Three days on from a frustrating night at Old Trafford, the Gunners return to action at the Emirates where they host Standard Liege in the Europa League.
With no new injuries and only Alex Lacazette and Emile Smith Rowe unavailable for selection, we are highly likely to see a much changed XI. In goal, the impressively consistent back up Emi Martinez will come in for Bernd Leno whilst Rob Holding, Kieran Tierney and Hector Bellerin will be looking for some minutes in defence.
Mesut Ozil in his new reserve team role is likely to come into the number ten position whilst around him, the likes of Joe Willock, Reiss Nelson, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka will be eyeing up a starting birth. With Lucas Torreira starting in the league on Monday night, the customary Thursday night start for the little Uruguayan could surprisingly not happen as he was key (albeit too far forward) in keeping things calm and solid at OT. But between Torreira, Ceballos, Xhaka, Willock and Guendouzi, two will play unless Emery were to mix it up a little more and give Ainsley Maitland-Niles a run out in central midfield. That remains a viable option now that Chambers and Bellerin are both starting right back candidates.
Nicolas Pepe is yet to hit any real form for his new club and with confidence so desperately needed, he could see minutes from the off tonight. What a goal or two tonight would do for him is epic. Ahead of the international break after this weekend, he'll feel that he should have settled by now and bagged himself a fair few. Tonight's game is the ideal opportunity to let him have it.
The visitors sit second in the Pro League table in Belgium, a point behind impressive leaders Club Brugge but Liege, having put Portuguese side Vitoria to the sword on the EL's opening night, will be looking to take it to the Gunners. Whoever wins this one sits comfortably atop of the group on six points, double the next best. The Belgians have only one senior injury to deal with as striker Orlando Sa remains a major doubt ahead of the game.
In European competition, these two have met four times, with the Gunners winning all four games scoring fifteen goals in the process. Expect much more of the same tonight. But, likely to set up on the counter attack, Liege will be looking to threaten whilst absorbing masses of Arsenal pressure. Its up to the young Guns with a sprinkle of experience to get the job done.
Expected lineup:
GK: Emiliano Martinez
RB: Hector Bellerin
CB: Rob Holding
CB: Calum Chambers
LB: Kieran Tierney
CM: Joe Willock
CM: Ainsley Maitland-Niles
CAM: Mesut Ozil
RW: Nicolas Pepe
ST: Gabriel Martinelli
LW: Reiss Nelson
Prediction: 3-0 to the Gunners
@craigbennett10
With no new injuries and only Alex Lacazette and Emile Smith Rowe unavailable for selection, we are highly likely to see a much changed XI. In goal, the impressively consistent back up Emi Martinez will come in for Bernd Leno whilst Rob Holding, Kieran Tierney and Hector Bellerin will be looking for some minutes in defence.
Mesut Ozil in his new reserve team role is likely to come into the number ten position whilst around him, the likes of Joe Willock, Reiss Nelson, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka will be eyeing up a starting birth. With Lucas Torreira starting in the league on Monday night, the customary Thursday night start for the little Uruguayan could surprisingly not happen as he was key (albeit too far forward) in keeping things calm and solid at OT. But between Torreira, Ceballos, Xhaka, Willock and Guendouzi, two will play unless Emery were to mix it up a little more and give Ainsley Maitland-Niles a run out in central midfield. That remains a viable option now that Chambers and Bellerin are both starting right back candidates.
Nicolas Pepe is yet to hit any real form for his new club and with confidence so desperately needed, he could see minutes from the off tonight. What a goal or two tonight would do for him is epic. Ahead of the international break after this weekend, he'll feel that he should have settled by now and bagged himself a fair few. Tonight's game is the ideal opportunity to let him have it.
The visitors sit second in the Pro League table in Belgium, a point behind impressive leaders Club Brugge but Liege, having put Portuguese side Vitoria to the sword on the EL's opening night, will be looking to take it to the Gunners. Whoever wins this one sits comfortably atop of the group on six points, double the next best. The Belgians have only one senior injury to deal with as striker Orlando Sa remains a major doubt ahead of the game.
In European competition, these two have met four times, with the Gunners winning all four games scoring fifteen goals in the process. Expect much more of the same tonight. But, likely to set up on the counter attack, Liege will be looking to threaten whilst absorbing masses of Arsenal pressure. Its up to the young Guns with a sprinkle of experience to get the job done.
Expected lineup:
GK: Emiliano Martinez
RB: Hector Bellerin
CB: Rob Holding
CB: Calum Chambers
LB: Kieran Tierney
CM: Joe Willock
CM: Ainsley Maitland-Niles
CAM: Mesut Ozil
RW: Nicolas Pepe
ST: Gabriel Martinelli
LW: Reiss Nelson
Prediction: 3-0 to the Gunners
@craigbennett10
Comments
Post a Comment