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[Image] No Lacazette or Ozil – How Arsenal should line-up vs Everton

By on February 21, 2020

dani ceballos arsenal

Arsenal take on Everton at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon. Here’s the line-up I’d like Mikel Arteta to select…

We’ve kept three consecutive clean sheets so we shouldn’t tinker too much with the back four. David Luiz has been very good recently and fair play to Shkodran Mustafi too as he’s put-in some solid performances.

I’m a big Rob Holding fan and would like to see him playing more but right now it’s hard to argue that Luiz and Mustafi shouldn’t start, especially as Sokratis picked up a knee injury on Thursday and is a major doubt for the Everton game while Pablo Mari is lacking match fitness.

Bukayo Saka continues to be a revelation at left-back after grabbing another assist in the Europa League so he deserves to keep his place while Hector Bellerin should return at right-back after being rested in midweek.

Torreira returns

Lucas Torreira missed Arsenal’s win over Olympiacos due to illness but he’s expected to be back in contention to face Everton and I think he should come straight back in to partner Granit Xhaka.

Matteo Guendouzi didn’t really grasp his opportunity after being recalled against Olympiacos following his bust-up with Arteta so the Frenchman should drop to the bench.

nicolas pepe arsenal

Mesut Ozil missed the trip to Greece to be with his wife for the birth of their baby and it’s unknown whether he’ll be available on Sunday. With the inevitable sleepless night’s that come with newborns, Ozil probably won’t be in any state to start! Therefore, I’d go with Dani Ceballos in the advanced midfield position as Joe Willock was disappointing against Olympiacos.

Lacazette out

Alexandre Lacazette grabbed the all-important away goal in Athens but I still don’t think we can justify playing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out wide any longer. He’s our best goalscorer so let’s start him through the middle.

That would allow Gabriel Martinelli to play from the left wing where he’s been far more productive as I think he’s struggled on the right in recent matches.

In addition, Martinelli switching flanks will pave the way for Nicolas Pepe to be recalled and I actually think Martinelli/Auba/Pepe is our best and most balanced front three right now.

Arsenal will have the likes of Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah on the bench along with Lacazette if needed.

Here is how I hope Arsenal line-up:

football formations