Quantcast
Home   >   Opinions   >   Martinelli & Tomiyasu recalled – My Arsenal line-up vs Wolves

Martinelli & Tomiyasu recalled – My Arsenal line-up vs Wolves

By on February 23, 2022

takehiro-tomiyasu-arsenal

Arsenal will be looking for a win to close-in on the top four when they take on Wolves at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday night. This is the line-up I’d like to see Mikel Arteta select for the match…

Obviously there won’t be any change in goal as Aaron Ramsdale will start once again. He’s been an inspiration this season since arriving in the summer and has been a big upgrade on Bernd Leno.

However, Arsenal should make a change in defence. Takehiro Tomiyasu made his return to the squad at the weekend after being an unused substitute against Brentford. The Japan international has recently recovered from a niggling calf injury so wasn’t risked on Saturday. However, this is going to be a tough game for Arsenal so Tomi should come in for Cedric Soares at right-back.

Otherwise, we should see the usual back four. Kieran Tierney will continue ahead of Nuno Tavares at left-back while Ben White and Gabriel will start in the middle of the defence. The duo have formed an excellent partnership so hopefully that continues tomorrow.

Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka are both available so I hope we’ll see them staring together in midfield. Long-term, we need an upgrade on Xhaka but he’s still the best option we have right now.

Therefore, Albert Sambi Lokonga will remain on the bench along with Mohamed Elneny tomorrow night.

Martinelli returns

gabriel martinelli 2019

Obviously Bukayo Saka should keep his place on the right flank. He’s been in terrific form lately and scored a fine winner against Brentford at the weekend, so hopefully he puts in another top display against Wolves.

Likewise, Martin Odegaard has also been starring for Arsenal in recent games. The Norwegian international is becoming a focal point of this team so there is no way Arteta can leave him out right now.

However, I would like to see the boss make one change in attack against Wolves. Gabriel Martinelli is back after serving his suspension and we simply have to find a way to get him and Emile Smith Rowe in the team.

Smith Rowe doesn’t deserve to lose his place after scoring again at the weekend and Martinelli was one of Arsenal’s best players before his ban. Arteta has floated the idea of playing Smith Rowe as a false 9 and I think it’s worth a shot.

Alexandre Lacazette has done a decent enough job up front but his goal return is pitiful, so let’s try ESR up top as a false 9 again. It didn’t work the one time it was tested last year but Smith Rowe has developed hugely as a player since then.

Lacazette can then be an attacking option from the bench along with Nicolas Pepe and Eddie Nketiah.

Here is the side I hope we see:

football formations