Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs Chelsea: Boxing Day Clash

Arsenal host Chelsea in the Premier League on Boxing Day. Here is the Gunners’ predicted lineup.

Christmas is here and we can forget about the trials and tribulations of supporting Arsenal for a few short hours, before delving into the very depths of football once more on Boxing Day.

It’s not just any fixture awaiting Mikel Arteta’s side either, as Chelsea head to the Emirates with both sides in vastly contrasting positions in the Premier League table.

The Gunners are in free fall, languishing in 15th place in the table, while Frank Lampard’s men have righted wrongs of last year through substantial investment, including the free transfer of Thiago Silva – a man who’s helped arrest their defensive woes.

Chelsea are also the second top scorers in the division with 29 goals in 14 matches thus far, while Arsenal can’t buy a goal from open player, let alone a win, netting on a measly 12 occasions.

https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1342379559593787393

We come back to the old adage of form going out of the window for derby matches, one of few straws to clutch since Arsenal have now gone seven league outings without victory.

There are some positive notes for supporters to lean on for Saturday, none more so than the return of Gabriel Martinelli, who it’s hoped will be fit and able for Boxing Day, the same applying for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Despite being publicly backed numerous times by the club, Arteta has to oversee victories somewhere or his job becomes at risk of being untenable. It is, as has been said every week this season, a huge match.

Here is Arsenal’s predicted lineup.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Bernd Leno (GK) – Wrap him in cotton wool. It was a huge show of faith to play Alex Runarsson in the Carabao Cup final clash with Manchester City, and he was quite atrocious. Clearly out of his depth and some way off a senior place, Leno coming in for this one might be easiest decision all season.

Rob Holding (CB) – Didn’t play in the quarter-final and has cemented his place as a first team regular in the top-flight, so there is little doubting that Rob Holding will assume his usual spot in the team.

Gabriel Magalhaes (CB) – Arsenal’s best defender has to play. Arteta knows this, hence why he got the full 90 minutes against City.

He starts here too, potentially tasked with handling the height and physical presence of Olivier Giroud. That would be some battle.

Kieran Tierney (CB) – Was given a rest in midweek so is nailed on to play on Saturday, with his role likely to be at centre-back where he’s played in the past few fixtures.

Arteta has decided to revert to the system he used to win him the FA Cup, where Keiran Tierney’s impressive one-on-one defending was paramount.

Midfielders & Wing-Backs

Hector Bellerin (RWB) – Ainsley Maitland-Niles has played 90 minutes in three consecutive fixtures, with his run out against City a strong indication that he’ll be rested for the weekend.

Bellerin will have to put in a solid display to ease the strain put on him by displeased supporters, another clutch late goal like he did in the Stamford Bridge draw last season wouldn’t go amiss.

Dani Ceballos (CM) – Every week Dani Ceballos drifts further away from a long-term future at Arsenal, simply because he isn’t the driving midfield force the club need to escape their plight.

There are neat passes here and there, but you can count the games where the Spaniard has put in a complete performance on one hand. Still, he’ll start on Saturday.

Granit Xhaka (CM) – Straight back in. Arteta will not drop Granit Xhaka for the weekend now that his suspension has been served. The manager is firmly in the ‘what Xhaka brings’ brigade as opposed to the more common ‘what does Xhaka bring?‘ section.

Slow, pedestrian and ill-disciplined, instead Arteta sees an experienced leader, fighter and communicator. He’ll not drop out.

Bukayo Saka (LWB) – An unquestionable inclusion, the only debate will be regarding what position Saka operates in. It seems Arteta has found comfort (albeit unsuccessful) with the 3-4-3 shape, which means Saka can be fielded as a wing-back, but in fact be given freedom to roam further forward.

Forwards

Gabriel Martinelli (LW) – He’s back. It was only brief against City, yet if you were after an example of one player showcasing the vast differences within this squad, Martinelli highlights them perfectly.

A willing runner, dedicated and relentless, he is everything this Arsenal team aren’t. He sets the tone, encourages others and plays without fear or restraint. The less said about the rest the better.

Eddie Nketiah (ST) – Alexandre Lacazette starting in midweek is a clear example of Arteta’s thinking, as he does not fancy the Frenchman to lead his line in Aubameyang’s absence. Nketiah now looks to have cemented his place as the number two striker, and with it unlikely that the captain will be fit to start against the Blues, the 21-year-old will keep his spot.

Willian RW) – Not in the squad at all for the Carabao Cup defeat, and having played 90 minutes against Everton despite putting in the most pathetic individual performance of the entire season in that first half, this one is fairly nailed on.

Arteta sees something nobody else does in Willian, and that’s not a good thing.