Arsenal return to the Emirates on Sunday as they continue their charge for the Premier League and this time it is Unai Emery’s Aston Villa standing in their way, so let’s take a look at the predicted lineup.
The Gunners played against Bayern Munich in an absorbing match on Tuesday but could only secure a draw. With that second leg looming large, they have the task of beating the Villains who themselves have ambitions of finishing in the top four.
David Raya will continue in goal and would be keen to add to his clean sheet tally in the league. As for the full-backs, it is going to be Ben White and Jakub Kiwior as the latter offers more support on the left-hand side.
William Saliba and Gabriel are going to be the central combination once again. They will surely have a tough time defending against the likes of Ollie Watkins and Moussa Diaby. Given the pace and skill the visitors possess, it is not going to be an easy game.
In midfield, we could see Jorginho start once again as he is more likely to be on the bench against Bayern in the 2nd leg. The Italian will have Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard ahead of him. These three will have to ensure that the frontline is given the ball a lot.
With Kai Havertz having played a lot of games, Arteta might decide to give the German some rest by benching him. That could see Gabriel Jesus start from the off and the Brazilian has already given fans a glimpse of his talent during the week.
The wingers are likely to be Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard as the manager would like to keep his players fresh by rotating them. Making use of the options at his disposal will be a measure of how Arteta is dealing with the season’s challenges.
Arsenal have an incredibly packed April but this is what the elite teams are meant to handle. If they can get a win, it will be another step in their evolution and show the rest of the league that they really do mean business.
Arsenal Predicted Lineup Against Aston Villa (4-3-3):
David Raya, Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel, Jakub Kiwior, Jorginho, Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus
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