Arsenal predicted lineup vs Nottingham Forest: Charlie Patino in 4-3-3?

Arsenal are back in action this weekend after their midweek break as they travel to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup third round. Here is the predicted lineup.

It all feels a bit panicky at the moment, doesn’t it? Mikel Arteta didn’t mince his words when he said that Arsenal were ‘very, very short’ in certain areas of the pitch and their situation would call for transfer activity.

Also remaining tight-lipped on which members of his squad are injured or have Covid, it makes for Sunday’s lineup to be an exciting, or worrying, surprise.

Allowing Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Folarin Balogun to leave at least confirms two players who won’t be involved, while another four in the squad certainly won’t be either: Thomas Partey, Mohamed Elneny, Nicolas Pepe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are all away in Cameroon.

Arsenal predicted lineup vs Nottingham Forest: Charlie Patino to start in 4-3-3 shape as Mikel Arteta rotates his side?

With the Carabao Cup now in the semi-final stages and the Premier League top four firmly within Arsenal’s sights, this FA Cup clash against Nottingham Forest presents one of few remaining opportunities to field some of the young academy stars at the club.

Well, in truth, Arteta’s hands are pretty much tied anyway, such is the list of absentees.

The name on everyone’s lips is Charlie Patino. Very much in the ‘wonderkid’ bracket, of all the youngsters he is the one closest to earning his first senior start. Debuting and scoring against Sunderland, he also made the bench in the league meeting against Norwich. Could he be used in a 4-3-3 system?

As for fringe players, the likes of Calum Chambers and Pablo Mari will be itching for minutes, with the latter not featuring since back in September. Whether Arteta even trusts the Spaniard anymore is another matter.

With Liverpool to come four days later, how will Arteta go for this one?

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Bernd Leno (GK) – It’s the German’s time to shine. This competition might be his only chance at minutes for the rest of the season.

Cedric Soares (RB) – Arteta has a certain degree of faith in Cedric. More so than Chambers, anyway. He is the certified number two and will get a start here.

Benjamin White (CB) – There is no real reason to field White in this match with other options in the squad, yet Arteta’s lack of faith in Mari might see the summer signing continue to rack up the minutes.

Rob Holding (CB) – With no Gabriel due to his suspension and Mari unfavoured, Holding could be out on left of central defence once again. He started in that position in the 4-2 defeat at this stadium four years ago.

Nuno Tavares (LB) – Tierney has wrestled his way back into the number one slot at left-back, and therefore that means Nuno will make the team. Such an exciting player to watch, he’s likely to spend most of his time in the opposition half.

Continued on next page…