Sunday, December 22, 2024

10 Changes, Martinelli Starts: Arsenal’s Likely Line-Up To Face Wimbledon On Wednesday

Arsenal host Wimbledon on Wednesday and there is an expectation that the Gunners will make a number of changes to the team.

Arteta’s men worked hard on Saturday to grind out a win against Burnley and with a North London Derby on the horizon on Sunday, Mikel will want his main men rested.

Have a look at how I think we could line up for the game below. Disagree? Create your Arsenal XI at the bottom of this article.

Goalkeeper: Bernd Leno
Leno is likely to come back in between the sticks. He’s seen Ramsdale take his number one spot and will want to come in and win this game with an authoritative clean sheet performance.

Defenders: Cedric, Rob Holding, Pablo Mari, Nuno Tavares
All change in the back four again is likely. With back-to-back clean sheets from the Premier League back five, there is pressure for this back five to impress, especially given the opposition. But that competition is great for the squad. Expect Nuno Tavares to be a marauding full-back and try to impress here.

Midfielders: Albert Sambi Lokonga, Ainsley Maitland-Niles; Eddie Nketiah, Emile Smith Rowe, Gabriel Martinelli
Arsenal have been shuffling the deck in the midfield of late and I could see a number of changes in this position also. Nketiah and Martinelli are back fit and in need of minutes. Both players could add something to this squad this season given the club’s lack of goal threat. At the heart of midfield, Maitland-Niles and Lokonga could again anchor the midfield, though Mohammed Elneny will be hoping to get some minutes under his belt.

Smith Rowe is the only one from Saturday I can see starting again. He needs to play his way into some form and could get a goal or two in this game to help achieve that.

Striker: Alexandre Lacazette
Lacazette has barely been in the side this season but Arteta will be keen to get him fit and ready to fire as Aubameyang has been lacking in form. Lacazette also has Eddie Nketiah and Folarin Balogun to worry about.

How would you line up? Create your XI below and share it on social media!

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