Arsenal predicted lineup vs Villarreal: Granit Xhaka at left-back, Aubameyang at centre-forward & Gabriel Martinelli on the left? (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta is tasked with the most important team selection of his managerial career as Arsenal host Villarreal in their Europa League semi-final second leg on Thursday. Here is the predicted lineup.
In normal circumstances, the 11 players put out have to be the right ones for the occasion and the opposition. That differs in Europe this season, as with five substitutes, those who start aren’t necessarily the most important on the day.
However, with a manager who has a swarm of critics rightfully questioning his substitutions (or lack thereof) who starts may have even greater significance.
The injury situation was handed a fresh boost with Kieran Tierney and Alexandre Lacazette taking part in training on Tuesday and Wednesday; one player who is the only to fill a position naturally and another who has been in excellent form in recent weeks.
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Arsenal predicted lineup vs Villarreal: Granit Xhaka at left-back, Aubameyang at centre-forward & Gabriel Martinelli on the left?
Added to that was the potential for a miraculous recovery at centre-back, with the manager refusing to rule out David Luiz making the swiftest hamstring recovery in history just four days on from being forced to hobble off against Newcastle.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is back in the squad and back among the goals after his acrobatic effort on Tyneside, welcome respite for all supporters who dread another false nine approach.
In wide areas there are plenty of options available, with Gabriel Martinelli sharp and energetic at St James’ Park, registering an assist on the day and offering serious competition. For who, though? Martinelli is pounding on the manager’s door but his place in the side would see Nicolas Pepe drop out, who is the leading contributor for goals across the entire Europa League this season and put in a dogged shift in the first leg.
Rests for both Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka last time out strongly hint to their involvement, albeit fairly conclusive anyway since they’re among the star performers in this side.
Who plays left-back? Who takes Dani Ceballos’ spot? Who plays at centre-half? Such is the lack of consistency at Arsenal none of these questions are easily answered. Those decisions rest on Arteta’s shoulders, and here is our prediction for how the Spaniard will set up.
VILLARREAL, SPAIN – APRIL 29: Villarreal’s Samuel Chimerenka Chukwueze (L) in action against Granit Xhaka of Arsenal FC during the UEFA Europa League Semi-final First Leg match between Villareal CF and Arsenal. (Photo by MB Media/Getty Images)
Goalkeeper & Defenders
Bernd Leno (GK) – It would seem Arsenal have reverted to having a cup goalkeeper and a Premier League goalkeeper, albeit in unorthodox fashion. Mat Ryan has started in two of the previous three domestic outings, a trend that has no reason to be discontinued, thus it looks like being Leno in net once more.
Hector Bellerin (RB) – A tidy afternoon for Bellerin against Newcastle doesn’t suddenly warrant his inclusion on this one, yet given the likelihood of Villarreal sitting back and looking to strike on the counter, Arsenal will need pace in transition. Chambers has the better delivery and has performed well of late, but tactically Arteta may change things up.
Rob Holding (CB) – The centre-back didn’t feature against Newcastle, a move that while may have seemed like him being rested, will only look like it now with Luiz surely not returning from his hamstring injury. The two Brazilians are the best partnership and if the 34-year-old didn’t get injured it may well have been the same pairing for Thursday.
Pablo Mari (CB) – If Holding plays, so does Mari. Arsenal essentially have two pairs of defenders who work well together, and mixing them around results in a drop-off for all included. Neither Mari nor Holding looked assured in the first leg, especially the former, but Arteta won’t want to chop his defence around too drastically.
Granit Xhaka (LB) – *Sigh*, can anyone foresee this ploy being abandoned? If Tierney was fit then 100%. He won’t be, and sticking to this system last time out offers the indication that it will be kept for the second leg. Cedric, who hasn’t played since his error in the first leg against Slavia Prague, won’t be asked to suddenly come in at left-back. The chance for that was Sunday.
