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