Arteta to make 4 big changes | Predicted Arsenal XI vs Brentford as £6m star returns
Arsenal face Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium in tonight’s Premier League game.
The Gunners are presently three points ahead of Manchester City at the top of the standings, and can reclaim a six-point lead with a London derby win.
The club have won their last four league meetings at Brentford, but face a sterner challenge this time with the Bees having picked up 20 points in the last 10 matches.
Ahead of the encounter, manager Mikel Arteta could make up to four changes to the starting XI. Kai Havertz has recently been ruled out with a fresh muscle injury.
Formation: 4-3-3
Predicted Line-up:
David Raya is an undisputed starter between the sticks for the Gunners in the league. He has kept 13 clean sheets in the campaign and will be eyeing another shutout against his former club.
The backline could witness a solitary change from the 3-0 win over Sunderland last weekend. We expect Jurrien Timber, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes to keep their places.
Riccardo Calafiori could make way for Piero Hincapie in the left-back position. Calafiori gifted possession multiple times against the Black Cats and has looked rusty since his injury return.
Arteta could rely on the defensive assurance of Hincapie over the Italian tonight.
Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice are nailed-on starters in the heart of the midfield, but there will be an enforced change ahead of them with Havertz ruled out for the next three matches.
The manager did not confirm whether Martin Odegaard could be involved after his recent injury. With Mikel Merino also sidelined, Eberechi Eze looks assured to start as the attacking midfielder.
Eze has a point to prove, having fallen down the pecking order for a starting league role. The 27-year-old seems poised to make his first league start since December against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
In the final third, Bukayo Saka may not make the first XI. The Englishman has been nursing a hip problem in recent games and could be restricted to a cameo role if he is deemed match fit.
Noni Madueke is a strong candidate to start on the right wing, while Gabriel Martinelli could get the nod on the opposite flank, with Leandro Trossard also doubtful for the London derby.
The Belgian had a fine game against the Black Cats. He provided the assist for the opening goal and delivered a perfect through ball for Havertz in the lead-up to the second goal scored by Viktor Gyokeres.
Trossard unfortunately picked up a knock late on. Hence, we anticipate Martinelli, signed for just £6 million from Ituano, to get the nod. The 24-year-old has been in fine form himself.
He has made 13 goal contributions in the campaign and recently provided a fantastic assist on the counter-attack for Gyokeres’ second goal against Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium.
It is a no-brainer decision over who should lead the attack. Gyokeres scored a brace coming off the bench last weekend and has 13 goals for the season. He is expected to replace Gabriel Jesus.
How Arsenal could line up vs Brentford tonight
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
The post Arteta to make 4 big changes | Predicted Arsenal XI vs Brentford as £6m star returns first appeared on ArsenalNews.co.uk.