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…

Midfielders

Thomas Partey (CM) – Even Partey at 60% output stays in the team. No question of him being dropped unless one of his ballooning efforts at goal ends up in his own net.

If you want someone to break the lines and play through the opposition, it’s him. Will he get a midfield partner to help him in his task?

Albert Sambi Lokonga (CM) – Yes, he will. Well, at least that’s the prediction anyway.

Sambi was at fault for the second goal when he clearly took on board the idea of following in Partey’s footsteps too literally. So long as he plays and isn’t asked to keep covering for Tierney at left-back Arsenal will have more presence in an area of the park where they need it.

Martin Odegaard (AM) – Arteta said that there are some concerns over a few players following the 2-2 draw, so it’s left to speculation in trying to decipher who those players may be. However, in playing the odds, Odegaard withdrawing after 67 minutes may mean he’s in better shape than others. Or it’s because he was injured.

Who knows.

Continued…

Forwards

Nicolas Pepe (RW) – Is Saka going to be fit? That is the key question.

Given the violence of McArthur’s kick and the lack of training for the star boy, you’d hedge your bets on him only being available for a spot on the bench. And in that instance it could be Pepe who keeps his place in the side as he’s the best of the options to play out on the right.

At least in the manager’s eyes.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ST) – So, who is an injury concern? Is it all mind games from Arteta to throw Smith off? It may be just that.

Aubameyang would be harshly dropped for this game regardless of Lacazette’s influence off the bench. He ran himself into the ground, especially in the first half, and grabbed the opening goal. Arteta won’t leave him out unless it’s fitness related.

Emile Smith Rowe (LW) – A move that many are pining for is seeing Smith Rowe back in the position where he can do more of what he’s best at (running and carrying) and less of what he needs to improve (passing and decision making).

A front four with two direct options, one creative type and one connective middle-of-the-mark type is what we’re predicting Arteta plumps for in this Premier League showdown.