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<h2>Arsenal predicted lineup vs Villarreal: Granit Xhaka at left-back, Aubameyang at centre-forward & Gabriel Martinelli on the left?</h2>
<p>Added to that was the potential for a miraculous recovery at centre-back, with the manager refusing to rule out David Luiz making the swiftest hamstring recovery in history just four days on from being forced to hobble off against Newcastle.</p>
<p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/05/05/arsenal-predicted-lineup-vs-villarreal-2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/05/02/arsenal-player-ratings-vs-newcastle-3/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is back in the squad and back among the goals</a> after his acrobatic effort on Tyneside, welcome respite for all supporters who dread another false nine approach.</p>
<p>In wide areas there are plenty of options available, with Gabriel Martinelli sharp and energetic at St James’ Park, registering an assist on the day and offering serious competition. For who, though? Martinelli is pounding on the manager’s door but his place in the side would see Nicolas Pepe drop out, who is the leading contributor for goals across the entire Europa League this season and put in a dogged shift in the first leg.</p>
<p>Rests for both Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka last time out strongly hint to their involvement, albeit fairly conclusive anyway since they’re among the star performers in this side.</p>
<p>Who plays left-back? Who takes Dani Ceballos’ spot? Who plays at centre-half? Such is the lack of consistency at Arsenal none of these questions are easily answered. Those decisions rest on Arteta’s shoulders, and here is our prediction for how the Spaniard will set up.</p>
<div id="attachment_115055" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-115055" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/05/05/arsenal-predicted-lineup-vs-villarreal-2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1315335814-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Granit Xhaka" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">VILLARREAL, SPAIN – APRIL 29: Villarreal’s Samuel Chimerenka Chukwueze (L) in action against Granit Xhaka of Arsenal FC during the UEFA Europa League Semi-final First Leg match between Villareal CF and Arsenal. (Photo by MB Media/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Goalkeeper & Defenders</h2>
<p><strong>Bernd Leno (GK) –</strong> It would seem Arsenal have reverted to having a cup goalkeeper and a Premier League goalkeeper, albeit in unorthodox fashion. Mat Ryan has started in two of the previous three domestic outings, a trend that has no reason to be discontinued, thus it looks like being Leno in net once more.</p>
<p><strong>Hector Bellerin (RB) –</strong> A tidy afternoon for Bellerin against Newcastle doesn’t suddenly warrant his inclusion on this one, yet given the likelihood of Villarreal sitting back and looking to strike on the counter, Arsenal will need pace in transition. Chambers has the better delivery and has performed well of late, but tactically Arteta may change things up.</p>
<p><strong>Rob Holding (CB) –</strong> The centre-back didn’t feature against Newcastle, a move that while may have seemed like him being rested, will only look like it now with Luiz <em>surely</em> not returning from his hamstring injury. The two Brazilians are the best partnership and if the 34-year-old didn’t get injured it may well have been the same pairing for Thursday.</p>
<p><strong>Pablo Mari (CB) –</strong> If Holding plays, so does Mari. Arsenal essentially have two pairs of defenders who work well together, and mixing them around results in a drop-off for all included. Neither Mari nor Holding looked assured in the first leg, especially the former, but Arteta won’t want to chop his defence around too drastically.</p>
<p><strong>Granit Xhaka (LB) –</strong> *<em>Sigh*</em>, can anyone foresee this ploy being abandoned? If Tierney was fit then 100%. He won’t be, and sticking <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/05/05/arsenal-predicted-lineup-vs-villarreal-2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/04/29/villarreal-arsenal-tactics-shape/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">to this system</a> last time out offers the indication that it will be kept for the second leg. Cedric, who hasn’t played since his error in the first leg <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/05/05/arsenal-predicted-lineup-vs-villarreal-2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/04/16/arsenal-arteta-tactical-acumen-3-4-3/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">against Slavia Prague</a>, won’t be asked to suddenly come in at left-back. The chance for that was Sunday.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/05/05/arsenal-predicted-lineup-vs-villarreal-2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Midfielders </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-115056" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/05/05/arsenal-predicted-lineup-vs-villarreal-2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1315843474-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Mohamed Elneny" width="590" height="389" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1315843474-850x560.jpeg 850w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1315843474-768x507.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – MAY 02: Mohamed Elneny of Arsenal celebrates after scoring their side’s first goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Arsenal at St. James Park. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Midfielders</h2>
