Arsenal to make three changes vs Man Utd as Mikel Arteta makes brutal decisions
Mikel Arteta previews Arsenal’s clash with Man Utd
Mikel Arteta is expected to make several changes to his team after dropping points to ten-man Fulham last weekend. The Gunners host Manchester United at the Emirates on Sunday and can’t afford to have the same slip-ups against their fierce rivals. Here, Express Sport provides you with our predicted starting XI that Arteta will go with ahead of the must-win encounter.
Goalkeeper: Ramsdale
Aaron Ramsdale is likely to keep his starting place between the sticks with David Raya still adjusting to life at the Emirates. The Englishman was named in the 2022/23 PFA Team of the Year last week and besides a blunder against Fulham on Sunday, has played well so far this season.
Defenders: White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko
Oleksandr Zinchenko is expected to make his return to the starting lineup on Sunday. The Ukrainian is yet to play a full 90 minutes so far this season after missing pre-season due to injury but is back fully fit now. Takehiro Tomiyasu has also returned to the fold after serving his one-match suspension.
Arteta will likely move Ben White out on the right to give Gabriel Megahales his first start down the middle next to William Saliba. Arsenal’s defence lacked familiarity against Fulham with Jakub Kiwior at left back and Thomas Partey on the right so a return to last season’s proven backline seems to be the most logical option ahead of a massive game against the Red Devils.
Midfielders: Partey, Rice, Odegaard
Kai Havertz has been extremely poor for Arsenal since joining in the summer and so shouldn’t start against United. Partey will probably be moved into his usual holding midfield role while Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard sit slightly further forward.
Arsenal fans will be hoping Emile Smith-Rowe can feature off the bench as they eagerly wait to see how he is adjusting to life as a No 8. The Hale End Academy graduate is yet to play this season but in a recent press conference, Arteta affirmed he would get some minutes under his belt in September.
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Forwards: Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli
Leandro Trossard deserves a good run out in this game given his excellent form but it is unlikely Arteta will change his front three. Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka are nailed-on starters while Eddie Nketiah has got off to a flying start this season down the middle, scoring two goals in the Gunners’ opening three Premier League fixtures.
The 24-year-old, who is the England under-21s all-time top scorer, has been rewarded for his recent performances with his first call-up to the senior squad for international matches against Scotland and Ukraine later this month.
Starting XI: Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli
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