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[Image] Martinelli & Gabriel start, no Odegaard: My Arsenal line-up vs West Brom

By on May 8, 2021

Arsenal will look to put our Europa League disappointment behind us when we take on West Brom at the Emirates tomorrow evening. This is the team I’d like to see Mikel Arteta select for the match…

Arteta got is badly wrong on Thursday night and we paid the ultimate price so he has to use these last four Premier League matches to show us he’s still the right man for the job [he’s not].

Kieran Tierney came through the Villarreal game unscathed so he should continue at left-back but I would make a change on the right with Calum Chambers coming in. I though Hector Bellerin was poor on Thursday and it appears his mind is already on a summer move away from Arsenal.

I’d like to see Gabriel starting in defence and ideally it would be alongside David Luiz but it appears he’s going to miss out with a hamstring injury. So I’d go with Rob Holding ahead of Pablo Mari.

Granit Xhaka was a big miss for Arsenal against Villarreal after he picked up a foot injury in the pre-match warm-up. Let’s hope he’s fit to return in midfield tomorrow otherwise Dani Ceballos will have to start.

Thomas Partey was very poor against Villarreal but it’s worth remembering he was basically doing the job of two men as he was so isolated in midfield. No wonder he looked gassed by half-time. With Xhaka alongside him, Partey is a different player.

Martinelli starts

We looked devoid of any ideas or energy in attack in midweek so it’s time Gabriel Martinelli was given a run in the Arsenal starting eleven.

I was disappointed with Bukayo Saka against Villarreal but perhaps a long season is finally catching up with him. Maybe he could do a with rest but Arsenal need him right now so I’d still start him against West Brom.

Emile Smith Rowe was one of the few players who could walk away from Thursday’s game with his head held high as he gave everything so deserves to keep his place. That means Martin Odegaard would miss out tomorrow – but I don’t think he looks 100% yet anyway following his injury.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missed a golden chance to win it against Villarreal but we can’t lay the blame at his feet. Alexandre Lacazette isn’t fit to start yet so Auba should continue up front.

Nicolas Pepe will be an option from the bench while I’d love to see Arteta giving Folarin Balogun some minutes during the final games.

This would be my Arsenal line-up:

football formations

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