Arsenal predicted lineup vs Fulham: Pepe and Saka stay in?

Arsenal host Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday and, as ever, Mikel Arteta has an interesting team selection ahead of him after a stirring 4-0 win over Slavia Prague. Here is the predicted lineup.

Speaking ahead of their Europa League triumph at the Sinobo Stadium in the quarter-finals, Arteta stressed the need for consistency in his backline. Having chopped and changed his central defensive pairings as well as alternating between three different right-backs this season, selecting a regular back four has been troublesome.

Injuries haven’t helped, but he stuck to his guns against Slavia Prague and the result was a second consecutive clean sheet.

So, does he stick with it? Facing a Cottagers side staring down the barrel of Premier League relegation, the opportunity is there for Arteta to cement a defensive line for the remainder of the campaign, one potentially featuring Granit Xhaka at left-back again.

Arsenal predicted lineup vs Fulham: Nicolas Pepe and Bukayo Saka to stay in the team or Gabriel Martinelli to return?

Arsenal have four full days of recovery following Sunday ahead of another home fixture with Everton, thus the manager will toy with the idea of giving others a chance in the side or building a foundation.

The same applies to the forward line where both Bukayo Saka and Nicolas Pepe excelled on the flanks and Emile Smith Rowe dazzled in the centre. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is unlikely to recover from malaria, but could Gabriel Martinelli and/or Willian be introduced to keep legs fresh?

Off the back of signing a new contract, there is also scope for an appearance on the bench for Folarin Balogun, as Arteta balances keeping Eddie Nketiah in the public eye with integrating Balogun into the first team fold.

What will he do? Play a winning team or introduce fresh legs? Here is our prediction for Arteta’s Arsenal lineup.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Bernd Leno (GK) – It would be nice to see Maty Ryan given another opportunity in between the sticks on Sunday. He’s played just once due to Leno’s suspension and performed well, and while it appears Arsenal will keep him on next season, it’d be nice to see that decision brought to life on the pitch. Probably won’t happen, though.

Hector Bellerin (RB) – All that talk about finding consistency in the defence? Yeah, given it’s Fulham on home soil it’s likely to be a change in both full-back positions. A visiting outfit who need to attack Arsenal will leave gaps, and against a fast full-back you want the same in your team.

Rob Holding (CB) – If he was a left-sided central defender he would probably get a rest but considering he’s the only fit option for the right he will keep his place. By no means excellent he still provided solidity alongside the right partner and has looked solid since coming back into the side.

Gabriel (CB) – The same partnership that started on the opening day should be the one Arteta goes with on Sunday. Gabriel, it would appear, has lost his place in the team to Pablo Mari as the Spaniard is the best partner to Holding – the only option on that side – which indicates a return to action for the Brazilian here.

Cedric Soares (LB) – There will be a systematic alteration for Arsenal from the previous two outings with the return of Cedric expected to maintain freshness within the side. He’s not everyone’s favourite option but he does his job well enough.

Midfielders

Thomas Partey (CM) – Are we seeing a shift towards the 4-3-3 Arteta envisages long-term? There were shades of it in the previous two fixtures as Thomas Partey assumed sole control of the midfield as the deepest option, one that worked with two No. 8 type operators either side.

Arsenal were always going to see plenty of the ball at Bramall Lane and needing to play on the front foot against Slavia so the situations may have called for it, and in any case the Ghanaian assumed his role expertly.

Granit Xhaka (CM) – Back into midfield he looks set to go. Having seen the whole game out on Thursday it wouldn’t be overly surprising to have Xhaka drop out in place of either Dani Ceballos or Mohamed Elneny, but with plenty of time to rest after Sunday it could be that he keeps his place.

Ideally, the classic 2-0 scoreline with the game wrapped up and early(ish) substitution would suit. That said, Xhaka never comes off.

Emile Smith Rowe (AM) – Withdrawn after 67 minutes in Prague, Smith Rowe’s masterful display was more than enough to have keyboards beating in admiration of his exploits before the final whistle. Another superb performance from the Hale Ender.

A well deserved rest after returning from injury, his early substitution could have been with an eye on getting him back into the team for Sunday with Odegaard expected to miss out once more.

Forwards

Bukayo Saka (RW) – Trying to work out what Arteta’s thinking is can usually be a waste of time since his mind works in its own clever way. People still haven’t sussed out Pep Guardiola after all these years. However, if making a prediction – which is what this is – then it’ll be that he goes for momentum.

Hence why it’ll be the same front four. Maybe. Potentially.

Alexandre Lacazette (ST) – The captain would likely have returned for this fixture with goals to be had against Fulham, but as he recovers from malaria it’s almost certain Alexandre Lacazette keeps his place. The Frenchman has four goals in his last two outings and is brimming with confidence, and while Nketiah and Balogun are waiting in the wings, Arteta might fancy continuity.

Nicolas Pepe (LW) – Will it be a shame to see Gabriel Martinelli left out once more? Yes, it will. Will it be a shame to see Pepe keep his place? No, it most certainly will not.

One of the main critiques of Arteta’s handling of the Ivorian has been an apparent lack of trust over a longer stretch of games: he scores one week then is on the bench the next. This will be his third consecutive start and a chance to silence any doubters.