Rob Holding hasn't started since his man of the match display at Southampton.
Following CAS' decision to overturn Manchester City's two-year ban from European club football, the chances of Arsenal qualifying for Champions League football has become exceedingly slim.
Currently ninth place, the Gunners now fully commit to the race for Europa League qualification with Tottenham Hotpsur, Sheffield United and Wolves.
Facing Liverpool will be a tough game to use to bounce back from the disappointing results against Leicester City and Spurs but three points will be vital to the Gunners.
We asked out Arsenal writers to name the team they would pick if they were in charge, and they came up with similar lineups.
Arsenal looked best with Kieran Tierney as the left-sided centre-back and Bukayo Saka at wing-back so I would revert back to that. Yes, they may be away from their favoured positions but the same could be said for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Those three down the left would simply be Arsenal's most dangerous left-sided options.
Rob Holding will come into the middle of the back three inside Shkodran Mustafi, who will be supporting Cedric Soares as the right wing-back. Ainsley Maitland-Niles would have a shout to start but Cedric being natural in the role gives him the edge.
Elsewhere there will be no changes as Dani Ceballos and Granit Xhaka partner each other in midfield and Nicolas Pepe plays to the right of Alexandre Lacazette.
Art de Roche's XI: Martinez; Mustafi, Holding, Tierney; Cedric, Ceballos, Xhaka, Saka; Pepe, Lacazette, Aubameyang
James Benge - Senior writer
It's hard to know what to do to build a functioning defence out of the options Mikel Arteta has available to him. Do you trust Sead Kolasinac again after such a clumsy display against Tottenham? One could ask the same question of Shkodran Mustafi?
If not who comes in? Rob Holding clearly does not inspire faith in Arteta but what choice does the Gunners boss have? There was something of a clamour after the Spurs defeat to move Kieran Tierney to the left of the back three and play Bukayo Saka at wing-back, an argument for which there is some logic but that does move two of Arsenal's most effective players out of their best positions.
There's nothing at all that can be done about the dearth of creativity in midfield - the combined expected assists of Granit Xhaka and Dani Ceballos this season is 2.4, slightly better than Calum Chambers - so all one can do is hope the front three can muster something up. This means no start for Saka but the youngster could be a valuable impact substitute.
James Benge's XI: Martinez; Mustafi, Holding, Luiz; Bellerin, Ceballos, Xhaka, Tierney; Pepe, Lacazette, Aubameyang
Tashan Deniran-Alleyne - Live writer and Arsenal fan
Arsenal can't feel sorry for themselves following defeat in the north London derby as another big test awaits Mikel Arteta's side in the shape of the Premier League champions, Liverpool.
The Reds are hunting down a points record so will arrive at the Emirates Stadium looking for the win that would all but end the Gunners' hopes of qualifying for Europe via the league.
Defensive mistakes were costly at the weekend and I would expect at least one change to the back three as I can't imagine Arteta will want to disrupt the backline too much.
Rob Holding for Sead Kolasinac would be the obvious change, although Shkodran Mustafi also warrants dropping down to the bench.
Sourced from football.london
No comments:
Post a Comment