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Arsenal predicted lineup vs Tottenham: Xhaka in 4-2-3-1?

By Ross Kennerley

Arsenal's Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates with teammates after he scores his team's opening goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Norwich City at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 11, 2021. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal's Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates with teammates after he scores his team's opening goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Norwich City at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 11, 2021. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Granit Xhaka
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 01: Granit Xhaka celebrates scoring for Arsenal by touching the club badge during the Pre Season Friendly between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on August 1, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images) /

Midfielders

Thomas Partey (CM) – Those 60 minutes against the Dons will have done him the world of good. He still might not be at 100% but it was vital he got minutes on the turf to get him as match fit as possible to face Tottenham.

He has looked superb since his return from injury and this is him not even fully charged. Arsenal’s Rolls Royce.

Granit Xhaka (CM) – It’s likely, dear reader, that you skipped past Partey and looked straight for Xhaka. And, who knows, this might be entirely wrong, but it just seems like there is no way Arteta won’t play his favoured lieutenant for a fixture of this magnitude.

The manager liked the double pivot these two formed and there is a reason why Xhaka was offered a new deal.

Is there any chance he doesn’t start? With a personal guess, it’s at about 10%.

Martin Odegaard (AM) – The £30m man is nailed on to start this match, and not just because of his winner last time out against Burnley.

The Partey/Odegaard combination in central areas is going to be an interesting contest as Spurs’ 4-3-3 shape is designed to congest those areas and set traps from which to spring into transition. And, for that reason, there might be a slight surprise in the forward department.

Continued…

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