Arsenal hierarchy prediction for Raheem Sterling, Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori

Neto is expected to support David Raya between the sticks, but the other trio of new faces will all be fighting for regular playing time.

There will be a lot of competition for playing time within Mikel Arteta's team.

Calafiori is expected to play primarily as a left-back for the Gunners, although he can also operate as a centre-back. However, players such as Jurrien Timber, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jakub Kiwior and Takehiro Tomiyasu will compete with the Italian for the full-back position.

Meanwhile, Merino is determined to secure the third spot in midfield alongside Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard.

However, Merino picked up an injury in his first training session with Arsenal, meaning the club's fans will have to wait for him to stake his claim for a place in the starting line-up.

Sterling will struggle to displace Bukayo Saka in Arteta's starting XI on the right wing, but he undoubtedly has the ability and pedigree to secure the left wing spot ahead of Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli if he can replicate the form that shone during his time at Manchester City.

Arteta believes he can get Sterling back to his best.

What Arsenal expects from Mikel Merino, Raheem Sterling and Riccardo Calafiori

Sources who spoke exclusively to Arsenal Insider have now given an insight into the club's management's attitude towards the deals made in the summer.

At the Emirates Stadium, there is a feeling that by Christmas at least two, if not all three – Sterling, Calafiori and Merino – will have established themselves as regular starters.

If this expectation is fulfilled, it can be assumed that Arteta and sporting director Edu Gaspar have once again distinguished themselves in the market.

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Of course, as players like Merino, Sterling and Calafiori rise in the rankings, there will also be players whose reputation will decline in return.

Trossard, for example, has struggled to displace Martinelli in the pecking order and the Belgian may now find himself facing a battle with Sterling.

Trossard and Arteta have clashed in the past and if the former Brighton player finds his options limited by the arrival of the Chelsea loanee, it could cause problems for the manager.

Likewise, Kiwior is already on the fringes of the squad at the Emirates Stadium and Calafiori's influence could confirm that the Poland international's future lies elsewhere.

In addition to other Premier League clubs, Chelsea are interested in Kiwior, so a departure in January is possible.

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