Arsenal v Dundalk Confirmed Team News & Predicted XI

Arsenal are readying themselves for their Europa League clash with Dundalk this evening, but will be preparing without David Luiz.

The Brazilian failed to complete the 90 minutes against Leicester at the weekend, and is set for further assessment before deciding if he will be able to return against Manchester United, but today will come too soon.

Rob Holding is also ruled out, but Arsenal confirm that they are hoping he will be able to return to full training as early as next week, while Calum Chambers is back in full training after 10 months out, but is still not expected to feature.

Pablo Mari is still a little slow with his recovery and is still in light training, but will now hope to be back in full training after the international break next month.

Willian is fit and ready to return however, and could well start against Dundalk, but I imagine he will be rested ahead of the weekend.

Predicted XI:

Leno
Cedric Mustafi Gabriel Kolasinac
Willock Xhaka Smith Rowe
Nelson Nketiah Pepe

As much as I feel like Saka deserves to play every match, he has been our best creative outlet in recent matches, and he may well be rested ahead of the Manchester United match at the weekend.

Ceballos could well be in contention to start today also, possibly in place of Xhaka, although you would imagine that at least one of them would be rested against the Irish league side.

Which squad members are you most keen to pick up minutes this evening? Are there any first-team players that could use the game for a confidence boost?

Patrick

Tags Dundalk

26 Comments

  1. In the training pictures, Holding and Chambers had blue bibs on – as did ESR – if we don’t see him tonight, then surely it’s just down to fitness!
    Runarsson has to have a game??

    1. You would hope so Sue 😶 he definitely needs to bulk up though he’s a bit on the light side for a premier League keeper.

        1. AMN, Elneny and Willock should form the midfield with Nelson, Nkethia and Pepe up front ,in that order I hope.ESR and William to get some game time.Runnarson to make his debut, surely.

  2. You forgot that we have the Egyptian midfield metro Elneny. I think runnarsson we also start. Gabriel needs to be benched he has played alot of games, he needs to rest.

  3. I’d be surprised if AMN and Elneny don’t get a run out. Didn’t Wenger give Elneny a game or two at CB? Might be worth a shout this evening to give Gabriel a breather.

  4. Hopefully we do see ESR, Willock, and Nelson. It’s obvious senior players cannot be relied upon and we need players that can create like ESR, and players that actually make runs from midfield like Willock. Let’s hope we get an exciting Arsenal performance as well.

    1. @RSH if senior players can not be relied upon then should we turn to not talented and avg youngsters like Willock, Nelson and Neketiah??…if that is the team which is going to play then no point watching and be prepared for another absolutely disgraceful performance n booring football. I like ESR but I don’t think he is the player ppl make him out to be, I won’t be surprised if he turns out to be anothe if our so called avg youngsters. Saka is the only talent we have produced in recent years after Jack.

      1. Jeez dude we get it you dont like willock, Nelson or n’ketiah, you expressing it every match day isnt going to change MA’s mind…. I advise you to look up einstein’s definition of insanity as your comments are an endless loop of it.

        1. I learnt it from Arteta lol!. If you guys don’t get bored of your delusional optimistic support neither will I.

          1. Please show me my delusional optimism please? The f@#k you talking about? Just sick of your constant parroting of bollocks, I know full well how terrible we are but coming on here whining about it helps no one, you just sound like a fool. And a delusional one if u think it will get you anywhere.

  5. If they are fit I will like to see this selection.

    Nketiah,

    Willian, Smith-Rowe, Nelson,

    Xhaka, Elneny,

    Kolasinac, Gabriel, Mustafi, Cedric,

    Runarsson.

  6. Really hoping to see ESR start tonight and I think Elneny will play. I think Nelson will play too. Surely Gabriel won’t play as needed for weekend, being our only decent centre back.

  7. In my opinion, I really do not think Dundalk will be out to play expansive football against Arsenal, which leads me to believe they may apply a low-block like most other teams have done against Arsenal, and then try for the counter. In that case, it is simply about our strikers being able to take their chances when it matters most…

    Just a thought experiment, can we for a moment simply imagine if Auba had missed that winning goal against Rapid by wrong footing the ball and totally skipping over the ball? Well, obviously, the game would have ended in a draw. That should remind us about the chances missed against Leicester and how a game with so much prospects can easily fly out the window…. So inevitably, against a low-block, we must always take our chances…

    So dear friends, predictions are good and high expectations are welcomed, but it all bores down to the players on the pitch and how they take their chances…simply enjoy your evening, take in every moment, scream, shout, jump, but when we gather again tonight after the game, let us return to analyse with positive mindsets and deeper knowledge about the subtleties of the game…

    If chances are taken, I hope to see a 4 – 0 to the Arsenal or thereabout!

    Cheers!

  8. Arsenal: Runarsson, Cedric, Mustafi, Kolasinac, Maitland-Niles, Willock, Elneny, Xhaka, Nelson, Pepe, Nketiah

    Subs: Leno, Hein, Bellerin, Tierney, Gabriel, Saka, Ceballos, Lacazette, Partey, Willian, Aubameyang, Balogun

  9. I’m pretty happy with that. Would love to see Balogun get a run out. Xhaka is turning into a bit of an iron-man.

  10. Saliba should be able to play in this game, even if Arteta doesn’t rate him at least this team from farmers league won’t cause much trouble to our defence.

Comments are closed

Top Blog Sponsors