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[Image] No Bellerin or Ceballos: How Arsenal should line-up vs Chelsea

By on January 21, 2020

Mikel Arteta Arsenal

Arsenal take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this evening. Here is the line-up I’d like Mikel Arteta to select…

Bellerin not ready to start

Hector Bellerin was back on the bench for the 1-1 draw with Sheffield United at the weekend, however, the club have been cautious not to rush him back from his hamstring injury as they don’t want to risk a set-back. Ainsley Maitland-Niles has done a decent job filling-in at right-back so there is no point throwing a rusty Bellerin back into the first team tonight.

Arsenal continue to have problems at left-back as Sead Kolasinac has been ruled out for our next three games with a thigh injury and Kieran Tierney won’t be back from his shoulder surgery until March. Luckily, teenage winger Bukayo Saka has proven to be a solid full-back and he should keep his place against Chelsea.

Sokratis missed the Sheffield United game with illness but he should be fit to return tonight and I’d bring him straight back in for Shkodran Mustafi. Rob Holding is taking his time getting back to full match sharpness following a long spell out so David Luiz should continue in the back four.

Ceballos on the bench

Dani Ceballos is back in contention after recovering from a troublesome hamstring injury but much like Bellerin he’s still not match fit yet. This is too big a game to risk him from the start but he should be a useful player to have off the bench.

dani ceballos arsenal

Matteo Guendouzi’s form has dropped in recent weeks and he’s now lost his first team place under Arteta. Lucas Torreira is forming a decent partnership with Granit Xhaka so Arsenal should continue with those two this evening.

Martinelli starts

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will serve the second game of his three-match ban and Reiss Nelson has been ruled out for a few weeks with a hamstring injury so we don’t have too many options in attack.

Gabriel Martinelli continued his superb season with another goal at the weekend and he should keep his place on the left wing with Nicolas Pepe continuing on the right side of the Arsenal attack.

Mesut Ozil was disappointing against Sheffield United and Arsenal desperately need our playmaker to start bossing games and creating chances as we’ve been poor going forward for months now. Chelsea away would be a good time for Ozil to prove his worth!

Alexandre Lacazette’s goal drought continued at the weekend but hopefully tonight is the time for him to break his duck as we badly need him to step-up and provide a goal threat while Aubameyang is out. Eddie Nketiah will be an option from the bench.

Here is how I hope Arsenal line-up:

football formations