
Arsenal, Bukayo Saka (Photo by GARETH FULLER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
With Arsenal officially out of the Champions League race, it may be time to see some serious rotation against Liverpool. here’s how they could line up.
Arsenal‘s race for the top four came to an unceremonious end, leaving them grasping at straws to get back into Europa League. But the impetus may be more on the FA Cup. It’s hard to say yet, but that will become pretty evident by the kind of side Mikel Arteta sends out there against Liverpool.
In all likelihood, we will see some heavy rotation. We’ve been fighting through multiple matches a week with very little rotation to try to claw into a top-four spot but now that it’s impossible, that FA Cup match-up against Manchester City takes on added implications as it could spot us an FA Cup in a season that has otherwise been the start of a new project.
As usual, we have injuries and exclusions to talk about going into this match. The usual are out for the season still—Bernd Leno, Pablo Mari, Gabriel Martinelli, and Calum Chambers. Aside from that, Mesut Ozil and Matteo Guendouzi remain a distance thought. It’s unlikely we will see them again in an Arsenal shirt.
Lastly, Eddie Nketiah will miss out again due to the suspect red card that I’m still not convinced was deserved.
Not a whole lot else to think about with this one. All we need to talk about now is how Arteta will deploy the troops. He’s been stuck on the 3-4-3 lately and for want of getting into the sensational, I’m going to have to stick with the 3-4-3. If there is one thing that has become clear about Arteta, it’s that he borrows a lot from Arsene Wenger, and Wenger was not one for change.
If anything, Arteta would veer back to the 4-2-3-1, but I don’t think that’s on the docket yet. The 3-4-3 has been pretty successful despite the result against Spurs.
Let’s talk about personnel. We’ll start at the back in goal.
Keeper
Emiliano Martinez will keep his spot. I’m just as excited about seeing him out there as I was about Bernd Leno. That’s a special place to be.
On to the centerbacks.
Arsenal‘s race for the top four came to an unceremonious end, leaving them grasping at straws to get back into Europa League. But the impetus may be more on the FA Cup. It’s hard to say yet, but that will become pretty evident by the kind of side <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/14/arsenal-liverpool-predicted-xi-2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/d934d1e6/Mikel-Arteta?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Mikel Arteta</a> sends out there against Liverpool.</p>
<p>In all likelihood, we will see some heavy rotation. We’ve been fighting through multiple matches a week with very little rotation to try to claw into a top-four spot but now that it’s impossible, that FA Cup match-up against Manchester City takes on added implications as it could spot us an FA Cup in a season that has otherwise been the start of a new project.</p>
<p>As usual, we have injuries and exclusions to talk about going into this match. The usual are out for the season still—<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/14/arsenal-liverpool-predicted-xi-2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/2628fd2b/Bernd-Leno?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Bernd Leno</a>, <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/14/arsenal-liverpool-predicted-xi-2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/aa54ec6f/Pablo-Mari?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Pablo Mari</a>, Gabriel Martinelli, and <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/14/arsenal-liverpool-predicted-xi-2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/dc6f5bdd/Calum-Chambers?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener">Calum Chambers</a>. Aside from that, <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/14/arsenal-liverpool-predicted-xi-2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/16380240/Mesut-Ozil?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Mesut Ozil</a> and <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/14/arsenal-liverpool-predicted-xi-2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/5ea8ef20/Matteo-Guendouzi?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Matteo Guendouzi</a> remain a distance thought. It’s unlikely we will see them again in an Arsenal shirt.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="light" data-text="5 Underrated EPL Transfer Targets" data-url="https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/13/arsenal-5-underrated-epl-transfer/" data-call-to-action="Related Story"> <div class="story-link-related"> <a class="story-link-related-btn" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-related-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/14/arsenal-liverpool-predicted-xi-2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/13/arsenal-5-underrated-epl-transfer/"> <span class="call_to_action">Related Story:</span> 5 Underrated EPL Transfer Targets </a> </div>
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<p>Lastly, <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/14/arsenal-liverpool-predicted-xi-2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/a53649b7/Eddie-Nketiah?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Eddie Nketiah</a> will miss out again due to the suspect red card that I’m still not convinced was deserved.</p>
