What a response Mikel Arteta has drawn from Arsenal.
Since losing at Everton a fortnight ago, Arsenal have won three Premier League outings in a row.
The Gunners have scored nine and conceded only one during this mini resurgence and you have to tip your hat to Arteta for pushing his players to be better.
For most Premier League teams it isn’t a good time to play the North Londoners – and if you’re a League One outfit then, well, Tuesday’s clash at the Emirates Stadium represents a massive challenge.
Sunderland visit London for the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup tomorrow night.
But despite Arsenal’s blistering form in the league, the Spanish manager could and probably will ring the changes.
However, Arteta won’t go overboard in resting big-name players, even if the hectic Christmas period is upon us.
Victory over the Black Cats would put Arsenal only three games away [the semi-final is a two-legged affair] from winning their second trophy under Arteta, who won an FA Cup in 2020.
Swansong
One player likely to come into the starting eleven is Mohamed Elneny.
Elneny, a £7 million signing in 2016, will more than likely deputise for Granit Xhaka, who is only just back from a three-month layoff.
Labelled as ‘special‘ by Arteta last year, this could be the Egypt international’s last game for Arsenal.
The former Basel midfielder is scheduled to leave for the Africa Cup of Nations later this month and has also been heavily linked with a January transfer to Turkey.
One Premier League start this season indicates that although Arteta likes Elneny, he doesn’t need him and offloading the player next month is probable.
In November, Fotomac reported that Arsenal were set to terminate his contract in January, allowing him to leave for free.
With him unlikely to play any Premier League games between now and AFCON, this could be the Egyptian’s swansong for the Gunners if he plays.
Here is how Arsenal could line up against Sunderland.
Predicted XI: Leno; Soares, Holding, Gabriel, Tavares; Maitland-Niles, Elneny; Pepe, Smith Rowe, Martinelli; Nketiah
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