Will this be the Arsenal defence Mikel Arteta selects to face Leeds?

A strong Arsenal defence is expected to be fielded for the FA Cup clash with Leeds United.

I do expect that the boss will put out a fairly strong Arsenal defence today, it will not be his first choice, some players will be rested but I still expect there will be a significant core of the first team selected.

As an example, through lack of options more than anything else I would be surprised if Bukayo Saka and Ainsely Maitland-Niles do not play.

Saka should retain the left-back spot and Maitland-Niles should continue on the right side.

The changes I expect to see will be in central defence and to be honest, it is guesswork more than anything else.

I anticipate that Rob Holding will be given a call-up, it is a question of who partners him in the middle.

It was a toss-up between Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis and I am sliding towards Arteta picking Mustafi.

But I would not be at all surprised if he goes with Sokratis.

Anyway, this is the back four I think Arteta will go with against Leeds this evening.

Saka
Holding
Mustafi
Maitland-Niles

Now, I accept well in advance that I could be well wrong here but I believe that Arteta would love to win the FA Cup and that he will not put out a B side this evening.

At worse, it would be similar to a Europa League team in the early rounds.

5 Comments

  1. Luiz might play, he was tremendous in his last performance, he mopped up very well while reading situations nice sharpish and calmly, also he’s a really good passer of the ball, a good outlet at times. I hope he can maintain the form. I’ve seen him looking dominant before but now it’s more about him looking to get consistency with it. He was brand new to the team, and to these players, so I was always willing to wipe the slate clean and go back on everything I’ve said, so long as he eventually began doing things right. He knows the players a little more now. He has more protection under Arteta’s system, our players aren’t as easily sucked out of position, because our front players are picking players up it means we are in position back there more often, and when they leave it to pick someone up then that someone is usually their most advanced player. Luiz looked really good thanks to this, everyone picking up their man.

  2. Mustafi 😱😱😱 did you watch the chelsea game? Theres always a costly costly brainfart in him that rsults in us either drawing or losing the game. Holding/Papa anyday.

    1. I do not merely “believe that Arteta would love to win the FA Cup” I KNOW IT! It would be good to see Holding play tonight, if considered fully match fit. Anything that keeps at least one of Mustafi and Sokratis out of the team HAS to be good.

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