<p>Not a whole lot else to think about with this one. All we need to talk about now is how Arteta will deploy the troops. He’s been stuck on the 3-4-3 lately and for want of getting into the sensational, I’m going to have to stick with the 3-4-3. If there is one thing that has become clear about Arteta, it’s that he borrows a lot from Arsene Wenger, and Wenger was not one for change.</p>
<p>If anything, Arteta would veer back to the 4-2-3-1, but I don’t think that’s on the docket yet. The 3-4-3 has been pretty successful despite the result against Spurs.</p>
<p>Let’s talk about personnel. We’ll start at the back in goal.</p>
<h4>Keeper</h4>
<p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/14/arsenal-liverpool-predicted-xi-2/"https://fbref.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=7956236f,52061089&search=Emiliano+Mart%C3%ADnez&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Emiliano Martinez</a> will keep his spot. I’m just as excited about seeing him out there as I was about Bernd Leno. That’s a special place to be.</p>
<p>On to the centerbacks.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/14/arsenal-liverpool-predicted-xi-2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Centerbacks </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-102483" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/14/arsenal-liverpool-predicted-xi-2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2193,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1206951231.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Rob Holding" width="3200" height="2193" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1206951231.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1206951231-768x526.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Arsenal, Rob Holding (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>Centerbacks</h4>
<p>This is where the money is made or lost and, against Tottenham, it was the latter. But again, trace back before that and our defense held their own, they defended well and barring a few mistakes, which every other defense has too, they were really good against Leicester too. Not to mention the clean sheet against Wolverhampton.</p>
<p>That said, I’d be surprised if we didn’t see some rotation here. But I’ve been surprised before. I’ll still predict minor changes.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I have to believe that <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/14/arsenal-liverpool-predicted-xi-2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/3935e52e/Sead-Kolasinac?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Sead Kolasinac</a> is going to keep his spot. The fact that he’s left-footed may well be keeping him his spot on the team. Until we have an alternative, I fear we are confined to him just a while longer. But he’s capable of surprises too.</p>
<p>In the middle, I think <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/14/arsenal-liverpool-predicted-xi-2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/c0e27d1a/David-Luiz?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">David Luiz</a> will keep his spot, oddly enough. I’d rather he get bounced, but he won’t be. And while I am a huge proponent of the reinvention of <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/14/arsenal-liverpool-predicted-xi-2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/3f2d59fe/Shkodran-Mustafi?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Shkodran Mustafi</a>, I think it’s time to get <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/14/arsenal-liverpool-predicted-xi-2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/d79a8c87/Rob-Holding?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Rob Holding</a> in there, and the only place that works is on the right.</p>
<p>Wingbacks coming up next.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/14/arsenal-liverpool-predicted-xi-2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Wingbacks </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-102716" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/14/arsenal-liverpool-predicted-xi-2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1066,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1252489871.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Kieran Tierney" width="1600" height="1066" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1252489871.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1252489871-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Arsenal, Kieran Tierney (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>Wingbacks</h4>
<p>The wingbacks have become such a crucial piece of the 3-4-3 formation. Partly because it’s just such a huge part of the formation, partly because our wingbacks have been so good that there’s no choice but for them to play such a crucial role.</p>
<p>It’s been <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/14/arsenal-liverpool-predicted-xi-2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/f874dd44/Hector-Bellerin?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Hector Bellerin</a> and <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/14/arsenal-liverpool-predicted-xi-2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/fce2302c/Kieran-Tierney?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Kieran Tierney</a> this season, which has been such a dynamic duo that it is single-handedly keeping my faith in the 3-4-3. But with rotation likely on the books, I’d be surprised if Arteta didn’t change things up.</p>
<p>He just doesn’t have a lot to change up.</p>
<p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/14/arsenal-liverpool-predicted-xi-2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/839c14e1/Cedric-Soares?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Cedric Soares</a> will get the start over Bellerin on the right, which is exciting because Cedric has had such a positive showing in such a small time. There’s no telling what he’s going to do next.</p>
