Arsenal predicted lineup vs Aston Villa: 4-2-3-1 return with Sambi?

Arsenal host Aston Villa on Friday with nobody especially brimming with confidence for a fixture that stores neatly into the must-win file. They all are, really, but is this the be-all and end-all of must-win games? Here is the predicted lineup.

Mikel Arteta went for it against Crystal Palace. Utilising Thomas Partey as the solitary holding midfielder, despite Martin Odegaard limited in his attacking boundaries, was an effort to quite simply field another attacking option.

Working for the opening 15 or so minutes, the team tailed off and all the usual concerns from an Arteta side bubbled back up to the surface.

Even with a fully fit squad the calls for change against the Villans have already permeated. Hearing the manager in his pre-match press conference state that there are doubts over Bukayo Saka, as well as up to three others, may force the issue.

Arsenal predicted lineup vs Aston Villa: Will Mikel Arteta revert to the 4-2-3-1 formation with Sambi Lokonga returning in midfield?

The primary selection decision will centre around the formation. Seeing Partey struggle individually and in terms of having options further in front with Odegaard’s positional deficiencies against Palace, the obvious route to take would be to revert to two natural central midfielders. In such an instance Albert Sambi Lokonga would surely be drafted in.

Where the manager could look to stick to the attacking principles – on paper at least – he sought to implement on Monday would be to continue with Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe more as central No. 8’s and play the direct pairing of Gabriel Martinelli and Nicolas Pepe on either flank.

That would constitute a less balanced side that once again runs the risk of being overrun in midfield, just as Aston Villa had done in this fixture last season where John McGinn and Ross Barkley were instrumental in the diverse and ever changing attacking approach that brought Dean Smith’s side a fully deserved 3-0 victory.

There is a lot to ponder, which means a lot to predict.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Aaron Ramsdale (GK) – One of Arsenal’s better performers against the Eagles, Ramsdale’s distribution in those early exchanges was one highlight of the match as he picked out passes long and short in equally efficient measure. Harshly judged to have been lacking for the second goal.

Takehiro Tomiyasu (RB) – The Japan international had a decent outing on Monday out of possession, yet with the ball at feet he struggled to progress. Still, no change expected.

Ben White (CB) – Didn’t cover himself in glory as he backed off Odsonne Edouard for the third goal on the night, but apart from that Ben White had a solid outing, despite the growing desire to hound the 24-year-old with criticism.

Gabriel (CB) – Was thrown under the bus with Partey being sloppily dispossessed in the build up to Christian Benteke’s equaliser in an otherwise decent outing.

Kieran Tierney (LB) – Is he receiving the ball too high up the field, in turn limiting his space to run at defenders and be more proficient in the final third? Yes. It’s resulting in too many negative decisions on the ball. Tierney is still not going to lose his place, though.

Continued…