
Arsenal find themselves in an unusual situation as they return to Premier League action, having lost both Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz since their 5-1 victory over Manchester City. While Martinelli is expected to return next month, Havertz has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
As they prepare to face Leicester, Mikel Arteta will unveil his first approach to handling the significant loss of key attacking options. Ben White is set to rejoin the squad, though his impact will primarily be defensive—unless Arteta has an unexpected tactical shift in mind.
With that in mind, we take our best guess at Arsenal’s expected starting XI for Saturday’s lunchtime clash. Here’s football.london’s predicted lineup:
David Raya
The goalkeeper needs to maintain his fitness, especially after Neto’s brief Champions League appearance failed to reassure fans. Fortunately, Raya has remained consistently available so far.
Jurrien Timber
With Ben White returning to full fitness, Timber will soon face increased competition. However, he is expected to start for now as he continues his reintegration into the squad.
William Saliba
Although Mikel Arteta jokingly mentioned that Saliba had offered to play up front in Havertz’s absence, he will undoubtedly remain in his usual centre-back role.
Gabriel Magalhães
The towering defender could become one of Arsenal’s biggest goal threats given the current attacking concerns. His effectiveness from set-pieces will be even more crucial in the coming weeks.
Myles Lewis-Skelly
With several senior players missing, Arsenal’s young talents will have an opportunity to step up. Lewis-Skelly, despite only recently breaking through, could serve as an inspiration for others looking to make the leap.
Leave a Reply