Arsenal predicted lineup vs Brentford: White & Sambi debuts?

Arsenal take on Brentford in the opening fixture of the 2021/22 Premier League season with Thomas Frank’s side hosting Mikel Arteta’s men at the Brentford Community Stadium on Friday. Here is the predicted lineup.

Amid what can only be described as a transfer omnishambles, many might have forgotten for a moment that an actual football match is taking place involving a side in desperate need of three points. The season hasn’t even started yet and the mood needs lifting.

Concern is understandably mounting in and around north London with Arsenal struggling to complete either of the two components of a transfer window: selling and buying. Deals are falling through, moves are being backed out of and the starting lineup might look freakishly similar to what is was on May 23.

Arteta would have hoped for considerably more movement in and out of the club by this point but his and the fans worries should be centred towards a certain patch of west London turf instead. Needing to get off the mark nice and early with Chelsea and Manchester City to come up next in the Premier League, what team will the manager see fit to secure three points against the Bees?

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Arsenal predicted lineup vs Brentford: Ben White & Albert Sambi Lokonga Premier League debuts? Bukayo Saka back in the team?

The injury issues aren’t helping his cause, but they may make his selection that one bit easier.

In defence Gabriel has been ruled out until next month as a result of the knee injury he sustained while with Brazil, which comes as one of many unfortunate setbacks. He’s joined in the treatment room by Thomas Partey, who will also be unavailable until after the international break with an ankle issue of his own.

Further up the pitch, Eddie Nketiah will also be out until September with his own ankle problem, although whether or not he will be here to see out that injury remains to be seen.

It’s a big one. It’s the first one. It’s Brentford vs Arsenal in the opening match of the Premier League season. What are we expecting?

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Bernd Leno (GK) – The easiest decision Arteta will ever have to make with his team selections. If it wasn’t the German it’d be either Alex Runarsson (not very good) or Arthur Okonkwo (yet to prove he’s good at this level). We all cross our fingers Leno stays fit.

Calum Chambers (RB) – While Hector Bellerin started last time out against Tottenham, for the balancing act Arteta wants from his full-backs and because Chambers is the best of three options, it will be the long-time servant.

Ben White (CB) – Nailed on. Looked head and shoulders above previous central defensive options in his appearance against Tottenham and if that minuscule sample size is anything to go off then it’s £50m well spent. Getting carried away? Well, we have to.

Pablo Mari (CB) – Unless Arteta fancies giving everyone a heart attack on Friday and fielding Sead Kolasinac at centre-back, the only option for this position is Mari.

Kieran Tierney (LB) – Nuno Tavares will provide some much-needed backup at left-back but a fully fit Tierney starts every single week. Arsenal sorely need him.

Midfielders

Albert Sambi Lokonga (CM) – This is the move that all the supporters have been asking for. If Mohamed Elneny starts against the Bees the stomach churning feeling we all have may culminate in the need for a mop and bucket.

Elneny and Partey? Yeah we can live with that. Elneny and Xhaka? No thank you.

So there is nothing to worry about as Sambi Lokonga will make his Premier League debut from the start. The 21-year-old has looked brilliant in pre-season and him starting alongside a certain Swiss eluded to this being Arteta’s selection for this one.

Granit Xhaka (CM) – Everyone preparing for the next batch of team lineups never thought they’d be typing in Xhaka’s name again. It is genuinely a major shock to see the 28-year-old still in red and white. He looked destined to leave.

Even if just for the next three games, praise the lord he didn’t go. With Partey out, the Xhaka and Sambi combination can continue to blend.

Emile Smith Rowe (AM) – There was some debate over whether Arteta would plump for his other No. 10 in this one.

(ha, ha, ha)

It’s Smith Rowe and Smith Rowe only. Fortunately for us he’s absolutely magnificent and we’re all over the moon to see him in the league donning that No. 10 shirt.

Forwards

Nicolas Pepe (RW) – Looking sharp, fit and hungry, the Ivorian can do no more having finished last season strongly to prove to Arteta he’s ready for regular top-flight football.

It’s not been a perfect pre-season for Pepe but he has been one of the better performers. He could be up against former Gunner Dominic Thompson at left-back or Ethan Pinnock as the left sided central defender in a back three depending on the system Frank employs.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ST) – Arteta has shown admirable trust in Aubameyang following on from last season into pre-season, regularly fielding him in the team regardless of form.

Some of that has been out on the left wing but in order to extract every molecule of Aubameyang’s ability, he has to be playing through the middle. This could be a fixture where he doesn’t touch the ball for 60 minutes, but all will be forgiven he if pop up and one goes in off his left buttock. He just needs that goal.

Bukayo Saka (LW) – Already? Yes, already.

Even after the season and summer he’s had, as soon as Saka took to the pitch against Spurs the rest of the players noticeably lifted their games. Brilliant footballers make other footballers better. Whether its infectious, subconscious or the byproduct of them demanding the ball and feeding others in the right zones, it’s something Saka does.

Lacking sharpness in the final third, Arsenal are a wooden spoon without Saka. If he’s fit, and he appears to be, you play him. It wouldn’t be any surprise at all for Arteta to get him in from the start.