Arsenal will face Fulham in the season opener today at 12:30. The Gunners will want to get off to a winning start against the Premier League newcomers.
David Luiz, Emile Smith Rowe, Sokratis, Calum Chambers, Pablo Mari, Shkodran Mustafi and Gabriel Martinelli are all unavailable for today’s game.
With several players unavailable, how Mikel Arteta might choose to line up for this game has been hotly debated all week. Will it be a four or a five at the back? Will Pepe start? Finally the time has come for us to see the line-up.
Confirmed line-up: Leno: Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Bellerin, Elneny, Xhaka, Maitland-Niles; Willian, Lacazette, Aubamayang
Subs: Macey, Kolasinac, Ceballos, Willock, Saka, Pepe, Nketiah
Mesut Ozil has again been left out of the squad. Emiliano Martinez is also not featuring, giving Bernd Leno the number one spot and hinting at an imminent move away for Martinez.
It looks like a 3-4-3 again for Arsenal, and could line up as below
Leno:
Holding, Gabriel, Tierney;
Bellerin, Elneny, Xhaka, Maitland-Niles;
Willian, Lacazette, Aubamayang
Willian has started ahead of both Saka and Pepe as Arteta looks to the new signing with Premier League experience. Ceballos has probably been deemed not ready to start after he only recently joined up with the squad. Interestingly there is no Saliba in the squad and Gabriel starts.
More to come.