How Arsenal could line up next season by signing Declan Rice and two other transfer targets

Mikel Arteta is attempting to go one better next season and actually beat Manchester City to the Premier League title, and he could have several line ups to pick from.

Arsenal managed to lead the Premier League for 93% of last season, something that no one would have predicted a year ago before it began.

Of course they would inevitably be caught and overtaken by the juggernaut that Pep Guardiola led to league, FA Cup and Champions League success.

Arteta now has two objections for next season, stay ahead of those behind who want to take their place and prove that their title aspirations weren't one and done.

One way Arteta is trying to make sure those both happen is by signing West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice, though City are also after him.

The north Londoners are also expected to add Kai Havertz to their squad this summer and are also interested in defender Jurrien Timber.

Southampton's Romeo Lavia is a fourth who could join over the transfer window making the manager's job an intriguing one next season.

We've put together four potential line ups for Guardiola's former assistant to use from August.

Arteta's first line up.

Okay so with our first suggestion we haven't done all too much to the team that did well last season and Arteta might argue why would you.

With Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka both expected to leave this summer we've replaced them with Lavia and Rice in midfield.

Outside of that it is as you were for the Gunners, maybe this is only likely if Havertz's move from Chelsea isn't confirmed in the end.

Arsenal could go with a different formation instead

If Arteta decides to follow his mentor's Treble winning tactics in order to catch City then this is how the manager might choose to line up.

Timber can play wide right or in the middle of defence so teaming with William Saliba and Gabriel in a back three should work for him.

Oleksandr Zinchenko often plays in the middle of the park anyway so could easily play there whilst Rice does the John Stones.

Havertz and Odegaard playing in behind Gabriel Jesus could make the Gunners even more dangerous going forward.

The third potential choice

Going back to Arteta's current tactics, Timber this time plays on the right with Ben White coming back into the middle after being used wide last season.

Rice this time partners Jorginho in midfield as it seems that Lazio's interest in the former Chelsea star is now over and he could stay this summer.

This time Havertz and Odegaard are both playing together again but Odegaard will be used on the left. It might seem to make more sense for the German to go there but he proved at Stamford Bridge that doesn't tend to work.

If Arteta fancies something completely different

Okay so Matt Turner seems unlikely to to play in goal ahead of Ramsdale but I was fed up of only picking the Englishman in goal.

Timber again plays on the right but it's a more conventional back four with Gabriel and Saliba in the centre and Zinchenko on the left.

Many think Havertz is going to resort to being a left sided eight at the Emirates and playing Jorginho behind him makes that possible, and Rice works best when allowed to get forward too.

Leandro Trossard impressed after arriving from Brighton back in January and he deserves to start upfront with Martinelli and Saka on the wings.