Which players do you expect to step up?

I thought about making a thread where you’d write your expectations for pretty much every player in the squad for the forthcoming season. Since people on here probably have a personal life to tend to though, I contemplated it’d be better and probably more interesting for all of us if we could narrow it down to which players in the squad you expect to make a marked improvement in performances and increase their impact on the team instead. During the last 6 seasons we’ve had a player or two really stepping up from one season to another.

In 05/06 we went to the CL final and we barely scraped 4th place. It was a season where we saw the decline of Pires and Ljungberg while Paddy had left the season before so we lacked creativity in midfield. Up stepped Cesc Fabregas to fill that plug. Lehmann went from being a good keeper to world class keeper with his performances in the CL.

06/07 was a **** season to put it mildly but there was one player who really stepped up his game and also became a vital goal scorer and that was Gilberto Silva who scored 10 goals in the PL that season.

In 07/08 we were oh so close to winning the PL. Flamini went from being a target for Birmingham to one of our best players this season while Adebayor scored 30 goals in all comps.

08/09 was another season to forget but the warrior that is Bac Sagna became a key player while RvP scored 20 goals in all comps. Bendtner also deserves a mention as he starred in 50 games while scoring 15 goals.

09/10 was the season where Cesc carried us almost singlehandedly. No one really stepped it up but Cesc, Vermalen had an amazing season while Song was slowly becoming an important player for us.

In 10/11 we were in all competitions at the end of February but collapsed remarkably and in almost unfathomable fashion. Nasri’s first half of the season was of immense quality but he faltered with the rest of the team during the business end of the season. Wilshere showed fantastic promise as well and I think his impact came as a surprise to all of us.

In the just foregone 11/12 season RvP got rid of his injury problems and went on to score an amazing 37 goals in all comps while Laurent Koscielny really stepped up and improved his consistency.

So hopefully we’ll see another player or two really step up as well in the forthcoming season but who do you expect to do it?

Got a feeling Gervinho will step up bigtime compared to last season. He looked dangerous going to the byline but clueless when it was time for an end product, and you'd think he's got a better understanding of his teammates now.

Also expect Podolski and Walcott to score 15+ goals in all comps.

I have a feeling if Ramsey has a good Olympics/pre-season that he will kick on and have a good season. Agree with Dokaka too, i think Gervinho will improve and score more.

Also have a feeling that Gibbs will make the left spot his own if he stays fit and Vermaelen will show he's one of the best defenders in the league.

Coquelin and Giroud tbh, I just have a feeling these two will be good.

Ox as well I feel will start making a scene in the first team, Arteta as well I feel is going to start becoming even more influential and pick up where he left off last season.
He started out being quite negative in his play but in the last 10 or so games he started moving forward, scored a screamer and playing higher up the pitch when needed.

Gervinho and the Ox for me.

I feel as though Gerv has a point to prove, particularly to his doubters, (DJM comes to mind ). I still have faith in his ability and I expect him to be a great deal better than he was last season, that being said I didn't think his début season with us was bad anyway.

The Ox, he's our gem. Hopefully he can use the Euro's experience to grow as a player he has all the ability, and the right attitude, I'm excited to see what he can do for us next season.

Vermaelen - Noticed that he was getting unwarranted criticism towards the end of last season, so he'll probably put that to bed in the first 1-2 games.

Gibbs - If he can somehow stay injury free, and that's a big 'if', I'd expect to see him make great strides towards fulfilling that potential of his.

Gervinho - He's had his rookie year, and now it's time to deliver. I really do think we'll see the best of him next season, and I wouldn't be surprised if he was our highest scoring midfielder next year by quite some distance, if given the opportunity.

(My Wildcard) - Coquelin - I think this year we'll see Coquelin feature a lot more than last, and I particularly expect him to feature a lot more in the central of midfield. This could be the season where he really throws down the gauntlet, and earns himself that first team spot.

Just so long as we don't start looking to the kids to be promoted from the Youth / Reserves I'll be happy...........

