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Arsenal Vs West Ham United: Predicted starting XI – The Mikel Arteta pecking order

By Andrew Dowdeswell

4 venue choices as Arsenal are forced to cancel Greece plans for Europa League round of 32 tie with Benfica (Photo by Harriet Lander/Copa/Getty Images)
4 venue choices as Arsenal are forced to cancel Greece plans for Europa League round of 32 tie with Benfica (Photo by Harriet Lander/Copa/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 27: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between Arsenal FC and Olympiacos FC at Emirates Stadium on February 27, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 27: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between Arsenal FC and Olympiacos FC at Emirates Stadium on February 27, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images) /

Front Three

The theme of a starting trio and reserve trio continues for the front three positions in the team, as evidenced by the teams that Mikel Arteta selected over the past week of action. Reiss Nelson, Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah starred in the Gunners’ 2-0 win over Portsmouth, while the experienced trio started a few days earlier against Olympiakos.

That trio is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in an inside-left role that he is beginning to flourish in, Nicolas Pepe off the right, a £72 million player who has shown glimpses of figuring everything out without ever quite getting there, and Alexandre Lacazette through the middle.

Like with the central midfield, you could argue that the reserve players deserve starts here, especially in the case of Lacazette and Pepe. But Arteta seems keen to persevere with this trio, which is understandable given the level they could reach if it all clicks.

Next. Arsenal Vs Portsmouth: 5 things we learned. dark

Arteta’s thinking, then, has been revealed over the past week. And as Arsenal host West Ham on Saturday afternoon, it may only further unveil itself.