Arsenal will play host to West Ham United this evening without our former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Gunners made the decision to remove the Gabon international from his role this week following his latest disciplinary breach, and now await to find out who will be the next player to step up and wear the armband on a permanent basis.
In the mean time, we can expect both Granit Xhaka and Alexandre Lacazette to share the role as part of a leadership group, and I believe both will get the nod to start in today’s matchup also.
We are without Sead Kolasinac still, who has been sidelined with injury since the international break back in September, while Auba is set to be overlooked again after breaching the club’s rules as confirmed by the club this week.
Predicted Arsenal XI:
Ramsdale
Tomiyasu White Gabriel Tierney
Smith Rowe Partey Xhaka Saka
Odegaard
Lacazette
If Smith Rowe is back to 100%, I simply can’t overlook him, so unfortunately I believe that Gabriel Martinelli could well find himself being rested this time around.
There is always the chance that Arteta could opt to play all his young stars, with Martinelli or Smith Rowe possibly operating as the forward, but I believe that would be unlikely in such a big game, with the chance to take fourth in the table.
Could Smith Rowe be overlooked if back to 100%? Have others recent performances outshone ESR’s form from before his injury?
Patrick
Ramsdale
Tomi White Gabriel Tierney
Partey Tavares
Saka ESR Martinelli
Laca
Will never happen but that would be my team.
@PJ-SA, I too would love to see alot of muscle in the midfield against west ham,
Ramsdale
Tomiyasu White Gabriel Tierney
Partey Xhaka Tavares
Smith-Rowe Saka
Lacazette
@longbenark
Like your line up. But would trade out Tavares for AMN. He’s the best midfielder we have at breaking up play…
Taveres in the middle could expose the midfield as we know partey ain’t top of his game ATM.
👍 .. but sadly u r right
@PJSA,
How can you drop Ödegaard? He’s scored 3 in a row!
Given the fact that West Ham are top of the league in terms of scoring from set pieces, there is a decent case for using Holding to counteract their strength in the air and moving White to a DM role .Arteta seems reluctant to do this however so every set piece could cause us some concern.
Not sure about white in midfield; it makes sense in theory, but he’s played there before and apparently not been as good as you’d expect.
Had the same thought about Holding as they’ll use Antonio to target white physically.
White better be able to handle his set piece responsibilities! Paying 50 million for a CB who gets bullied in the box is unacceptable!
Hit the weight room, learn from Gabriel, expect a solid skill set at CB for 50 million.
Yeah he should use Holding
I will go with
Ram
Tom. Ben. Gab. Tierney
Partey. Sambi
Saka. Rowe. Martinelli
Laca
I hope Odegaard makes it 4 in 4!
OT.. Wishing Aguerooooooooo a happy and healthy retirement
Øde might even get the nod as skipper Sue as he is the captain of his country ahead of his pal and one of the best strikers in the world. By the way, lots of rumours the AFCON is going to be postponed, possibly indefinitely, or played without players from Europe.
Tierney captained Celtic before when called on, and has even worn the armband for Scotland.
I wouldn’t be disappointed with Odegaard, just really hoping it’s not a temporary fix with a departing player in Laca, or reheating the captaincy of Xhaka.
If concern over Tierney is injuries and staying on the pitch, then Xhaka is too hot headed and gets carded too easily himself.
Very sad how it ended but what a player and career! Scored a ton of goals but I still rate Henry as a better all round striker and just that little bit classier!
@Sue
Big ups Goonerette.
Was just reading about his health problem and retirement.
An amazing player he was.
All the best to him going forward.
If we play Xhaka our midfield will slow down and give West Ham an advantage. I do think we can beat them, but not with Xhaka.
Ramsdale
Tomiyasu White Gabriel Tierney
Partey Sambi
Saka ESR Martinelli
Laca
Exact team I would play
Maybe Pepe in for ESR
But we all know Xhaka and Odegaard will get a starting birth ,I would be shocked if they didn’t
@Sean Williams, Xhaka will & must start. Hate or love him, it won’t affect his game or our X1. Learn 2 appreciate ur own cuz ur own is the best 4 u. Thank u.
Yep, and without Xhaka – 9 out of 10 Passes forward go straight to the opposition into double and triple coverage.
…………………Ramsdale……………………
Tomi ……White…. Gabriel……..Tavares
………………Xhaka……………partey…………..
Saka……………Odegaard……….martinelli
………………Alexander Lacazette………………
Smith Rowe can come in 4 Martinelli or Odegaard as the game progresses. I feel 4 Pepe though.
Replace Partey with Sambi – he only trots around the middle and takes away passing lines – completely overrated.
We need Lakonga back with either Partey or AMN, we need Tierney left back and Tavares Left mid. If fit Saka Right, Esr and Lacca up top. Bring on Martinelli (or play in place of Tavares) and Odergaard at 60 mins. We need legs and power against Wet Spam, they are a team.
@Reggie
Like how your thinking Gooner…
NYG, we played our best games with Lakonga, Tavares and Partey/AMN in the team, we were not bullied until the tactical balls up against Liverpool. Together they are a base to win the game.
Team did well in 10 games without Xhaka, he should not be an automatic pick anymore. Sambi is improving with each game he plays, it’s times like these when a manager needs to show faith and trust in a young player rather than automatically select someone who just came back from a lengthy injury.
With both Partey and Xhaka we tend to lose the midfield battle. Neither have the creativity we need, and we need midfielders who can drive forward when defenders are man marking our attacking players.
I would prefere three back white..Gabi…Tierney
Tomy…Partey…Xaka…Tarveres
Saka/ Odegaard..Lava Martinelli../ESR
You just can’t have Xhaha and Partey in the midfield together. So, I would go for Xhaha and Maitland-Niles. Partey is highly overrated as is overpaid and he plays with fear against top teams ,which, results in very poor performances , mistakes and turnovers. He usually goes missing in these games. My starting line-up would be Lacazette, Martinelli, Saka, Odegaard, Xhaha, Maitland-Niles , Tavares, Gabriel, White, Tomiyasu and Ramsdale, with Smith-Rowe, Tierney and Lokonga as subs to replace Odegaard, Tavares and Maitland-Niles respectively at a later stage of the game.