Arsenal XI vs Man City: Predicted lineup, confirmed crew news and damage newest
Oleksandr Zinchenko is set to miss the curtain-raiser at Wembley, leaving the Gunners to choose between a trio of choices for the place.
Kieran Tierney has seldom been favoured by Arteta, significantly given the success of Zinchenko’s inverted function, whereas Jakub Kiwior has stuffed in at instances throughout pre-season. Jurrien Timber featured at left-back within the Emirates Cup fixture towards Monaco and, regardless of not being a pure left-back, could also be greatest positioned to emulate the Zinchenko function.
Bukayo Saka missed the 1-1 attract midweek by sickness however should be fit to start, though Gabriel Jesus (knee) will miss out.
“Bukayo is much better, he trained today,” Arteta informed reporters on Friday. “I don’t expect anybody else to not play.”
There are doubts over Folarin Balogun (foot), Reiss Nelson (toe) and Albert Sambi Lokonga (muscle), nevertheless all three are unlikely to begin even when match.
Like Zinchenko, Mohamed Elneny didn’t function in pre-season whereas on the comeback path from a critical knee damage and he’s anticipated to be unavailable.
There ought to be aggressive debuts for Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Timber though how Arteta suits the German ahead into his line-up shall be one other troublesome resolution. Dropping Thomas Partey for Havertz could be a daring transfer towards City’s normal dominance of possession.
“He has played the majority of the minutes as an attacking midfielder but he can play on the right, he has played as a winger, coming inside as a No9, as a false No9, so we will see,” Arteta stated on how he would possibly play Havertz at Wembley.
“We are seeing a lot of things, the team gives you a lot of information every day and some connections and relationships that you didn’t expect. Sometimes you feel ‘look what is happening there’ and it is natural. So we have to have our eyes open to that and not just close the door to something because that is not the best thing to do.”
Predicted Arsenal XI: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli
Doubts: Lokonga, Nelson, Balogun
Injured: Gabriel Jesus, Zinchenko, Elneny
Time and date: 4pm BST, Sunday August 6, 2023
Venue: Wembley Stadium