<p>Tierney will keep his spot. We pretty much can’t exist without him.</p>
<p>Midfield next.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/14/arsenal-liverpool-predicted-xi-2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Midfield </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-103124" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/14/arsenal-liverpool-predicted-xi-2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1254868217.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Dani Ceballos" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1254868217.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1254868217-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Arsenal, Dani Ceballos(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>Midfield</h4>
<p>If you can’t get a beat on this midfield pairing, you’re not alone. There’s a lot to like about the <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/14/arsenal-liverpool-predicted-xi-2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/e61b8aee/Granit-Xhaka?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Granit Xhaka</a>/<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/14/arsenal-liverpool-predicted-xi-2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/c0617e2b/Dani-Ceballos?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Dani Ceballos</a> pairing. A lot. Even against Tottenham, when the midfield was so incredibly open, Xhaka played pretty well and Ceballos was one of the few dominant performers in a red shirt.</p>
<p>But there’s definitely something missing here. Something that we don’t have yet. With Matteo Guendouzi on the outs and nowhere close to making his comeback, <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/14/arsenal-liverpool-predicted-xi-2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/a3b03921/Joe-Willock?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Joe Willock</a> is the only alternative and Arteta has shown more of an inclination to start Willock in the attack.</p>
<p>As such, there can’t be any change here, but I don’t think we’d really want it anyway. Again, Xhaka and Ceballos have a lot to give, they are growing, and they are showing us, pretty clearly, what we need to move forward.</p>
<p>Lastly, the front three.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/14/arsenal-liverpool-predicted-xi-2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Front Three </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-103094" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/14/arsenal-liverpool-predicted-xi-2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1254265465.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Alexandre Lacazette" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1254265465.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1254265465-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Arsenal, Alexandre Lacazette (Photo by Mike Egerton/Pool via Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>Front Three</h4>
<p>The one place where Mikel Arteta has the flexibility to make some rotational changes and I think we will see plenty. The only bummer is we don’t get to see Eddie Nketiah since he’s still suspended.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
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<p>That limits the options up top, so chances are <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/14/arsenal-liverpool-predicted-xi-2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/9dbb75ca/Alexandre-Lacazette?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Alexandre Lacazette</a> will keep his start. His smashing goal against Spurs is the kind of goal we’ve been dying to see him score, so I’m excited to see if he can re-up on that effort against Liverpool, even if nothing much else came from his performance (or anyone’s).</p>
<p>It’s on either side of him that things can get creative. <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/14/arsenal-liverpool-predicted-xi-2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/c5bdb6e3/Reiss-Nelson?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Reiss Nelson</a> will probably see some time on the pitch on that right-hand side as the right winger over <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/14/arsenal-liverpool-predicted-xi-2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/57e3f0c7/Nicolas-Pepe?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Nicolas Pepe</a>, who should be saved for te City match-up.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="5 Things Learned Against Spurs" data-url="https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/12/arsenal-vs-spurs-5-things-learned-mikel-arteta-hard-job/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/14/arsenal-liverpool-predicted-xi-2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/12/arsenal-vs-spurs-5-things-learned-mikel-arteta-hard-job/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> 5 Things Learned Against Spurs </a> </div>
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<p>Opposite him, it has to be <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/14/arsenal-liverpool-predicted-xi-2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/bc7dc64d/Bukayo-Saka?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Bukayo Saka</a>, who was left out of the starting XI against Tottenham.</p><!—pageview_candidate—></p>">