My predicted line up vs Aston Villa
Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal squad will welcome Aston Villa to The Emirates tonight in what is a must win game for us. With only a few games left, every game from here forward is a must win and should be treated as if it was a final.
Villa currently sits 4th and have had a few hiccups in recent weeks but will be fighting to get 3 points ahead of Spurs, while we will be fighting to get back to the top of the table. Although we have a big game against Bayern coming up, I still expect Arteta to field a strong line up and this is how I think he will line us up tonight.
In goal, David Raya. No questions about it really, Raya has been very good for us between the sticks this season and after somewhat of a tough night against Bayern, he will be looking to bounce back and get a clean sheet going into our next big game. Last time we faced off against Villa away from home, they managed to nab a 1-0 win and I’m sure Raya will want to rectify that result.
In defence, I expect a back four of White, Saliba, Gabriel and Zinchenko. We could see the likes of Kiwior or Tomiyasu at left back, it really depends on if Arteta wants to rotate his squad a bit with all these games coming in hot and fast, but after watching Zinchenko have a solid game against Bayern, I expect he starts again. Questions have been asked about Gabriel and his fitness, but if fit, he starts. But if he can’t make it I would expect Kiwior or Tomi to become his replacement.
In the midfield, I expect a middle three of Odegaard, Jorginho and Rice. Jorginho has started in the middle the past few games and has looked solid when doing so, with so many games to be played in such a short time, we could see rotation but because Villa are very good at playing through the middle, I expect Arteta to want that stability in the centre of the pitch. Odegaard and Rice have become two players who seem to always start if they’re not injured, and I expect no different against a strong team like Villa.
In attack, I expect a front three of Saka, Havertz and Martinelli. For me, Martinelli starts on the left wing and will probably get subbed just after half time, but I think Trossard should and will be starting against Bayern, so rotation is necessary. Havertz starting up top where he has been so good and lethal this season and will hopefully get back on the score sheet and with Saka being another player who’s been in great form and scoring goals for fun, hopefully the front line can be dangerous and clinical with their chances.
So that’s a 4-3-3 formations of
Raya
White – Saliba – Gabriel – Zinchenko
Odegaard – Jorginho – Rice
Saka – Havertz – Trossard
Hopefully we walk away with all three points and climb back to the top of the table, every game is important right now and we can’t afford to lose this streak we have been on since the new year.
What’s your thoughts Gooners?
Daisy Mae
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I think Jesus will play LW instead of Trossard, because he made an assist with his cool tricks against Bayern Muenchen
Joginho’s legs are gone and he gets bullied. Time to play Partey into fitness.
Start Trossard and Jesus to München
Much agree with DAISY, with just the possible exception of Martinelly, who though I would personally play him, just may find himself benched, with JESUS or Trossard starting.
But I WOULD pick Daisys starting eleven.
Actually I would not want JESUS in the team at all today. We need goals and he doesnt bring them.
With one eye on the champions league, Arsenal got to find ways of keeping Gabriel Jesús warm as Europe elite competition (champions league) is where the Brazilian tends to come alive, for anyone that had followed his history in that competition.
I think with tough away games next against Munich and Wolves, Smith-Rowe will start today replacing one of Ødegaard, Jorginho or Rice and with Gabriel carrying an injury, Kiwior in his place. Question…..is Havertz on a ban if he’s booked today?
Prioritise the EPL over UCL. All our remaining EPL matches as winnable. If we win all we lift the trophy. We just need to win them all and hope Man City and Liverpool looses one or two matches so that we get a guard of honour at Old Trafford (our second last game)
This is on paper the most difficult among the 4 toughest remaining matches. A strong team fighting for a CL spot who won’t hesitant to run over us if we display any sign of weakness or lethargy.
Win this and we make the rest of matches more manageable while delivering a psychological blow to our title rivals who sees this match as a chance for us to slip.
Martinelli has to start to build up fitness ahead of the Bayern game, he will be our most dangerous attacker as with Davies suspended Bayern will focus more on defending Saka leaving space for our speedster to attack. Doesn’t matter who among him or trossard start as the one who will come in vs tired legs will cause carnage.
any clear minded person would start ramsdale in our remaining games raya will be replaced next year good with the ball at his feet “lets be havin you”
Then you are saying that as MA will start RAYA and NOT Ramsdale today, as he has done all season, that MA is not, in your view “a clear minded person”!
Well well, I wonder what other Gooners will make of your “opinion!”
I hope he takes no risks. just a few changes maybe.
——- Raya ——-
White —- Saliba —- Gabriel —- Tomy
Odegaard —– Partey —– Rice
Saka —– Havertz —– Martinelli
Tomy over Zinc – ideally a shut-out, Zinc does not offer enough going forward vs suspect defensively, will be targeted as weak link
Martinelli over Jesus – Villa a weakened down the left, and conceding from crosses from the left, a rampaging Martinelli is the last thing the Villa defence want
Partey for Jorginho – give Jorginho a rest for Bayern, expect to regularly rotate the two oldest legs in the squad while Partey remains
the rest pick themselves
hopefully race to an early lead and sub Havertz, Rice, Saka and Ode as soon as possible
if goes the other way and we are chasing then Zinc for Tomy, Trossard for Martinelli, ESR for Rice/Havertz
Why risks Gabriel Magahlase and there is a possibility of ten games remaining after today.
———————-Raya
———White–Saliba—Tomi
——————Rice
——–Odegaard—-Jorginho—Zini
——–Saka——,-Havertz—-Jesus
With Jorginho legs long gone, forty-five minutes should be the most he afforded with the world class player taking over in the second half
Havertz.
Martinelli. Odegaard. Saka.
Rice. Jorginho.
Kiwior. Gabriel. Saliba. White.
Raya.
Against Bayern –
Jesus.
Trossard. Odegaard. Saka.
Rice. Partey.
Tomiyasu. Gabriel. Saliba. White.
Raya.
I would give Martineli and Gabriel Magahlase a break, ensuring adequate time to recover from their niggles.
It would also keep them fresh for their midweek game in Munich
My Arteta predicted 11 –
Havertz.
Jesus. Odegaard. Saka.
Rice. Partey.
Zinchenko. Gabriel. Saliba. White.
Raya.
My Arteta predicted 11 if Gabriel is not fit –
Havertz.
Jesus. Odegaard. Saka.
Rice. Jorginho.
Zinchenko. Tomiyasu. Saliba. White.
Raya.
I think that Havertz is only one yellow card away from a 2 match suspension – therefore might be best to start him on the bench. I would also like ESR to start in place of Jorginho.