Arsenal starting XI for 2016/17 Premier League season: Question marks over whether Wenger has done enough

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Arsenal will look to build on their second-place finish last season and take the final step towards ending their long wait for another Premier League title.

The Gunners were criticised last year as they were seen as the team to take full advantage of the struggles of their traditional rivals, but failed to do so with Leicester City instead claiming the crown.

In turn, Arsene Wenger came under further scrutiny and the veteran tactician now faces a crucial season as questions continue to be asked about his long-term future at the Emirates.

A quiet summer thus far hasn’t particularly helped the situation, with Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka an early recruit before impressing at Euro 2016, while there have been more underwhelming acquisitions in the form of Takuma Asano and Rob Holding.

However, as reported by Sky Sports, the Gunners have now agreed on personal terms with German defender Shkodran Mustafi, and while they have yet to agree on a fee with Valencia, it seems likely that the 24-year-old will come in before the deadline.

That is a crucial addition for Wenger given the central defensive pairing looks very shaky for the opening game against Liverpool, but over time Petr Cech will expect to see three familiar faces in front of him with Nacho Monreal, Laurent Koscielny and Hector Bellerin joining Mustafi in the back-line.

Looking further up the field, Wenger will have plenty of options in midfield, but a two-man deep-lying midfield partnership consisting of Xhaka and Santi Cazorla seems to tick plenty of boxes.

Francis Coquelin and Mohamed Elneny will make their case, while Jack Wilshere is back in the treatment room as Aaron Ramsey could be forced out wide again given the competition in the middle.

Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil will be tasked with providing the creativity and goals from midfield, while Olivier Giroud could be set to lead the line again.

It’s no secret that the Gunners need more prolific options up front, and so the French international could yet face stiffer competition before the end of the window.

Nevertheless, there is plenty of room for interpretation and changes in this line-up, with Alex Iwobi impressing last season, Theo Walcott pushing for a starting place while Chuba Akpom and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have done well in pre-season.

As a result, there is certainly depth there for Wenger already, but the question now is whether or not he can make those decisive additions which turn Arsenal from a potential contender to a genuine threat to win the title.

Arsenal - Football tactics and formations

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