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[Image] Lacazette out, still no Ozil – My Arsenal line-up vs Tottenham

By on July 11, 2020

nicolas pepe arsenal

Arsenal take on Tottenham in a huge North London Derby on Sunday afternoon. Here’s the line-up I’d like Mikel Arteta to select…

Emi Martinez will obviously continue in goal with Bernd Leno still injured and I think Arsenal have found a settled back three for now as we’ve looked far more solid defensively in recent games.

David Luiz and Shkodran Mustafi may not be everyone’s cup of tea but they’ve actually both been very solid recently while Sead Kolasinac is improving on the left side of the back three so I’d stick with that set-up against Spurs.

Kieran Tierney is fast developing into a key player for Arsenal so I’d keep him in the left wing-back role. Cedric Soares is now a viable option on the right but I still think he’s not 100% match fit yet. Hector Bellerin played well against Leicester on Tuesday so I’d give him the nod.

Lucas Torreira is pushing for a recall after returning to fitness but Dani Ceballos has been forming a decent understanding with Granit Xhaka so I’d stick with them against Tottenham with Torreira on the bench.

Still no Ozil

There is a lack of invention in the Arsenal midfield right now but we don’t really have anyone to solve that issue as Mesut Ozil has been frozen out of the squad. He’s not featured since the restart and is unavailable with a ‘sore back’ so I don’t think he’ll be involved tomorrow.

Matteo Guendouzi is also set to miss out once again as he’s expected to leave the club this summer following a bust-up with Arteta so we don’t really have too many options in the middle of the park.

bukayo saka arsenal

Bukayo Saka should be one of the first names on the team-sheet right now but I think he’s far more at home playing from the left side of the attack so I’d like to see him deployed there this weekend rather than from the right.

That would allow Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to play through the middle. The Gabon international does a terrific job out wide as he works hard for the team but I personally think he should play up front.

Laca misses out

Alexandre Lacazette would therefore miss out but he’d be an option from the bench. Eddie Nketiah is suspended after being sent off against Leicester so we need a striking option to bring on if needed and Laca should be that man.

Nicolas Pepe is back in contention and I’d love to see him starting from the right wing against Tottenham. I think they’re vulnerable down the flanks and with Saka and Pepe out wide, Arsenal can really hurt Spurs tomorrow.

Reiss Nelson would be an option from the bench along but obviously Gabriel Martinelli isn’t available as he’s out for the season with a knee injury.

Here is how I hope Arsenal line-up:

football formations

One Comment

  1. Tallman

    July 11, 2020 at 7:24 pm

    Auba and Laca upfront. Drop kolinasac and play saka and Pepe on the Wings