%20rotate(-8.06)%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22336.19%20136.81%20330.16%2094.25%20326.06%2071.19%20326.44%2071.13%20335.22%2093.54%20352.29%20134.52%20373.95%20131.46%20362.7%2052.01%20350.02%2053.8%20356.05%2096.36%20360.15%20119.42%20359.77%20119.48%20350.99%2097.08%20333.91%2056.09%20312.25%2059.15%20323.51%20138.6%20336.19%20136.81%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22402.91%2059.3%20412.36%20126.02%20427.17%20123.92%20417.72%2057.21%20431.59%2055.24%20429.79%2042.51%20387.23%2048.53%20389.04%2061.27%20402.91%2059.3%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22463.51%20118.77%20458.69%2084.71%20474.68%2082.44%20479.51%20116.5%20494.36%20114.4%20483.11%2034.95%20468.26%2037.06%20472.96%2070.25%20456.96%2072.52%20452.26%2039.32%20437.4%2041.43%20448.65%20120.88%20463.51%20118.77%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22540.5%20107.87%20538.77%2095.68%20518.91%2098.49%20515.77%2076.29%20535.63%2073.47%20533.93%2061.5%20514.07%2064.32%20511.11%2043.42%20530.98%2040.61%20529.25%2028.42%20494.53%2033.34%20505.78%20112.78%20540.5%20107.87%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22299.03%20155.17%20301.29%20171.58%20542.78%20138.39%20540.5%20121.97%20299.03%20155.17%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Arsenal are back in action on Saturday as they travel to Villa Park for a lunchtime Premier League kick-off with Aston Villa. Here is the predicted lineup.
Losing always hurts, even if you fall to defeat in the second leg of a tie you’ve progressed from, as nobody likes leaving a game empty handed. The fact Arsenal were competitive against Liverpool for 50 minutes makes it even tougher to swallow.
But there is no time to rest, quite literally.
Only 64 hours separate the Liverpool and Aston Villa kick-off times, meaning focus shifts entirely towards recovering from an energy sapping game and deciding who has the legs to start in what has now become the biggest match of the season for this young team.
Arsenal predicted lineup vs Aston Villa: Will Mikel Arteta bring in Nicolas Pepe and Emile Smith Rowe in place of anyone for this Premier League match?
Mikel Arteta named the same lineup for the fourth match running in that 2-0 defeat, with Cedric keeping his place at right-back and Gabriel Martinelli doing likewise over Emile Smith Rowe at left-winger.
The Japanese international is back in training now, however, and despite not being named in his nation’s squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers, may be a surprise inclusion.
With Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Alexandre Lacazette being the three withdrawals on Wednesday the hope is that the trio were taken off with an eye on resting them for Saturday as opposed to picking up any niggles.
Can Arteta rotate for this game? Importantly, will he rotate? There are players desperate for involvement and given the short turnover time, he may well do so.
Goalkeeper & Defenders
Aaron Ramsdale (GK) – He, above all people, will be kicking himself about the first goal. Jota’s strike shouldn’t be able to nestle into the near post like that. Ramsdale has to pick himself up.
Cedric Soares (RB) – Despite being away with the fairies for the goals, apart from those defensive lapses it was a very decent performance from Cedric, who was squeaky clean on the ball and held his side well. It’s unlikely that Tomi will be back.
Benjamin White (CB) – Similarly to Cedric, White had a very strong game with the exception of a couple of loose moments, those which mask over the positives.
Gabriel (CB) – There will be no changes anywhere in central defence as Gabriel will need to play his part in securing another clean sheet.
Kieran Tierney (LB) – Was Arsenal’s best defender in midweek as he covered the ground around him expertly and gave the combination of Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane no joy down his left side.
Continued on next page…
Midfielders
Martin Odegaard (AM) – Had one of his quieter matches against Liverpool, which was precisely what Klopp’s side had intended for.
Starving him of service through the middle meant he had to come short to assume possession, in the areas of least threat. Will be hoping for more joy on Saturday, especially having been taken off first in the 2-0 loss.
Thomas Partey (DM) – Not only is he performing superbly as the lone No. 6, he’s doing it against some of the best sides in world football. Will have Coutinho to handle at Villa Park on Saturday.
Granit Xhaka (AM) – Xhaka barely put a foot wrong off the ball on Wednesday. His positioning and work rate were superb, with it was his final ball that was lacking on the night.
He can’t be criticised too much, though, since penalty box incision is not his forte.
Continued on next page…
Forwards
Bukayo Saka (RW) – Arteta knew the game was gone not long after the second goal went in and the decision to take Saka off was clearly with an eye on resting him for the weekend and not something tactical.
Forced to constantly be challenging for duels and headers, it was such a physically demanding game for Saka that he had to be given as much rest as possible.
Alexandre Lacazette (ST) – With better movement in the box there is every chance that Arsenal could have left the Emirates with three points in the bag. Lacazette nearly got an assist for Odegaard, but he also didn’t attack the box with enough desire when Martinelli kept feeding cut-backs.
Gabriel Martinelli (LW) – He played all 90 minutes – and ran all 90 minutes – but off the back of that performance there is no way that Arteta can’t keep him in the side.
It’s the last Premier League game before the international break and Martinelli still has more in the tank.