Arsenal predicted lineup vs Liverpool: 4-3-3 tactical switch?

Arsenal are in Carabao Cup semi-final first leg action on Thursday as they travel to Anfield to take on Liverpool. Here is the predicted lineup.

Mikel Arteta’s side may only be 180 minutes away from Wembley, but the paper thin squad is in risk of seeing its silverware ambitions tarnished in just half that time.

Where is the midfield? It’s going to require something special to see the numbers bolstered prior to the game, with it looking more and more like Arteta will have to make do with what he’s got. There isn’t a lot to begin with.

Granit Xhaka’s availability is the biggest call of all. There was a total lack of presence with young Charlie Patino and the rusty Sambi Lokonga, and if the Swiss has recovered from Covid he will be thrust straight back into the team.

https://twitter.com/Carabao_Cup/status/1480935903510024202

Arsenal predicted lineup vs Liverpool: 4-3-3 tactical switch with Sambi in a midfield trio with Odegaard and Smith Rowe?

The other injury concerns are Emile Smith Rowe and Takehiro Tomiyasu. While Smith Rowe is always needed in the team, Tomiyasu is arguably more important purely because of the options in reserve. Cedric is a far worse dip in quality than Martinelli is.

If there is only one central midfielder available and Patino isn’t handed a daunting task from the off, then might Arteta revert to a 4-3-3 with Smith Rowe and Martin Odegaard either side?

Neither are No.8’s or even central midfielders, but at least they help compact central spaces and match up to the Reds’ own 4-3-3 shape. Has the 4-3-3 ever looked good, though? Not really. This always looks and feels like a double pivot team.

What will also be in the manager’s mind is the small task of Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday. That is a colossal game in both clubs’ season and Arteta will need all the freshness he can get. Rotating the side without severely damaging their prospects in the first leg is impossible, however.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Aaron Ramsdale (GK) – Leno returned to the side against Forest and made two decent stops, but that isn’t enough to warrant any ground-trembling shocks in goal.

Takehiro Tomiyasu (RB) – Is he going to be fit? Perhaps it’s more blind hope, but anything other than having watch Cedric for another 90 minutes will be welcome.

Benjamin White (CB) – White and Leno were probably the only two who could leave The City Ground feeling they performed average or slightly above, and it looks like Arsenal’s most used player this season is in for another full outing.

Gabriel (CB) – Fortunately the game that Gabriel missed through suspension was against Forest, since he is going to be needed back in the heart of defence at Anfield.

Kieran Tierney (LB) – Well it’s not going to be Nuno Tavares, is it?

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