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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Midfielders

Albert Sambi Lokonga (CM) – It was not a pleasant evening for Sambi on his return to the side against Forest as he struggles to get any foothold in the match alongside Patino.

It will require a run of matches before he is back up to speed again and finding his previous form, which luckily for him he will get as there is nobody else to play in central midfield.

Granit Xhaka (CM) – Arsenal have their fingers crossed that Xhaka produces a negative Covid test in the build up to the game and is physically able to return to the starting lineup.

If anyone is going to beat a later flow, however, it’s him.

Martin Odegaard (AM) – Played the full 90 minutes against Forest and like almost everyone in the team he failed to make a meaningful impact. Nonetheless, he’s been the best player in the squad of late and will be playing once more.

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Forwards

Bukayo Saka (RW) – Without Nicolas Pepe – not like he’d be starting in this one, mind you – the demands on Saka to play 90 minutes every three days is sadly unavoidable.

It’s almost like the endless kicks his legs get make him increasingly strong. As much as he needs some time off, he’s not going to get it.

Alexandre Lacazette (ST) – The only reliable striker in the squad for this one will be relied upon again. Without Lacazette this team struggles to build centrally and his physical presence was sorely missed against Championship opposition, so it would certainly be missed at Anfield were he not selected.

Gabriel Martinelli (LW) – Now a mainstay in the team, the slight concerns over Smith Rowe mean there is no reason not to stick with Martinelli out on the left. His pace will be key against Trent Alexander-Arnold if Arsenal are to try and prevent the right-back dominating in the final third as he so often does.