Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs Chelsea: How the Gunners Will Set Up in London Derby

As what promises to be a vital weekend of football approaches, Arsenal fans will already have more than just one eye on what could prove to be a massively important game in their fight against Manchester City for the league’s top spot this side of the World Cup break. As a result, manager Mikel Arteta’s top concern will be ensuring that his starting lineup is in a position to fight for victory.

London Derby as Leaders Arsenal Visit Graham Potter’s Blues

The @ArsenalAcademy boys ❤️ pic.twitter.com/BRo9kHnDWH

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 2, 2022

Mike Arteta’s Formula: How the League Leaders Have Lined Up Recently

Since the start of the season, Arsenal’s Premier League starting lineup has only seen more than one change on two occasions, and have named an unchanged eleven since their victory against Liverpool on October 9.

Mikel Arteta’s footballing vision has become crystal clear to both his players and the club’s fans this season, thanks in large part to the consistency of their structure.

Despite a slight blip in form in recent weeks, scraping a win against Leeds United, drawing at Southampton and losing to PSV Eindhoven in Europe, a change in philosophy seems exceptionally unlikely, particularly when considering their destructive display against Nottingham Forest last time out in the Premier League.

Arsenal Should See No Reason to Change

While Graham Potter may have established himself as an adaptable manager, changing formation week in and week out as both Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea coach, Arsenal’s strength comes from their ability to dominate games and play their own way, regardless of the opposition. This will certainly make for an entertaining tactical fight between the two managers, as Potter’s flexibility has the potential to catch Arteta’s men out. However, if Arsenal are at their best, there is very little reason to not see them winning this game.

The entire Arsenal first eleven has been so vital for Mikel Arteta this season, but arguably none more so than the two who have become the team’s first-choice full-backs: Ben White as a right-back and Takehiro Tomiyasu on the left. It is thanks to these two that the injuries to both Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kieran Tierney earlier in the season did not have any major repercussions.

Arteta has made his feelings about Ben White being one of the best players to coach clear and was full of praise with Tomiyasu in recent weeks as he has made the adjustment to left back.

Positive Injury News

While the 5-0 thrashing of Forest was a delightful afternoon for Arsenal fans, there was an element of concern over the injury to Bukayo Saka, who was substituted after just 27 minutes with an ankle injury. Since then, Arsenal have stated that the 21-year-old is fit to play but will likely be rested for Thursday’s game against Zurich. As a result, Saka is more than likely to start on Sunday.

Arsenal’s £32 million summer acquisition Oleksandr Zinchenko was in fine form for the Gunners until a calf injury in early October has kept him out for a month. However, he returned to first-team training earlier this week and is expected to appear on the bench this Sunday.