Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will have a selection dilemma ahead of their clash with Man United this weekend.placeholder image
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will have a selection dilemma ahead of their clash with Man United this weekend. | AFP via Getty Images
Arsenal predicted starting XI ahead of Manchester United’s visit to the Emirates
Arsenal go into Sunday’s clash with Manchester United at the Emirates (16:30 GMT) knowing that victory could see them go 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League table if other results go the way of the Gunners.
Main challengers Manchester City and Aston Villa face Wolves and Newcastle respectively on Saturday, meaning Arsenal will already know their fate ahead of the visit of the Red Devils and may need to win in order to avoid the current seven-point gap being cut down.
Mikel Arteta made changes to his line-up in midweek but his squad showed their considerable depth as Italian giants Inter Milan were beaten 3-1 on their own patch in the Champions League, with the Gunners top of the league phase of that particular competition in addition to the Premier League.
Will Calafiori and Hincapie be fit to face Man Utd?
Arsenal’s most significant injury absentee at present is left-back Riccardo Calafiori, with the Italian having been out with a muscle issue since late December. His fitness in time for Sunday has yet to be determined and his inclusion remains a doubt, though Arteta will hope to have him back in action as soon as possible.
Calafiori has been a revelation this season but equally impressive filling in his absence was Piero Hincapie, until the Ecuadorian picked up an injury concern of his own during the goalless draw with Liverpool earlier this month. Hincapie will also face a race against time to be ready in time to face United, with Arteta telling reporters on Friday: “We still have another training session, so we will see [about both Calafiori and Hincapie] tomorrow after that. After Inter we have no [new] issues.”
If neither of the pair are passed fit to start on Sunday, Arteta may opt to switch Jurrien Timber to left-back and reinstate Ben White into the XI, with the Englishman dropping to the bench at the San Siro after three successive starts. Youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly has not often been trusted by Arteta from the start in the league this term and the increased defensive solidity of Timber, who is capable of playing on both flanks, could be viewed as an ideal solution to combat United danger man Bryan Mbeumo.
Arsenal predicted XI vs Man Utd: Arteta with selection dilemma in attack
Arguably the biggest dilemma facing Arteta ahead of this weekend is who start in the striker position against United. Gabriel Jesus was handed just his third start in all competitions this season in midweek and duly delivered, scoring a first-half brace to sink Inter and repay the faith of his manager.
Viktor Gyokeres has started 17 of Arsenal’s 22 league matches this season and made an instant impact when replacing Jesus off the bench at the San Siro, scoring just nine minutes after his 75th minute introduction.
While both players will be keen to start on Sunday, Arteta would be smart to go with the same formula as he did in midweek. Jesus has earnt a Premier League start after his brace against Inter – particularly in the context where the Gunners drew a blank in their last two league matches – and Gyokeres may thrive once again in feeling as though he has a point to prove off the bench, where Kai Havertz will also hope to get his first league minutes since returning from injury.
Full predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Jesus, Trossard.
Continue Reading