Next season I expect Chamberlain to kick up a gear and make a first team place his. Imo next season he will have displaced Theo (if he stays) in our starting line up. Vermaelen will shake off his poor form and show why he's a good CB, as will Szczesny. Not sure how our two signings will settle in but I hope they hit the ground running. Gibbs if he stays injury free will start to fulfill some of his potential, expect Gervinho to show improvement statistically and performance wise too.

And I know I'm probably alone in this, but I just have that feeling when Wilshere comes back he will remind everyone how good he is. I know he will probably be eased in and miss the start of the season but I expect he will kick on and become the gem in our midfield. Hopefully if RVP stays we can expect another great season from him with some help from the new strikers to ease the burden. Also have high hopes for Ramsey this coming season.

As others have mentioned, I'd love to see Gervinho step up after his first season. He was in and out of the team so would love for him to have a proper run out and prove the doubters wrong as I believe he has the talent to succeed here.

Also want to see more of Coquelin and for Ramsey to get his act together.

Vermaelen surely can't get any worse anyway, had a very mediocre season and can do better.

If Coquelin is playing too many games, I'll be worried.

I really expect Gervinho to step up big time. The guy scored nearly 30 goals in two seasons with Lille and his international record is decent as well. He showed last season that he has the skill set to be impact player at the top level and now he has got get his head straight and start putting the ball in the back of the net.

I also expect Ox and, if healthy, Gibbs take a step forward.

Expect Podolski do fit our game well, disappointing euro campaing from him, but I kind of like his discplined style, he knows his role is to add goal threat not doing fancy stuff on the ball. If we get our central midfield working, and RVP stays I think he'll get very good numbers from a wideforward position.

I fully expect Walcott to improve again this season, but not obviously enough to stop the pitchforks and torches brigade from calling for his head.

Vermaelen - Noticed that he was getting unwarranted criticism towards the end of last season, so he'll probably put that to bed in the first 1-2 games.

Gibbs - If he can somehow stay injury free, and that's a big 'if', I'd expect to see him make great strides towards fulfilling that potential of his.

Gervinho - He's had his rookie year, and now it's time to deliver. I really do think we'll see the best of him next season, and I wouldn't be surprised if he was our highest scoring midfielder next year by quite some distance, if given the opportunity.

(My Wildcard) - Coquelin - I think this year we'll see Coquelin feature a lot more than last, and I particularly expect him to feature a lot more in the central of midfield. This could be the season where he really throws down the gauntlet, and earns himself that first team spot.

Sums it up for me esp on Gibbs. He had a good run of games last season ending with that tackle in our last game. If he stays fit i would back him to have a breakthrough season.would also add song and theo to the list of players who need a consistently good season for us.

If Song, Scezney, Gibbs and Vermaelen improve on last season, I'll be a very happy Gooner.

I expect le Coq (if we don't get M'Vila or another defensive minded midfielder), Gibbs and one of Szczesny or Martinez to realy step up.

I fully expect Gervinho and Ramsey to really turn it on next season.

I'm not convinced by Gervhino, he's not terrible but looks limited.

Hope he proves me wrong.

Not so much to step up but to really grab the bulls by the horn in Arteta. Think he could make the difference next season.

Ramsey - first chance to see what he can do without coming back from his injury

Gervinho - Needs to show the goal scoring touch he had in france and improve his alround finishing technique and decison making, think he can do it though ACON might **** it all up again.

Gibbs - Get real game time week after week and improve his postitioning and he may be our more stable left back

Theo - Needs to press on and not just rely on pace to burn opponents playing a high line, justify your contract and place in the teaml.

Gervinho - I expect a better season from Gervinho than last season, he had to adapt to the Premiership and then went the African Cup of Nations. Where he missed the penalty in the final and it damaged his confidence. Hopefully he scores more goals as well.

Song - His defensive game I think has to step up to what it was last season.

Vermaelen - His form has to improve next season to what it was in the last couple of months of the season just gone.

Chamberlain - Hopefully he can offer a lot more next season.

I'm expecting a number of players to step up, and really I think we need more than a few to do so if we are going to improve on this past season.

