Arsenal predicted lineup vs Villarreal: Tierney and Aubameyang?

Midfielders

Thomas Partey (CM) – He just needs to stop shooting. When he does, fans won’t turn on him as much as they do and focus on what he does bring to the team, not what he doesn’t.

Bemoaning the wayward passes made against Everton (Saka misplaced more) and cringing over a ballooned effort over the bar detracts from him making the most tackles, most interceptions, most progressive carries and two key passes in that game. He needs to stop shooting – like, really needs to stop or put in some serious work in training – but the criticism is overboard at present.

The best midfielder in the squad starts in Spain. While he hasn’t been great, he hasn’t been anywhere near as bad as suggested.

Dani Ceballos (CM) – It all depends on whether Tierney starts having ‘trained like a beast’ to be in contention. Working on the basis he doesn’t, Ceballos comes in.

Nobody was particularly impressive in either the Fulham or Everton outings, but by Ceballos’ standards the past four matches in which he’s started has been among the better patches of form he’s shown at the club. Impressive in some and OK in others, he’ll have to maintain this level at the least.

Martin Odegaard (AM) – Coming off the bench against Everton – and not misplacing a single pass during that time – Odegaard’s return from injury puts him straight into the side. Arteta will need that intelligence in the right half-space to build triangles down the right, which he will aim to do with Calum Chambers in support.

It may help, too, that Odegaard is familiar with Spanish football and has a degree of insider knowledge into how players operate in that league. Even if he didn’t, Arteta will still play him.