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[Image] Saka & Martinelli start: How Arsenal should line-up vs Sheffield United

By on January 17, 2020

gabriel martinelli 2019

Arsenal take on Sheffield United at the Emirates on Saturday afternoon. Here is the line-up I’d like Mikel Arteta to select…

Bellerin not risked

Hector Bellerin has been in full training this week after missing the last six weeks with a hamstring injury and will be assessed today before a decision is made over his availability this weekend. However, Arteta has suggested this game may come too soon and it’s not worth risking a set-back so I’d leave Hector out tomorrow and stick with Ainsley Maitland-Niles at right-back

Sead Kolasinac is another doubt after he picked up a hip injury in training earlier this week. Arteta didn’t rule him out entirely at his press conference on Wednesday but again it’s not worth risking him if Kolasinac isn’t fully fit. With Kieran Tierney still out with a should injury, Bukayo Saka should start at left-back.

Calum Chambers is obviously not available as he’s out for up to nine months with a knee ligament injury. Shkodran Mustafi could leave Arsenal this month and Rob Holding has looked rusty since returning from injury so I’d stick with Sokratis and David Luiz in the middle of defence.

Torreira fit

Lucas Torreira was forced off at half-time during the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace but it was only a minor issue and he’s been able to train this week so it looks like he should be fit to start in midfield tomorrow afternoon.

Granit Xhaka has played his way back into the Arsenal first team and he should keep his place ahead of Matteo Guendouzi – who seems to be suffering a dip in form right now. Dani Ceballos is another option but he’s only just returned from injury so he should be named on the bench.

Martinelli starts

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang begins a three-match suspension following his dismissal against Palace so Arsenal will be forced into a change in attack but I think the obvious choice is to bring Gabriel Martinelli back into the side.

Alexandre Lacazette will continue up front and the pressure is on him to rediscover his shooting boots during Auba’s absence while Mesut Ozil should continue in the attacking midfield position.

Reiss Nelson is pushing for a recall and has been showing some encouraging form lately but I’d keep Nicolas Pepe on the right wing as our big-money summer signing needs a run of games.

Here is how I hope Arsenal line-up:

football formations