Alexis Sanchez adapts to the Premier League, there is very little a defence can stop an in-form Sanchez.
The Chilean star is face, strong, has great technique as well being a masterclass finisher.
Sanchez is also extremely versatile, able to play anywhere in the four attacking positions in Wenger’s line-up.
Last season at Barcelona, although by anyways a guaranteed starter, Sanchez manager 21 goals in his 54 appearances. If he can get anywhere near that number, then the £35million Arsenal paid for his goal-scoring exploits will look like peanuts.
Even if Giroud returns but Sanchez can’t stop scoring, the Frenchman may still continue warming the bench for the time being.
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