Tzolis & Saka on the wings: Predicted 4-3-3 Arsenal lineup vs Aston Villa
Arsenal travel to Villa Park to face Aston Villa on Monday evening, looking to make it two Premier League wins on the bounce.
Confidence should be high for the Gunners after they backed up their dominant Community Shield win over Manchester City by smashing newly-promoted Coventry City 3-0 to start the new Premier League season. Goals from Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard helped Mikel Arteta’s side sink Coventry City in the curtain-raiser.
With well over a week’s rest, the Arsenal players will have their batteries recharged for the challenge of Aston Villa, who were thrashed 4-0 by Brighton & Hove Albion on the opening weekend of the campaign.
Arsenal Team News
Summer signing Bruno Guimaraes picked up a groin issue in the Community Shield and missed the opener against Coventry. The central midfielder has not been seen training with the main group in recent days, but Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta claims he is “potentially available” for the clash at Villa Park.
The Spaniard also confirmed new signing Ezri Konsa is in line to make his debut against his former club. Whether Arteta throws him in the deep end against his former side so quickly on in his new club remains to be seen, especially given the available options.
Meanwhile, the Gunners will be without William Saliba and Jurrien Timber for the trip to Aston Villa, with both defenders nursing longer-term injuries.
Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Aston Villa (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper
David Raya was the Premier League’s best goalkeeper last term. He has started the new campaign strongly by keeping a clean sheet against Coventry. The Spaniard will want to make it back-to-back shutouts on Monday evening.
Defence
The back four is likely to stay the same that started in the first game.
Cristhian Mosquera should continue partnering Gabriel Magalhaes in the heart of Arsenal’s defence in William Saliba’s absence. Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori are set to retain their full-back spots in the Arsenal lineup.
The well-drilled Arsenal backline will be confident of taming the toothless Aston Villa attack.
Midfield
The midfield trio of Myles Lewis-Skelly, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard ran the show in the win over Coventry. There is no reason why Arteta will want to alter the midfield setup that worked brilliantly on the opening day of the season.
If passed fit, Bruno Guimaraes will be an option on the bench and could make his league debut for Arsenal at Villa Park. Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi might get minutes in the second half of this fixture.
Attack
Summer signing from Club Brugge, Christos Tzolis enjoyed an excellent league debut for the Gunners in the win over Coventry. The winger impressed with his pace, directness and dribbling ability, and he is likely to be rewarded with another start on the left flank in the Arsenal lineup.
Bukayo Saka should look to make inroads from the opposite wing after producing a strong display on the opening day of the season.
Kai Havertz has started the new season very well, scoring in the Community Shield and against Coventry. The German international should get the nod to spearhead the Arsenal lineup again with Viktor Gyokeres missing out.
With Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke, the visitors will have enough firepower to bring off the bench and change the course of the game.
football formations
Tzolis & Saka on the wings: Predicted 4-3-3 Arsenal lineup vs Aston Villa 1
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