<p><strong>Thomas Partey (CM) –</strong> Was there any need for him to play five minutes at the end of the 2-0 win over Newcastle? Not really, but it doesn’t alter the fact he will be in the team as one of the first names down.</p>
<p>Seeing how he came to life without Ceballos on the pitch in the first leg, another single pivot with two floating No. 8’s either side may be in order. Will Arteta go down that route, or invite Partey to push up a few yards and sit Mohamed Elneny in front of the defence?</p>
<p><strong>Mohamed Elneny (CM) – </strong>Is that what the masses want? Unlikely to be so, even if Elneny didn’t harm his chances of featuring on Thursday with a neat all-round display on Sunday capped off with a great finish for the first goal.</p>
<p>If he comes into side as predicted here, it won’t be as a direct replacement for Ceballos, who operated both as a left wing-back and as a freer No. 8. Elneny 1000% can’t do that. He is, however, full of confidence and that may sway Arteta’s mind to allow Partey to push slightly further upfield.</p>
<p><strong>Martin Odegaard (AM) –</strong> Smith Rowe playing no part at St James’ Park coupled with Martin Odegaard finishing the match strongly suggests towards one and not the other featuring. Arteta did mention, however, that some players hadn’t properly recovered from Estadio de la Ceramica which doesn’t firmly cement the decision.</p>
<p>Odegaard created five chances in the north east, the most by any player in a single <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/05/05/arsenal-predicted-lineup-vs-villarreal-2/"https://www.90min.com/leagues/premier-league" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Premier League</a> match under Arteta since he took charge. It was more like the Norwegian fans have come to know and that may have just edged it for the loanee.</p>
<p>It’s so tough to call.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/05/05/arsenal-predicted-lineup-vs-villarreal-2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Forwards </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-115057" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/05/05/arsenal-predicted-lineup-vs-villarreal-2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1232649836-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Arsenal’s Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Arsenal. (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Forwards</h2>
<p><strong>Bukayo Saka (RW) – </strong>First name on the team sheet, arguably, but whereabouts on it? When Tierney first suffered his injury the obvious choice to slot into that position was Saka. He’s played there before and is naturally left footed therefore can provide the overlaps and contribute in advanced triangles like other options can’t.</p>
<p>Arteta not opting to follow that route upon the Scot’s injury is a sign of Saka’s importance in the final third. Having not done it since, it’d be strange to do so now. There is absolutely scope for him to also play in midfield, but given his contributions in the final third in the first leg, it may be as it was.</p>
<p><strong>Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ST) –</strong> A certainty. His return to the side was near perfect as he got 78 minutes under his belt and confidence up with a superbly taken goal.</p>
<p>It’s no easy feat taking on the excellent Pau Torres, but even if Aubameyang’s role on Thursday is merely to keep moving and occupy the centre-backs, shifting them around and crafting space in between the lines for the attacking midfielders to advance into, it’ll be more than what happened in the first leg.</p>
<p>He will get the chances to score and of all the options to convert them, both strikers and otherwise, he’s the horse you’d back.</p>
<p><strong>Nicolas Pepe (LW) –</strong> No Martinelli. But as touched on earlier, can Arteta really drop Pepe for this match? He bust multiple gut in Spain, posed the biggest threat and has been a danger man throughout this competition.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="What's going on with Partey?" data-url="https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/05/05/arsenal-partey-disappointing-destructive/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/05/05/arsenal-predicted-lineup-vs-villarreal-2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/05/05/arsenal-partey-disappointing-destructive/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> What's going on with Partey? </a> </div>
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<p>Martinelli can’t do much more to warrant a starting berth, but neither can the Ivorian. Furthermore, if he decides to actually use them, of the two Arteta will know which one he’d rather have as an impact substitute. With five subs and potentially 120 minutes to play, it’s Martinelli who you’d rather come off the bench hounding down the Villarreal backline.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
