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.

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Midfielders

Albert Sambi Lokonga (DM) – Set for his first start since the 2-0 win over Newcastle back in late November, the Belgian is going to be seeing plenty of action across January with him being the only available senior midfielder in the entire squad for this match.

Emile Smith Rowe (CM) – As he tends to do in fixtures against lower level opposition, Arteta may switch to a 4-3-3 system at the City Ground and incorporate two No. 8’s.

One of those could be Smith Rowe, who is desperate to fight his way back into the Premier League starting lineup.

Charlie Patino (CM) – Odegaard has played plenty of minutes over recent weeks and in a bid to rotate Patino could be handed his full debut for Arsenal. He certainly deserves it, and even if the numbers weren’t thin in midfield there is every chance he would have started regardless. More of a deep lying playmaker than a No. 8, his role in this system could be flexible.

Fingers crossed he gets the nod.

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Forwards

Bukayo Saka (RW) – Fans will be pining for Omari Hutchinson to be involved from the off to prevent Saka starting four, possibly five, matches in just two weeks. It does feel like a start may come too soon for Hutchinson, however.

Could he be involved? Absolutely, and ideally Arteta will use Saka as little as he has to on Sunday which means a substitute appearance could be on the cards.

Eddie Nketiah (ST) – He may be on his way out of the door, but which striker at Arsenal isn’t at the minute?

Balogun’s loan hasn’t been confirmed but with his move to Middlesbrough imminent it might be that he’s left out of this one just in case, even if he could be injured at any stage so it hardly matters. Either way, Nketiah looks like he’ll be leading the line.

Gabriel Martinelli (LW) – Arsenal are low on numbers. This match would have been the ideal time to give missing man Pepe some minutes ahead of crucial cup and league outings, but the limited options means one of a few starts in a short space of time awaits for Martinelli.