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

Forwards

Bukayo Saka (RW) – First name on the team sheet, arguably, but whereabouts on it? When Tierney first suffered his injury the obvious choice to slot into that position was Saka. He’s played there before and is naturally left footed therefore can provide the overlaps and contribute in advanced triangles like other options can’t.

Arteta not opting to follow that route upon the Scot’s injury is a sign of Saka’s importance in the final third. Having not done it since, it’d be strange to do so now. There is absolutely scope for him to also play in midfield, but given his contributions in the final third in the first leg, it may be as it was.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ST) – A certainty. His return to the side was near perfect as he got 78 minutes under his belt and confidence up with a superbly taken goal.

It’s no easy feat taking on the excellent Pau Torres, but even if Aubameyang’s role on Thursday is merely to keep moving and occupy the centre-backs, shifting them around and crafting space in between the lines for the attacking midfielders to advance into, it’ll be more than what happened in the first leg.

He will get the chances to score and of all the options to convert them, both strikers and otherwise, he’s the horse you’d back.

Nicolas Pepe (LW) – No Martinelli. But as touched on earlier, can Arteta really drop Pepe for this match? He bust multiple gut in Spain, posed the biggest threat and has been a danger man throughout this competition.

Martinelli can’t do much more to warrant a starting berth, but neither can the Ivorian. Furthermore, if he decides to actually use them, of the two Arteta will know which one he’d rather have as an impact substitute. With five subs and potentially 120 minutes to play, it’s Martinelli who you’d rather come off the bench hounding down the Villarreal backline.