Arsenal face Liverpool in the Premier League today and Mikel Arteta will make some tough decisions on his starting lineup.
The Gunners beat Bodo/Glimt 3-0 in the Europa League on Thursday night, coasting past the Norwegian side in style.
That gave Arteta a great chance to rotate his side and rest some players ahead of this huge clash with Liverpool today.
A victory would truly leave Arsenal fans believing that they can not only finish in the top four this season, but possibly even challenge Manchester City.
Arsenal predicted lineup v Liverpool
Matt Turner started against Bodo/Glimt but he doesn’t really seem close to replacing Aaron Ramsdale in the Premier League, so barring any late issues, Ramsdale should start again today.
William Saliba has been outstanding this season and his impressive partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes is likely to continue against Liverpool.
Ben White has shifted over to right back to accommodate Saliba and he looks set to start there again today, setting him up for a tough outing against Luis Diaz.
Over at left back, Oleksandr Zinchenko has been carrying a knock and Charles Watts claims that he is a ‘big doubt’ for this game.
That means Kieran Tierney looks likely to start at left back for Arsenal today.
Thomas Partey has endured injury problems of late but should be fit to start in Arsenal’s holding midfield role.
Fabio Viera’s excellent display against Bodo/Glimt at least puts him into Arteta’s thinking but, whilst calling him a ‘real threat’, Arteta did note that the Portuguese playmaker needs to do more off the ball.
That means Vieira will have to wait a little longer for first-team starts and it would be harsh to drop Granit Xhaka or Martin Odegaard right now.
Xhaka is in great form and Odegaard is the creative hub of the Arsenal team, so both should keep their places today.
It should then be a rather familiar attack; Gabriel Jesus leading the line with Gabriel Martinelli on the left and Bukayo Saka on the right going forward.
That would then leave the likes of Turner, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Rob Holding, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Vieira, Marquinhos and Eddie Nketiah on the bench for Arsenal.
Arsenal predicted lineup v Liverpool: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey; Saka, Odegaard, Xhaka, Martinelli; Jesus.
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