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Arsenal Vs Aston Villa: Predicted starting XI – Reiss Nelson anyone?

By Andrew Dowdeswell

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 28: Reiss Nelson of Arsenal in action during the Emirates Cup match between Arsenal and Olympique Lyonnais at the Emirates Stadium on July 28, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 28: Reiss Nelson of Arsenal in action during the Emirates Cup match between Arsenal and Olympique Lyonnais at the Emirates Stadium on July 28, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Reiss Nelson
WATFORD, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 15: Reiss Nelson of Arsenal is faced by Craig Dawson of Watford during the Premier League match between Watford FC and Arsenal FC at Vicarage Road on September 15, 2019 in Watford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /

Front Three

Last weekend, Unai Emery changed formation. He used a 4-4-2 diamond without any natural wingers. It did not work. Usually, he has implemented a 4-3-3 with two wide attackers either side of a central striker, but with Alexandre Lacazette out through injury, he switched up his plans. Lacazette will again miss the Villa contest, but with this match being at home and with how badly the Watford game went, I have to think that Emery learned his lesson.

Whether he plays the 4-4-2 diamond or 4-3-3, two players of the front three are easy to name: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is Arsenal’s player of the season at present and has scored in every single game bar one, and Nicolas Pepe will either play alongside him or off the right flank. The final position is a little more uncertain.

It is a straight choice between Mesut Ozil and Reiss Nelson, and the decision will be decided more by the system than either of the two players. If it is a 4-4-2, Ozil plays in behind Aubameyang and Pepel; if it is a 4-3-3, Nelson plays. It is that simple. I expect Emery to recognise the mistakes made against Watford and rectify them by shifting back to the 4-3-3, especially given that Nelson did not feature at all in the Europa League.

Next. Arsenal Vs Eintracht Frankfurt: 5 things we learned. dark

Whether that is what Emery will actually do or not, remains to be seen. But that is what I think he will do. Given the curious tactical decisions he has made of late, however, your guess is as good as mine.