Arsenal host Manchester City in a huge clash between last season’s top two sides. Last Word on Football looks at an Arsenal Predicted lineup.
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Arsenal Predicted Lineup
Arsenal Predicted Lineup: David Raya in Goal for Arsenal
Mikel Arteta is likely to play summer signing David Raya ahead of out of favour Aaron Ramsdale. The Englishman has only played one of Arsenal’s previous six matches, the victory over Brentford in the EFL Cup. The Spanish international was way off his best in the shock defeat against Lens, but it looks as though Arteta has decided that Raya is his new first-choice goalkeeper.
Watch: Last Word on Football analyse Arsenal this season.
Trusted Back Four Reinstated
Takehiro Tomiyasu was the chosen right back in the Champions League against Lens, but expect Ben White to return to the starting lineup for the visit of Manchester City.
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One of the keys to Arsenal’s success was the consistency of White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Oleksandr Zinchenko, with the latter inverting into midfield from left-back being a key theme in Arsenal’s success.
Too Soon for Thomas Partey
When these two sides met in the Community Shield in August, playing Thomas Partey alongside Declan Rice as a double pivot was one of the main reasons Arsenal nullified the Manchester City press. Encouragingly for the North London side, their Ghanaian midfielder has returned to training after sustaining a groin injury earlier in the season and was an unused substitute against Lens.
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However, with a lack of match fitness, it is likely that Arteta will not risk Partey from the start, despite the midfielder being previously described as “important.” However, he may well play a crucial role off the bench. Therefore, Rice and Martin Odergaard will likely be joined by Kai Havertz in midfield despite his underwhelming start to life at The Emirates.
Bukayo Saka to be Risked
With the likely omission of Gabriel Martinelli due to injury, Arsenal need to rely on the width and quality of Bukayo Saka, and the upcoming international break may tempt Arteta to risk him.
The former Man City striker Gabriel Jesus will lead the line for the Gunners, with his linkup play going to be vital to prevent the treble winners from returning to Manchester with three points.
Arsenal Recent Form and Tactics
The Gunners fell to their first defeat of the season in their 2-1 loss at Lens. That blip should do nothing to discourage Arsenal supporters from what has been a strong start to the new campaign.
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How Arsenal set up tactically will depend on whether the Gunners rush Partey back into the starting lineup. Arteta will want control of the game, so playing with the double pivot could be vital to this in front of the Emirates crowd.
Arsenal Recent Injuries
Over the past two weeks, Arsenal have been plagued with niggles, keeping vital players out of action. The latest is Saka, whose absence would be a blow in such a big game. This is even more so with the likely omission of Gabriel Martinelli, who has missed the past few matches with a hamstring injury. The only long-term injury relates to summer signing Jurrien Timber, who will be out of action until the new year.
Arsenal Predicted Lineup
Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Rice, Havertz, Odergaard, Saka, Jesus, Trossard.
