Arsenal predicted lineup vs Norwich: Who gets rested in 4-2-3-1?

Arsenal are back in action on Boxing Day as they travel to Carrow Road to face Norwich in the Premier League. Here is the predicted lineup.

There is no time to waste and barely any time to let the Christmas dinners settle. Making the journey up to Norfolk on Sunday sees Arsenal come up against the side rock bottom of the division for the second time this season.

Last time the two sides faced off was back in early September where a solitary Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang goal secured Arsenal their first win of the season. It was a good looking team that day, but it’s expected to be different on this occasion.

The biggest conundrum facing Mikel Arteta is the obscene turnover time between this fixture and the corresponding one at home to Wolves. With less than 48 hours separating the matches, he will have to pick and choose carefully on who he thinks can manage the workload and who he could bring in instead.

Arsenal predicted lineup vs Norwich: Will Mikel Arteta use the upcoming AFCON as a chance to field Partey, Elneny and Pepe?

What could play a deciding factor in Arteta’s thinking is the players he will have jetting off to AFCON. Players need to be released 13 days prior to the competition starting, so for Nicolas Pepe, Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny, this will be their last involvement until they return.

Work is being done, however, to delay their departures.

Of the two matches, instincts will be drawn to this one as the chance to keep some players in reserve, yet no side fighting for their lives and playing at home can be dismissed as three easy points. Sadly the division doesn’t work like that.

Someone who certainly won’t be featuring is Aubameyang, even if some quality in rotation at centre-forward would do this squad the world of good. That, of course, could see Eddie Nketiah brought into the fold.

Granit Xhaka may be rested after featuring, albeit briefly, in midweek, while Takehiro Tomiyasu may be granted some additional recovery time after his knock at Elland Road.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Aaron Ramsdale (GK) – The good thing about goalkeepers is that they don’t need resting in the same way as outfield players.

The good thing about Ramsdale is that he’s just very, very good.

Cedric Soares (RB) – Tomiyasu should be available but the point will stand that there is no need to rush him, not if Wolves is to come less than two days later. In a game where Arsenal should be fairly possession-heavy, Cedric helping out in the final third wouldn’t be all that bad.

Rob Holding (CB) – Having played more minutes than anyone prior to the Sunderland match, White might be left out for this one in preparation for Tuesday. His expertise are always welcome, but quality in attacking areas should be enough to secure victory for the visitors, so the expansive Holding could come in.

Gabriel (CB) – One of the central defenders needs to be that little bit more progressive on the ball so Gabriel should be given the nod.

Nuno Tavares (LB) – For the same reason as nearly everyone else who isn’t playing but normally would, Nuno could get another shout at left-back to save Tierney for Wolves.

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Midfielders

Thomas Partey (CM) – Set to jet off with Ghana on the following day, there is no reason at all not to field Partey in this one since he will play no part against Wolves.

Given the strength of the Ghana team it could be a while before he’s seen again, so extracting every bit of value possible out of him on Sunday will be on the cards. There can be no handbrake on for the midfielder for fear of injury.

Mohamed Elneny (CM) – Xhaka would probably have played 93 minutes here and then 93 minutes 48 hours later against Wolves, but for the same reason as Partey, Arteta might want to keep Xhaka back and make the most out of a player who is tipped to make it all the way to the end of AFCON with Egypt.

Martin Odegaard (AM) – Arteta will be wanting to keep his forward line as similar to the ones he had fielded four matches running in the league, so Odegaard could be given another opportunity to dominate here as he did at Elland Road.

This is a fixture that he can leave his fingerprints all over. The platform is there to control this game.

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Forwards

Bukayo Saka (RW) – Saka isn’t far off Xhaka when it comes to be being built of sterner stuff, and as much as he deserves to lounge on his sofa suffering from a food coma, his presence will be surely be called upon for this game.

As much as it worries supporters, Saka looks like being one of the players who will be in the starting lineup twice in these two days although Pepe will be sure to come on at some stage.

Alexandre Lacazette (ST) – In an ideal world, Arsenal will have this game sewn up by half-time. That would mean Lacazette, who has been key in the recent run, can come off and be back in the team for Wolves.

In an ideal world, that is.

Gabriel Martinelli (LW) – You can’t not play him, it’s as simple as that.

Finding ‘gears’ to his game, he is managing his fitness and energy far better than previously and that’s before even getting onto his form. Being the spring chicken he is, Martinelli might be one of the ones who is asked to feature across both games over this 48-hour spell.

Although, in fairness, he’ll be the one asking for inclusion.