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[Image] Auba, Pepe & Martinelli start in 4-2-3-1: My Arsenal line-up vs Sheff Utd

By mac14 on April 10, 2021

Arsenal take on Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Sunday night. This is the team I’d like to see Mikel Arteta select for the match…

Obviously the focus will be on Thursday’s second leg against Slavia Prague after we threw away with first leg on Thursday with another inept performance. I’ve seen many suggest we rest all our key players tomorrow ahead of that Europa League game.

However, I don’t think this squad is good enough to just turn it on when required. We saw that on Thursday night. We need to go into the second leg off the back of a win and positive performance to help build confidence. Plus, we can’t just forget the Premier League altogether, so I’d still field a strong team against Sheffield United.

That means Bernd Leno in goal and Gabriel starting in the Arsenal defence. David Luiz is injured but I’d give Pablo Mari a chance to stake his claim tomorrow. I’m not sure what he’s done wrong to not be involved lately but I’d go with Mari alongside Gabriel.

Cedric Soares was woeful against Slavia Prague and it was him messing about in injury time that gifted them the corner they scored from. He’s not the replacement for Kieran Tierney we need as he offers very little going forward. For that reason, I’d start Bukayo Saka at left-back. I know it takes him away from the final third but Arsenal have plenty of options for the right-wing position and no other viable alternative at left-back.

Thomas Partey struggled at times on Thursday night but I’d still start him alongside Granit Xhaka in midfield as neither Dani Ceballos nor Mo Elneny are good enough.

Martinelli starts

With Saka at left-back, I’d love to see Gabriel Martinelli given a start in attack while Nicolas Pepe certainly deserves a recall after scoring off the bench on Thursday. I’ve no idea why Arteta thought Willian should start such an important match but hopefully we don’t see him near the starting eleven again any time soon.

Martin Odegaard has been ruled out again due to an ankle injury so Emile Smith Rowe should keep his place in Arsenal’s attacking midfield department.

The bosses decision to leave Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out back-fired as Alexandre Lacazette missed a golden chance to score against Slavia Prague. Auba has to start as he’s our best goal-scorer, it’s as simple as that.

This would be my Arsenal line-up: