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Official Arsenal team to face Everton – Saka dropped, Ozil and Pepe back in the team

Mikel Arteta has named his team to face Everton at the Emirates this afternoon.

From this point onwards every Arsenal Premier League game is a must-win one if there is any chance of making the top four (or five if Man City ban is upheld).

The same applies to Everton, which sets this game up perfectly for a very intriguing afternoon of football.

Obviously there have been changes from the team that was sent out to face Olympiacos on Thursday evening. Mesut Ozil is back and Nicolas Pepe starts.

Saka loses his place, however, Mustafi and Luiz retain their spots in the centre of the defence.

Arteta has also gone with Dani Ceballos, who in combination with Ozil in the Newcastle game was so effective, well, in the second half.

Anyway, here is the team Arteta has gone with.

So, are you happy with this team that Arteta has gone with? Let us know in the comments below

Links to streams will be put in the comments where to watch the game live and free so keep checking in.

Also, if you go to the official Arsenal website here you will be able to get live commentary text and radio.

JustArsenal match preview here
JustArsenal predicted line up here (for comparison)
Pundits predict Arsenal v Newcastle here

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130 Comments

  2. Martinelli is dropped from the squad and nelson is back

    Its surprises every week.Anyway i can see a good game tonight.

    COYG

  4. Why does Martinelli not even make the bench.
    Quite a good selection. Lacazette, Saka, Torreira should come in 2nd half for Ozil, Ceballos and Nketiah.

    Hoping for a positive result only sad that Saka is not starting based on fitness.

    For second half :-

    Aubameyang..

    Saka, Lacazette, Pepe..

    Xhaka, Torreira..

    Kolasinac, Luiz, Mustafi, Bellerin.

  5. Near enough the team I would put out apart from I would have Saka on the left wing and put Aubameyang up front instead of Eddie.
    I don’t know why Arteta keeps playing Aubameyang as a left winger. He can’t hold the ball up and he’s not technical enough to take on defenders. His best position is by far playing as the main striker.

    2. In Arteta system the hold up play for the Central Striker should be very good and is essential to the system.. Aubameyang is not good at that.

    1. I like Iwobi’s playing style, but I wish Bellerin would keep Iwobi in his pocket

      Glad to see Ceballos and Kolasinac start though. I bet they would make the difference today

      I also have a feeling Nketiah would increase his intensity and score, to keep Lacazette on the bench

    2. If Bellerin can keep Iwobi out wide and stop him cutting inside then Iwobi will be pretty ineffective.
      His final ball from the wing is poor.

  7. Arteta and his small mindset. Why not play the players currently on form. You drop saka for kolasinac and Eddie nketiah again even though the whole world saw how ineffective he was in the Newcastle game. A good coach always plays his best team. We all complained when torreira wasn’t starting matches under emery. How are we turning a blind eye when Arteta is doing the same thing? This is one of the major areas I have problems with with Arteta. Wrong line up. You think martinelli would want to stay with this? And wasn’t I just saying this same thing about saka when clueless fans were asking him to sign an extension? The same thing happening to niles since bellerin got back. Now can we blame saka if he wants to leave? Or torreira or martinelli? 3 of our finest players. I hope we can all wake up from the dreamland that Arteta has changed arsenal. Because we are one or two bad games away from coming back to reality. I will still support the team and manager regardless even though I’m not entirely happy with his line ups.

    1. You do realize Torreira has been playing under Arteta and just recovered from an illness, also Ceballos needed to start after his last performance? Stop whining about Martinelli, the pressure you guys are putting on the boy and Saka is becoming too much, now look at Saka at 18, contract talks Is an issue, something that shouldn’t even be happening.
      But then Nketiah was ineffective cuasei he didn’t score right??
      Okay Coach

    2. Don’t complain about the team selection until we see the full match

      I won’t even complain about Ozil until I see how he plays today, especially because easy home games like this are supposed to be his forte

      Saka is a good attacking LB, but he must be exhausted after that intense game in Greece. Same goes with Lacazette

  8. Good line up.
    All I need is the 3 pts. Hope Kolasinac produce more going forward and Ozil at his best. COYG.

  9. Nice Selection…
    Everyone seems to be screaming Martinelli.
    I say it’s fair how Arteta is using him, everybody suddenly expects Martinelli to be the goalscoring savior after PEA.
    On Thursday, Martinelli will go again.
    Fair selection.
    I see what he’s doing with Nketiah.
    It’s very good for the team, no single player will feel comfortable, everybody will feel they need to step up as the coach is ready to play anyone.
    Rotation makes it sweeter, Even Pep starts Jesus ahead of Aguero sometimes even when Kun is fit.

    I really can’t wait for the moaners to come on here and start saying how bad the lineup is

      1. I hope I’m right too…actually I believe I’m right.
        The pressure on Martinelli and Saka is insane.
        Just think about the whole contract Saga going on around 18 years old Saka? I think Arteta is using them properly

    2. totally agree with you Eddie. Also i think Arteta is confident of Winning just like how Pep always is apart from when he faces Klopp or Maureen haha

    1. @Topgunner been reading all your comments on here and everything you say points to ozil and xhala, clearly you have an agenda against them.

      The coach knows best

      1. Agree @ hydrogen.
        Emery dug his own grave by not playing Ozil. Perhaps Arteta knows how important Ozil is.
        All playes are good depends on how the coach wants them to play. Emery & othrs hide Ozil, but Arteta expose him. Yes, Arteta knows best.

    2. Xhaka is needed as an LB when Kolasinac is in the opposition’s half. We don’t have another left-footed DM who can play as a left CB like him

      Arteta can’t bench his ex-teammate Ozil, because it will ruin the dressing room harmony. This is also supposed to be an easy home game, which is Ozil’s specialty

      1. Christ!! Dude outsiders should be the one saying this crap about Arteta and Ozil, but then it’s coming from you and it’s not surprising. Really? Arteta is scared of benching Ozil cause it will ruin the dressing room? It has nothing to do with Ozil’s performances?

        In fact I’ve never heard a single pundit or opposition fan say Arteta can’t handle Ozil because they were teammates, but it’s from you a self acclaim fan.
        Dude all you see is the bad side of stuffs, I’ve never seen you pointed out good stuffs about Ozil. This statement bout Arteta and Ozil is just so unreasonable.
        I don’t think I can live a week around you with this your vibe, I swear if I do, I’ll sink into depression

        1. True, I don’t think it has something to do with Ozil’s form

          I always says Ozil is a very unselfish player and has great finishing ability, but he is not a super-creative player anymore

          1. Creativity does not die.

            Chances not taken is the key to your education. Chances not created is another–Arsenal have a weak 3D game without Giroud.

            Do not blame Ozil if you have no idea about football.

            Arteta did not become Pep’s assistant by fluke. It was Wenger’s knowledge of the EPL that Pep wanted and also the ability to make tough decisions.

            Playing Ozil is a no brainier.

    3. Did u blind to see how xhaka cover the left back when saka going forward. How ozil open up the defense when supported by midfield?

    1. They have to win the next 7 games for 21 points. If they do break down players in that run CL is done for.

      So watch Arteta rotate. Martinelli will be unleashed against the weaker teams.

  12. MA is continuing to rotate. Not sure about Kolasinac over Saka? Maybe Martinelli needs a rest and ready for Thursday again. Will be interesting to see if Ozil can perform well again also. Let’s see..

  13. understand why hes put bellerin back in … and hope that ceballos ozil combo will continue to flourish … endless playing of xhaka does not instill confidence but its basically about whether this defence can hold up against the best attack its faced in several matches … will be close i think

  14. @Topgunner been reading all your comments on here and everything you say points to ozil and xhala, clearly you have an agenda against them.

    The coach knows best

  17. We can stop losing trust in the coach when his team selections fail week after week. To criticise his selection now after the improvement the team is showing is petty. He has good reasons for what he does – and trying to read his mind is completely pointless and only speculation. Let the games begin.
    COYG

    1. You know that Arsenal fans know more that the Manager or Coach, right?

      Got An Idea, for example, is the world’s best Manager and Coach, even if he has no idea about football.

  18. Why was Luiz looking at Mastafi as if he was at fault for that goal?
    Great start for Everton, let’s do this boys

  23. Until arteta works out that mustafi Luiz xhaka is a defensive accident waiting to happen we won’t progress … that simple

  27. Get ffing xhaka of the pitch he’s a first division footballer no vision no skill no quality … move aubemayang to middle remove the hapless Nigerian … it’s all so static … don’t understand arteta he must be able to see this is low energy shit

    1. But we need Xhaka…. Xhaka Drops back LB which allows Saka to move forward to deliver crosses like that…

      1. I know the importance of xhaka in arteta system. Just saying that without a dm we look more open because he cannot cover the Lb and cover the middle at the same time.

