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Arsenal vs Fulham Predicted XI & Tactics: Start as You Mean to Continue

By Mac Johnson

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 26: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates scoring a penalty during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Watford FC at Emirates Stadium on July 26, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Rui Vieira/Pool via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 26: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates scoring a penalty during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Watford FC at Emirates Stadium on July 26, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Rui Vieira/Pool via Getty Images) /
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Centre-Backs

Arsenal, Rob Holding
Arsenal, Rob Holding (Photo by Paul Childs/Pool via Getty Images) /

I said the last decision was tough. I now realize that’s relative. This is a serious poser, especially in terms of tactics.

Arsenal’s backline is, in a word, injured. Pablo Mari, Calum Chambers, and Shkodran Mustafi are busy rehabilitating in order to fight their way back into the Starting XI. Sokratis is a non-factor. And now David Luiz has picked up a potentially very serious knock as well.

Thank you David Ornstein. Rob Holding will start against Fulham, a mantle that he certainly deserves, despite inheriting it by default. But the glut of injured centre-backs creates a serious problem: can Arsenal play in a back-three?

Survey says yes. Despite the fact that Arsenal will certainly look to control possession against Fulham, they are not comfortable enough to start in a back-four. The 3-4-3 is our best formation going forward, despite some of the tactical disadvantages that might come against the Cottagers. Expect a scrappy affair.

Flanking Rob Holding in a back-three will be William Saliba and Kieran Tierney. Similar to the Community Shield and FA Cup, Tierney’s long-passing will be instrumental in the incumbent victory, fingers crossed. Despite his recent Scotland match, he’s too important to this team.

And of the remaining centre-backs, William Saliba has the greatest chance of being match-fit, considering he’s been training with the Gunners for a week, far more than new boy Gabriel Magalhaes. He’ll feature on the right.

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