Arsenal predicted lineup vs Everton: Folarin Balogun to start?

Arsenal host Everton in the Premier League on Friday with the backdrop of a staged protest against the KSE ownership perhaps more important than the fixture. Here is the predicted lineup.

Football. Actual football being played. Thus far we’ve already seen top-flight fixtures become a secondary act to the talk off the pitch and with #KroenkeOut protests set to take centre stage on Friday we can expect the same focus being directed elsewhere.

However, that is not what Mikel Arteta will have informed his players as he prepares for a match that will act as the warm-up to the crunch Europa League semi-final showdown with Villarreal on Thursday.

Victory is all that is in his sights against an Everton team without a win of their own in six matches, and the stance of the manager has remained unchanged that until European qualification is mathematically impossible via league position, Arsenal will fight for it.

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Arsenal predicted lineup vs Everton in the Premier League: Folarin Balogun, Eddie Nketiah or Gabriel Martinelli to start at centre-forward?

Arteta certainly won’t see Friday as a warm-up fixture, but it must be viewed as the chance to build momentum and confidence ahead of the trip to Spain.

For that reason, he has some interesting decisions to make regarding his team selections.

Arsenal will have five full days following their clash with the Toffees to prepare for their Estadio de la Cerámica showdown, therefore fielding a side not only capable of beating Everton but one that will likely start against Unai Emery’s side could be in his thinking.

Injuries have altered the entire construct of the side in recent weeks, namely Kieran Tierney’s absence, and the manager’s alterations to remedy that look set to be utilised once more.

Up front there is also an interesting conundrum. Both Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are unavailable, meaning Eddie Nketiah, Folarin Balogun and Gabriel Martinelli look set to battle it out for the No. 9 spot.

Here is our predicted lineup to face Everton.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Bernd Leno (GK) – Maty Ryan came in for just his second appearance for the club since joining in January, a sight supporters were happy to see. Yet with Everton up next and then Villarreal, Arteta will surely revert to his No. 1.

Calum Chambers (RB) – Hats off to Calum Chambers who has successfully battled back from a long-term injury and deservedly wrestled his way up to first-choice right-back in place of the long-serving Bellerin and relatively safe option of Cedric. Should Chambers start in Spain? He should, which likely means he will here.

Rob Holding (CB) – The only option to take this slot unless Chambers moved infield, of all the options to start at the Emirates, Holding is perhaps the most nailed on.

Gabriel (CB) – Gabriel had a one of his worst displays for Arsenal in the 1-1 draw with Fulham last time out, looking lost without his preferred partner David Luiz, something that seeped into his overall game. There was focus lacking, composure missing and rashness throughout. Against Richarlison, however, he’d probably be the right choice with Xhaka at left-back. There needs to be a slight injection of pace in that area.

Granit Xhaka (LB) – Until Tierney returns, there is little to suggest Xhaka won’t play in this position every week. Forming part of that defensive diamond, he’s added security in possession and helped Arsenal build through the thirds with his unorthodox left-back profile of not supporting his winger beyond. For the moment, it’s working.