  37. Why are people telling me that Saka is not worth 50k a week?
    I never knew that injury can be a blessing in disguise

    1. Were you really expecting that now that the defense has improved, that we’ll go games without conceding??
      What will have to happen before you say Arteta has fixed the defense?

      1. It hasn’t improved against teams with an attacking threat … We bought a central defender in the window … what was point if he can’t replace the jokers we have? Luiz and mustafi have been always will be hapless when a club sells you to make way for Kurt Zuma that should be a warning sign to whoever is buying you … but as a minimum he should use torreira as defensive midfielder he brings an edge breaks things up in way that xhaka just adds trouble to defenders already in nervous state of mind …

      1. If he’s going to take so many touches then he should learn to stay on his feet and not go down at the mere sight of a defender

    2. When he is substituted, then you’ll realize he was good.

      Do you have any idea how many opposition players he pulls to himself?

  42. Nice shot of when the players where.coming off and Mina was consoling Sideba. Saka ran that half.
    They had a up because their brazilian didnt get a red. Fair call.

    Second half mood 😳

  43. Saka reminds me of Ryan Giggs. His crossing is superb. I hope he represents my dear country but I see England calling him up soon. What a talent.
    Pepe please produce another good second half for me. We need this point badly

  45. Calvert-Lewin’s goal shows exactly why a tall CB like Mari or Saliba is needed, because Arsenal always have problems with long balls as what they faced in Burnley. Luckily Luiz redeemed himself with his great vision to assist Aubameyang with an incisive through ball

    I think the second goal was Leno’s mistake, because he was supposed to secure the ball sooner

    Ozil was the connector on the left and right sides, but I wish he could do more than just being a simple connection

    1. Agree on the Leno part. Should jump to the ball after the header off of deflection , but instead he waited for the ball to drop and from there it’s 50/50

    1. I agree. I don’t feel confident at all. When you think that we were all over them…..goal. Good lord and I was just about to complain

  47. Anyone know why Richarlison wasn’t sent off? Dangerous foul + instigating butting foreheads. Doesn’t excuse the last goal, but he should’ve been off

  48. We need to up the intensity in the second half.
    Both Everton’s goals came from poor defending but were lucky goals.
    If we move the ball around quicker, close them down quicker and give them no time on the ball to pick out passes we can get more goals.

  51. I hope we come out all guns blazing and win the game in the second half…… not a bad performance so far, but the defence though……. anyways, I believe we’ll win this! COYG!!

  56. First off he’s Ghanian…. second, could you please just enjoy the game?!…. we’re winning FFS, and he’s scored….. so just trust the coach, and support the team…… reading your comments, one would think we’re losing, and he’s having a stinker

    1. The boy I’d tired for phuck sakes!! There was a reason Arteta started with Kolasinac in the first place.
      Three straight games and you say he has gone crazy.
      SMH … Some fans tho

  60. i am hearing the players screaming giving advice to teammates on positioning. another good point for arteta.

  62. We’re still standing off them. Not closing them down quick enough and giving them to much time on the ball to pick out passes.

  64. Ozil should have been taken off instead of Ceballos…
    Ceballos can be used to play as deep line creative midfielder

    2. Are you guys for real??
      Arsenal fans though.
      This Is the exact 18 years old kid that has played three games in a week straight.
      You think Arteta was stupid for starting Kolasinac?
      Saka needed to rest!! You guys should stop with the negative comments about him already

  68. Another defensive midfielder…. Arteta keen to hold this lead…. we really need to Martial Gomes…. He is absolute creator from Midfield with long range passes and keeping the ball well

  71. We just can’t even outmuscled Gomes…
    Our Players need to work on Physical Strength…
    Sometimes you need such physicality..

  74. An incredible win the sustained pressure was immense but we managed to see it out! A huge character building win.

  77. Those ya thinking we were Lucky! It’s a Lie.
    We deserved the win well homely and enjoyable.!

    Which Team is next?
    The Gun is ready.

  78. I am disappointed how some fans are slating saka performance in the second half knowing that he has played three strate game..it is obvious that he was tired that was why kola started today but injury changed everything..besides he’s 18 so pls give him some space

  79. Arteta has worked wonders on this team .
    Saka is doing a great job but he needs rest
    Nketiah is a natural succesor to Lacazette
    Auba did me proud today with that armband .
    Leno deserves a 9/10 in this game .
    Special recognition to Ozil ,Xhaka , Guendouzi and finally Arteta .

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