A hectic week of football continues for the Gunners as they welcome a struggling Huddersfield side to the Emirates Stadium tomorrow afternoon. With Arsenal looking to extend their unbeaten run with all three points, Head Coach Unai Emery will be looking for a comfortable game with as few issues as possible. Having been forced into two injury substitutions at Old Trafford in mid week, he'll be hoping for less worry and more joy in this one. All three points will increase the pressure on Chelsea and Spurs going into the busy festive period.
Arsenal
Form: D D W W W D
League Position: 5th
Goals Scored: 50
Goals Conceded: 24
Huddersfield
Form: L W D W L L
League Position: 17th
Goals Scored: 10
Goals Conceded: 29
Although its only the result that counts, Arsenal will be looking to close up shop somewhat more with a leaky defence causing all sorts of issues right now. Although Leno has been good he is yet to be great and with moments of doubt and confusion between defenders in front of him, conceding goals is likely to continue unless things change and these players smarten up. One positive is that free flowing attacking football amassing goals is coming pretty much every game now. This is what has almost carried Arsenal through such a long and impressive unbeaten streak. They currently have the league's top goal scorer in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and the league's second (joint) top assist maker in Aaron Ramsey who barely starts in the league these days. So, confidence is flowing and although Wednesday's game may be seen as a disappointment, two injuries and three days after a NLD at home, a point away against Man United is more than acceptable. With changes expected, Emery will be demanding the same high tempo pressing football of late, and if deployed successfully, will be way too much for the Terriers to handle and all three points should stay in London.
There are a number of injury doubts heading into this clash however, with Rob Holding now on the unavailable list joining Dinos Mavropanos and Danny Welbeck. Skipper Laurent Koscielny, Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil and Nacho Monreal are all being assessed ahead of the match but with games coming thick and fast throughout December, no risks will be taken. The 3-4-3 formation seems to be Emery's preferred choice right now but the injury to Holding may force his hand in reverting to a back four unless one of Monreal or Koscielny is fit to return. He could deploy Mohamed Elneny in a back three especially in a tie of this nature but he could be somewhat rusty. Plus, Elneny is expected to play the full ninety next Thursday night in the final Europa League group game. In midfield, Granit Xhaka should definitely return having been so sorely missed at Old Trafford. Guendouzi played well but the team generally lacked a regular tempo and a bigger physical presence in midfield. Lucas Torreira is also likely to keep his place with an assumed rest on the cards for next Thursday's game. Mesut Ozil could return to an attacking midfield role alongside Alex Iwobi, however, it's time Emery starts Aubameyang and Lacazette together. They both deserve the start, more so than anyone. Both are scoring goals, and are confident and fit. A combination of traits and form that no one else has in this Arsenal squad. Mkhitaryan is also in with a chance of starting as well, giving Unai Emery plenty of options in attacking areas.
The visitors are struggling. Wagner's men only scored one goal in August and haven't managed many more since. Finding the net has been so difficult and with the manager searching for results, he's rotated through various options but found no joy. Steve Mounie's recent red card and subsequent suspension won't help proceedings either. Away at Arsenal though, the visitors are likely to adopt a back three with five in midfield and a ten in front, led by a single striker. They'll try to sit deep and make it difficult for the Gunners, looking to counter when the opportunity arises. Laurent Depoitre, who's likely to start up top, has very little pace though and is more of an aerial threat but against a probable back three, there shouldn't be too many concerns in this department. The Terriers' strengths do however lie in set pieces. In Aaron Mooy and Philip Billing they have one dead ball specialist and another long-throw expert, both dangerous tools to any team's tool box. An area certainly for Arsenal to keep an eye on.
Expected lineup:
GK: Bernd Leno
CB: Skhodran Mustafi
CB: Sokratis
CB: Nacho Monreal
RWB: Hector Bellerin
CM: Lucas Torriera
CM: Granit Xhaka
LWB: Sead Kolasinac
RAM: Alex Iwobi
LAM: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
ST: Alex Lacazette
Prediction: 4-1 to Arsenal. Another comfortable performance going forward but yet another goal conceded. Huddersfield will pile on the pressure with set pieces and will find the net at some stage. Lacazette and Aubameyang are both likely to continue their good goalscoring form. After a thumping 5-0 victory in this fixture last season, more of the same is expected.
@craigbennett10
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