Arsenal did well to get a draw at Anfield against Liverpool in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final and with the second leg at home almost upon us, let’s take a look at the predicted lineup.
It was a tough match for the Gunners as they were under a lot of pressure once Granit Xhaka got sent off. But in a display that would have made the manager very proud, they managed to hang on with a resolute defensive performance.
Though Bernd Leno has been given more chances in the Cup, it is likely that Aaron Ramsdale remains in goal. Given the number of players that are unavailable for Thursday, it is likely that Arteta shifts to a three-man backline.
That would see Calum Chambers, Rob Holding and Kieran Tierney start as the central defenders. This is a setup that the north Londoners have used before and one that has worked out very well for them.
In midfield, there are a lot of question marks regarding who will be chosen to partner Albert Sambi Lokonga. The Belgian is the only fit central midfielder at the moment and though Charlie Patino can play there, it would be too much of a risk to put him in a match as big as this. Keeping that in mind, it is likely that the player chosen is Ben White, who has played there in the past.
As for the wingbacks, the left-hand side is taken care of with the inclusion of Nuno Tavares, who is excellent at bombing forward. On the right side, it is not known if either Cedric or Takehiro Tomiyasu are going to be fit. And though it might be an unpopular choice, Bukayo Saka is going to be the one playing there. Despite playing on his wrong side, the Englishman has the talent to do well.
In attack, Arsenal are missing a few players and that limits the options they have. So, it could be a front three of Gabriel Martinelli, Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette. It is going to be another tough game for the Gunners. But if they can somehow pull through and overcome Liverpool, that will give them a lot of confidence when facing Chelsea.
Arsenal Predicted Lineup Against Liverpool (3-4-3):
Aaron Ramsdale, Calum Chambers, Rob Holding, Kieran Tierney, Bukayo Saka, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Ben White, Nuno Tavares, Gabriel Martinelli, Alexandre Lacazette, Eddie Nketiah
Read More: More details emerge on Arsenal’s transfer offer for Dusan Vlahovic
