Mikel Arteta took over at Arsenal in December 2019, taking a look back at the starting line-up from his first game, the 1-1 draw against Bournemouth on Gift Day 2019.
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Goalkeeper: Bernd Leno
Leno leaves Arsenal after four seasons in 2022, joining Fulham after losing his place to Aaron Ramsdale. Fortunately, Leno performed very well last season at Fulham.
Right-back: Ainsley Maitland-Niles
In Arteta’s debut team, Maitland-Niles was an unanticipated addition that helped the Gunners defeat Liverpool in the Community Shield and win the FA Cup in 2020. But in January 2022, he was loaned out to Roma, then to Southampton, and now he is a free agent.
Centre-Back : Sokratis
Despite some encouraging performances under Emery, Sokratis was eventually dropped from Arteta’s starting line-up. He joined Olympiacos, where he remains to this day.
Centre-Back : David Luiz
Luiz’s status as a leader and mentor to young players led Arteta to hand him a new contract in 2020, before the Brazil international left a year later. The defender has now returned to Brazil with Flamengo.
Left-back: Bukayo Saka
From the fledgling full-back to the elite striker, Saka is arguably one of the greatest success stories of the Arteta era.
Central Midfield : Lucas Torreira
Torreira suffered a serious injury in 2020, and never reached the same peaks of form as before. Arteta loaned him to Atletico Madrid and Fiorentina, before parting ways with the Uruguay international last summer. He is currently playing in Galatasaray.
Central Midfield : Granit Xhaka
The Switzerland international was thought to be about to join Jose Mourinho’s Roma after impressing at EURO 2020, but then stayed and signed a new contract until 2024. He had just had an excellent season but still left when the Gunners brought in many quality names.
Attacking Midfielder: Mesut Ozil
When the German international moves Fenerbahce in January 2021, his protracted and painful farewell to Arsenal will come to a close. He moved to Istanbul Basaksehir after failing to revive his career there and declared his retirement earlier this year.
Right winger: Reiss Nelson
He played a small role at Feyenoord in the 2021/2022 season, having returned to the Emirates, scoring a few goals to be awarded a new contract.
Left winger: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Aubameyang helped the Gunners win their first title of the Arteta era, scoring in the semi-finals and final of the 2020 FA Cup as they beat Manchester City and Chelsea. But the striker’s form declined after signing a new contract that summer and he arrived at Barcelona in January 2022. He quickly returned to London in a Chelsea shirt.
Center-Forward : Alexandre Lacazette
At Lyon, Lacazette was regarded as one of the top strikers in Europe, but he was unable to maintain that position at Arsenal. The striker has now returned to Lyon after leaving the Gunners at the end of the season before his contract expired.