Four days after beating Leicester City, Last Word on Football look to predict Arsenal’s lineup as they return to action against Everton at The Emirates on March 1. Arteta’s men will be looking to put some distance between them and Manchester City in second place.
Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs Everton
How Arsenal Have Lined up Recently
Arsenal come into this game having recorded back-to-back victories on the road against Aston Villa and Leicester City. Arteta made just one change for the win against The Foxes, with Eddie Nketiah being benched for Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard starting centrally. Bukayo Saka has been Arsenal’s mainstay in attack and has been in good form, with two goals and an assist in his last four games.
The sides’ defence has been largely unchanged in their last five games. Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba have played all five, while Benjamin White played four out of five matches, missing the game against Manchester City.
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Martin Odegaard and Granit Xhaka have both started the last five games together in midfield, with Jorginho effectively filling in for the injured Thomas Partey for Arsenal’s last three fixtures.
But with the Gunners playing three games in the space of seven days, changes to the lineup for the Everton fixture could be necessary. Left-back Kieran Tierney could start his first league game since Boxing Day. And there could be changes in midfield, with Arteta saying that he wants to give Fabio Vieira more minutes after the Aston Villa match.
Arsenal’s Recent Form
Arsenal have now won two games in a row after failing to win in three league matches before then. Losses to Manchester City and Wednesday’s opponents Everton knocked Arteta’s men off course, with City temporarily taking the top spot off Arteta’s men.
However, the north London side now look to have recovered from their brief blip in form and have the chance to strengthen their grip on first. A win will put five points between Arsenal and Manchester City in second place.
Arsenal’s Recent Tactics
Although Arteta might be tempted to switch tactics after losing 1-0 to Everton at the start of February, he has stuck with a 4-3-3 formation for much of this season and seems unlikely to move away from it. It gives his team width and their wingers have also looked dangerous when cutting inside. Saka and Martinelli have 18 league goals between them so far this season.
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The dynamism of Odegaard and Xhaka in midfield has also been effective, with their passing and movement causing teams problems while allowing Arsenal to control games.
Arsenal Injuries to Consider
Arteta remains without Gabriel Jesus and Mohamed Elneny. But Arsenal were handed a big boost over the weekend when Thomas Partey made a first appearance since injuring his back before the league game against Manchester City.
However, Arteta said in his Tuesday press conference that he might not be included in the starting lineup against Everton.
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“He hasn’t trained much,” Arteta said. “He had a session and he will train today. It is what it is. He was out for a few weeks and he needs to get back into the rhythm.”
There is also no need to rush Partey back, especially given how January signing Jorginho has been performing. The Italian has slotted into Arteta’s squad seamlessly, with the boss hailing his recent performance against Aston Villa as “tremendous.”
Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs Everton
GK – Aaron Ramsdale
RB – Takehiro Tomiyasu
CB – William Saliba
CB – Gabriel Magalhaes
LB – Kieran Tierney
DM – Jorginho
CM – Fabio Vieira
CM – Martin Odegaard
LW – Gabriel Martinelli
ST – Eddie Nketiah
RW – Bukayo Saka
