It is another Boxing Day fixture for the North London side and they will be travelling away from home to face Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium on Wednesday for a Premier League fixture.
For Arsenal, the race for the top four finish has just begun knowing the history of the club when it comes to the Christmas period.
However, there is a bid by manager Unai Emery to change the narrative of a weak Arsenal during the December/January period which is expected to begin with this week’s fixture.
We therefore take a prediction of what to expect going by the team’s composition and the workings by the Spanish manager.
With an anticipated 3-4-2-1 formation, there is no doubt about the nod for Bernd Leno since he has been handed the go ahead as the first choice goalkeeper.
Therefore, the back three of Laurent Koscielny, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Granit Xhaka is expected as well the back.
At the middle, the combination of Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torriera will look the only option for the Gunners as holding midfielders while Sead Kolasinac and Stephan Lichtsteiner will mount both flank.
We also expect to see Nigerian international Alex Iwobi and Aaron Ramsey in the middle as well but as an advance role while Alexandre Lacazette could just be the top man ahead of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
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Why on earth would Arsenal deploy a 3-4-2-1 when there’s an injury crisis at the center back position? Xhaka playing out of position clearly has NOT worked. Why would you have two midfield players behind one striker when it’s clear as day that Arsenal’s attack is most proficient with both Lacazette & PEA playing side by side?
4-3-1-2
Leno
Lichsteiner
Sokratis
Koscielny (unless Mustafi is healthy)
Kolasinac
Xhaka
Torriera
Guendouzi
Ozil
PEA
Lacazette