How Arteta’s Arsenal will lineup when the Premier League returns

The Premier League is currently suspended until further notice but it’s however been atleast confirmed that the season will continue. Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta who has since recovered from COVID-19 will be looking forward to the return of the Premier League because his side had started go on form.

So since most Arsenal players will have returned from their injuries, we take a look at how the North Londoners will lineup when the Premier League returns.

ARSENAL’S LINEUP AFTER PREMIER LEAGUE RETURN

TEXT: Leno, Tierney, Mari, Luiz, Bellerin, Xhaka, Ceballos, Saka, Ozil, Pepe, Aubameyang

GOALKEEPING:

Bernd Leno is Arteta’s first choice goalkeeper and he was fully fit before the Premier League was suspended and so there isn’t any reason why he should lose his place to Emiliano Martinez. If the blunder he made in Arsenal’s Europa League game against Olympiacos didn’t make him get benched then the German should continue being the main man in between the goal posts of the gunners.

DEFENCE:

Bukayo Saka will not continue playing as a left back since Arsenal’s two leftbacks i.e Tierney and Kolasinac will have come back. Bellerin was not starting for Arsenal in the right back position in the last few games but a report earlier came out that he was struggling with an injury but he will get better during this lock down and so he should be fit when football returns.

So Arsenal’s fullbacks will be Tierney and Bellerin while Mari and Luiz play as centre backs. Arteta will be happy that Pablo Mari is now ready to play since he said that he wanted a left footed centre back in his back line.

CENTRAL MIDFIELD:

Even though we don’t know when the Premier League will return, it is however likely that Torreira won’t be back by then and Matteo Guendouzi has failed to win over the trust of Mikel Arteta. So, Arsenal will continue using the midfield two of Granit Xhaka and Dani Ceballos and they have been pretty good in the past few matches.

ATTACKING MIDFIELD:

LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 01: (L-R) Nicolas Pepe and Mesut Ozil of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on January 01, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Arsenal don’t have many options in the central attacking midfield position and so Mesut Ozil will continue playing in that position as he’s the best man for the job in the squad. Bukayo Saka will now be moved to his favourite left-wing position since Arsenal’s left backs are back and he will be looking to cement this position. Arteta did say that he would like Pepe to have an outstanding end to the season to end any talk of being a flop and so he will definitely give him a chance to impress.

So Arsenal’s attacking midfield will consist of Saka, Ozil and Pepe.

STRIKING:

Ever since Mikel Arteta was appointed as Arsenal’s new boss, Aubameyang has never played as the centre forward and this has seen the Spanish coach receive some criticism but he could put him in that position when football returns as he did admit that the Gabon international is indeed a striker and not a winger.