Giroud and Podolski - I think both our new boys will make a significant impact, but likely more so in the latter half of the season after they have had time to adjust. Giroud especially may take a few months to settle as its not yet clear how he will fit into the team.

Wilshere - I realize he's already had his season of stepping up, but I'm expecting a fairly massive re-stepping once he is finally back in the full swing of things. I think we are going to very quickly realize just how much we missed this guy last year.

Ramsey - Looking for him to improve a lot on last season and give us another genuine option in the midfield.

Andre Santos - I don't know why, but I just have a feeling this guy is going have a big season now that he's had some time to adjust to the league. He already scored some pretty massive goals for us last year, and if he improves defensively he could become undroppable. That said, Gibbs could be the one to step up. One of them needs to claim the starting spot in order to improve the stability of the back line.

edit: almost forgot the Ox - of course really looking for him to improve on the potential he's already shown and really start to assert a claim to be a regular in the team.

Over the course of last season only two players; RVP and Koscielyn; performed at a level where I wouldn't expect to see improvement in the following season.

Sagna was hurt for half of the season, Merts was just learning about the EPL, TV made uncharacteristic mistakes, and Gibbs and Santos both had areas that they needed to improve on. I'd expect all five of them to step up this season.

In midfield Song had a great season, but could still improve defensively. Arteta also had an adaptation period, so he should feel more comfortable and improve this season. Ramsey had a shocker of a season, so I expect him to improve a lot. Also, if jack and Diaby are healthy they will be big time players this season. Coquelin will also be better next season.

Gervinho could improve a lot and going to the African Cup of Nations did not help him out at all. Theo will probably improve as a goal scoring threat and not just be an assist machine to RVP. Ox will really push for a starting spot, and Podolski and Giroud should make big impacts too.

Szczesny also needs to be more reliable, hopefully, he fixes his issues that we saw at the Euros.

It is kind of crazy to think that we finished in 3rd and only had two players that I would say had really good seasons.

Agree with those who said Gibbs! Think Ramsey will have a better season too.

Podolski to do serious damage next season. I'm expecting 15+

Walcott to be far more aggressive in front of goal. I'm expecting near 20.

I did a similar thread this time last year, and it was interesting to look back and see who did and didn't step up last season.

2 of the main players that people thought would step up were Wilshere and Frimpong. Wilshere who didn't kick a ball last season, and Frimpong who barely got any playing time after September, and then went out on loan, only to get injured.

Next season, I have a real feeling that Gervinho will step up. I don't like the player because of his mentality, but I genuinely see him becoming a beast next season. I hope to get to see him playing more on the right now, where he clearly looks more comfortable.

I don't think Chamberlain will be a first teamer by the end of next season, because I think Podolski will settle well, and we'll have Gervinho and Podolski on the wings, however I think he'll get a lot more appearances under his belt than he did this season. Once Gervinho starts knocking in the goals, and Chamberlain begins to get more minutes, it could spell the end for Walcott.

Saying that, I want to see Chamberlain in the centre a bit more, like we did against Milan. Was terrific there.

Santos - I think will become a quality attacking full back up there with the best. He needs to get fit though.

Chamberlain - I can see kicking on and making some vital contributions.

Theo - Really think next season is the one where he becomes on of the leagues most feared players.

Vermaelen: With a full pre-season at CB I fully expect him to re-establish himself as one of the best CB's in the league, back to the form he showed in his first season, I think moving LB for such a long time then just being thrown back into CB really unsettled him.

Jenkinson: Fully expecting him to have a very good season, he'll have his chance too whilst Sagna is out injured till mid-September from the last reports I saw about him.

Santos: Expect him to really step up and take that LB spot next season, a proper, full pre-season to get fully fit, I can see him chipping in with quite a few important goals.

Wilshere: For some reason I can just see him slotting back in like he was never away, he just seems the type to come in and hit the ground running, also as a consequence of this I'm expecting to see a lot more from Theo and Gervinho due to Jack's passing ability and ability to create space with his dribbling.

Ramsey and Gervinho from the firs team squad, and Coquelin to really push on and 'do a Flamini'.

Andre Santos
Gervinho
Ramsey
Chamberlain