Arsenal predicted lineup vs Villarreal: Xhaka, Auba & Martinelli?

Mikel Arteta is tasked with the most important team selection of his managerial career as Arsenal host Villarreal in their Europa League semi-final second leg on Thursday. Here is the predicted lineup.

In normal circumstances, the 11 players put out have to be the right ones for the occasion and the opposition. That differs in Europe this season, as with five substitutes, those who start aren’t necessarily the most important on the day.

However, with a manager who has a swarm of critics rightfully questioning his substitutions (or lack thereof) who starts may have even greater significance.

The injury situation was handed a fresh boost with Kieran Tierney and Alexandre Lacazette taking part in training on Tuesday and Wednesday; one player who is the only to fill a position naturally and another who has been in excellent form in recent weeks.

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Arsenal predicted lineup vs Villarreal: Granit Xhaka at left-back, Aubameyang at centre-forward & Gabriel Martinelli on the left?

Added to that was the potential for a miraculous recovery at centre-back, with the manager refusing to rule out David Luiz making the swiftest hamstring recovery in history just four days on from being forced to hobble off against Newcastle.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is back in the squad and back among the goals after his acrobatic effort on Tyneside, welcome respite for all supporters who dread another false nine approach.

In wide areas there are plenty of options available, with Gabriel Martinelli sharp and energetic at St James’ Park, registering an assist on the day and offering serious competition. For who, though? Martinelli is pounding on the manager’s door but his place in the side would see Nicolas Pepe drop out, who is the leading contributor for goals across the entire Europa League this season and put in a dogged shift in the first leg.

Rests for both Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka last time out strongly hint to their involvement, albeit fairly conclusive anyway since they’re among the star performers in this side.

Who plays left-back? Who takes Dani Ceballos’ spot? Who plays at centre-half? Such is the lack of consistency at Arsenal none of these questions are easily answered. Those decisions rest on Arteta’s shoulders, and here is our prediction for how the Spaniard will set up.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Bernd Leno (GK) – It would seem Arsenal have reverted to having a cup goalkeeper and a Premier League goalkeeper, albeit in unorthodox fashion. Mat Ryan has started in two of the previous three domestic outings, a trend that has no reason to be discontinued, thus it looks like being Leno in net once more.

Hector Bellerin (RB) – A tidy afternoon for Bellerin against Newcastle doesn’t suddenly warrant his inclusion on this one, yet given the likelihood of Villarreal sitting back and looking to strike on the counter, Arsenal will need pace in transition. Chambers has the better delivery and has performed well of late, but tactically Arteta may change things up.

Rob Holding (CB) – The centre-back didn’t feature against Newcastle, a move that while may have seemed like him being rested, will only look like it now with Luiz surely not returning from his hamstring injury. The two Brazilians are the best partnership and if the 34-year-old didn’t get injured it may well have been the same pairing for Thursday.

Pablo Mari (CB) – If Holding plays, so does Mari. Arsenal essentially have two pairs of defenders who work well together, and mixing them around results in a drop-off for all included. Neither Mari nor Holding looked assured in the first leg, especially the former, but Arteta won’t want to chop his defence around too drastically.

Granit Xhaka (LB) – *Sigh*, can anyone foresee this ploy being abandoned? If Tierney was fit then 100%. He won’t be, and sticking to this system last time out offers the indication that it will be kept for the second leg. Cedric, who hasn’t played since his error in the first leg against Slavia Prague, won’t be asked to suddenly come in at left-back. The chance for that was Sunday.