Arsenal predicted lineup vs Man City: 3-4-3 return with Odegaard?

Arsenal face the simple task of taking on Manchester City this Saturday on their own patch, backed by an impeccable Premier League record so far in tandem with the champions’ faltering form.

That opening paragraph might need a decent copy editor to scan through, but we’ll leave that to another day. Instead, we’ll focus on Mikel Arteta’s side and just what he thinks is the best course of action to secure a positive result from the Etihad.

If Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang returning to the fold against West Brom after recovering from COVID-19 was encouraging, him going on to score three goals was delighting. How desperately the fans, the captain and the manager yearned for that. Just what the doctor ordered, and so on.

His presence in the team was backed up by the returning Alexandre Lacazette, a second debut for Martin Odegaard, as well as a surprise 90-minute outing for Bukayo Saka, who looked off the pace against Chelsea, and from an external point of view was felt may have needed a brief cameo instead.

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Arsenal predicted lineup vs Man City: Will Arteta go for a 3-4-3 formation with Martin Odegaard or match Pep Guardiola’s side in shape?

It goes to show that those on the inside know more, as he was excellent and sharp. Saka is also fit, thankfully, after suffering a knock and available for selection against City, as is Kieran Tierney who had minor cramp issues in midweek.

Gabriel made his return from a knee problem for the Under-23 side so is still out, while fellow central defender Ben White is being monitored after he too caught COVID-19. No bushes to beat here, those two will be sorely missed. As will Thomas Partey.

Nobody is especially confident of Arsenal getting a positive result from this one. The gulf in class, as well as the difference in quality off the bench, is frightening. Throw in form and absences and the gap widens.

Can Arsenal escape with a point? Even the most confident of supporters would surely grasp at the opportunity of a draw were it offered to them. Arteta appears to think otherwise and will, naturally, set his team out to win.

But what personnel will he choose to do so? And what shape may he fell gives his team a fighting chance? Let’s get predicting.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Bernd Leno (GK) – Aaron Ramsdale’s impressive debut against West Brom’s second string side, no matter how composed, is not going to dislodge Leno from the starting spot just yet. Oh, and that line-breaking pass everyone is waxing lyrical over? Yeah, that was a very simple ball into someone in space. Sorry to be a Debbie downer.

Cedric Soares (RB) – It should be Calum Chambers, right? Especially since Cedric was left out of the squad entirely in midweek. Yet because he opted for the Portuguese against Chelsea, he may feel the same here. He is just that touch more technically secure in the opposition half.

Given Arteta opted against a 3-4-3 against Chelsea with less personnel to choose from, it would be surprising to see him not match City up here.

Rob Holding (CB) – Is this going to be low-block monster Rob Holding who bats away every cross and gets his body in front of every shot?

Fingers crossed.

Pablo Mari (CB) – The problem area. The biggest worry of all.

Mari’s form has been fairly woeful during the summer and at the beginning of this season and leaving him out of the side to face West Brom might, in hindsight, have been the wrong idea as he could have done with the confidence boost of a clean sheet.

Kieran Tierney (LB) – Thankfully this glorious left-back is fit and ready. Nuno Tavares has shown exciting dashes of his ability intermittent with very clear flaws that need working on. Fortunately those can be worked on during training, and not in the against the English Premier League champions.