Arsenal predicted lineup vs Brighton: Will Nuno Tavares start in 4-2-3-1?

Arsenal have to bounce back immediately from the disappointment of Monday as they host struggling Brighton on Saturday. Here is the predicted lineup.

It’s all gone rather pear-shaped this week. An international break that had numerous high points for Arsenal players has morphed into an injury crisis and dreadful 3-0 away defeat. Mikel Arteta has a lot of work on his hands.

Perhaps the biggest decision of all is what to do at left-back. Kieran Tierney is out for the season and Nuno Tavares’ 45-minute return to the team against Crystal Palace featured errors in both goals and total lack of comfort in an intense Premier League environment.

The manager could field Granit Xhaka there, could also move to a back three, may move Cedric over and shift Benjamin White to right-back, or can stick with Nuno. If it isn’t the latter then his time at the club is surely over.

Arsenal predicted lineup vs Brighton: Will Nuno Tavares start and will Arteta go to a 4-2-3-1 for Saturday’s Premier League clash?

With no Thomas Partey, also likely for the season, there will need to be a shuffle in midfield, too. Sambi Lokonga impressed in his cameo on Monday and is the obvious candidate to come in, but does that mean the return to a 4-2-3-1 or will Arteta stick with the 4-3-3?

There will be a reluctance to deviate to drastically from the formula that was integral to the form shown over the year. Equally, Sambi is not Partey, and entrusting him with the same responsibilities could be dangerous.

As for up front, even if Emile Smith Rowe wasn’t the worst player on the pitch last time out, Gabriel Martinelli was certainly one of the better ones having come on at half-time. If it is Nuno, though, then Smith Rowe might keep his place.

Having basked in the joys of a cemented starting lineup of late, it’s now all turned on its head.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Aaron Ramsdale (GK) – Surprisingly back in the team having recovered from a hip problem quicker than expected, he’ll be hoping for an easier day in between the sticks on Saturday.

Cedric Soares (RB) – Bullied throughout the Selhurst Park defeat, one of the saving graces for Cedric is that he wasn’t the worst defender on the pitch. With Tomiyasu out, he starts again.

Benjamin White (CB) – No defender had as much as a half-decent game against Palace, with White included in that statement.

Gabriel (CB) – Quite possibly his worst performance for Arsenal on Monday, the hope is that his newborn baby hasn’t kept him up all night and he lifts his game significantly for this one.

Nuno Tavares (LB) – The decision everyone is talking about.

Arteta stated that the decision to take Nuno off at half-time was tactical, and he seemed to be genuine even if he’d have known how poorly he performed. He needs everyone on board and he’s trusted Nuno before, so he’ll trust him again.

Continued on next page…

Midfielders

Albert Sambi Lokonga (CM) – Arteta will be woe to alter his shape and system for this game and those to come, but he’s lost two cornerstones of the team. He may feel tweaks, however minor, are imperative.

Sambi is an obvious candidate to come in after his impressive cameo and, with Nuno at left-back, more of a double pivot system could be employed to give him greater protection in midfield. Of course, formations are less important than roles and there is space for fluidity in shape, but that’s how it could well look from the off.

Granit Xhaka (CM) – Expect this to be a more reserved role for the Swiss on Saturday. He’s much less likely to be up standing on the last line of defence in the left half-spaces, and will be more keen to provide Sambi with a constant passing option in midfield.

Dropping into the spaces vacated by Nuno could be back on the menu as well.

Martin Odegaard (AM) – He will still want to drift over to the right where he’s most effective. Whatever he does, however, it has to be a darn sight less dreadful than what he produced against Palace.

Continued on next page…

Forwards

Bukayo Saka (RW) – You have to tip your hat to Tyrick Mitchell who did a fine job on Saka, one of the toughest right-sided forwards to defend in Europe let alone the Premier League.

One of the few players who made something happen across the Thames, there is no question of Saka’s place in the team on Saturday. There never is.

Alexandre Lacazette (ST) – The case for Lacazette to drop out of this team keeps growing. He’s been exceedingly poor in the last two matches and his anonymous, physically weak and immobile performance against Palace offered Arsenal nothing at all. It’s now over 19 hours of Premier League football without an open play goal.

Yet with few secure options behind him and few senior players in the side, he looks set for another start.

Gabriel Martinelli (LW) – Despite Smith Rowe being chosen for the last game, a player who prefers to shift into the half-spaces and therefore cater to Nuno’ bursting runs, Martinelli’s speed might win him the place in this one.

With Brighton’s wing-backs (if they opt to go down that route) having his pace in behind to keep stretching them and pinning them back could be a useful tool.