Predicted Arsenal Lineup To Face Leicester City On The Opening Day Of The Premier League Campaign
Having failed to qualify for the Champions League, London outfit Arsenal will start their Premier League campaign this season when they welcome former Premier League Champions Leicester City in a Friday night kick-off this week.
Arsene Wenger’s side lifted the Community Shield trophy not so long ago and will be a confident bunch going into this tie. Wenger is expected to stick with the 3-4-3 formation that has been fruitful since late last season and here is a prediction of the lineup he might field for this tie:
Team News
Wenger revealed long before the game that Chilean winger Alexis Sanchez is still out with an injury and will miss this game. Playmakers Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey, who missed the game against Chelsea, are also uncertainties. Laurent Koscielny is going to miss this game through suspension while Shkodran Mustafi and Per Mertesacker are both expected to return to the first team.. Santi Cazorla, Francis Coquelin, Gabriel Paulista and Jack Wilshere are all also expected to miss this game.
Manager: Arsene Wenger
Formation: 3-4-3
GK – Petr Cech
The first choice shot stopper for Arsenal, Cech will hope to make a cracking start to this campaign.
CB – Rob Holding
The English youngster has cemented his place in the side in recent times and should start on the right-hand side of the back line in this game.
CB – Per Mertesacker
Picked up a nasty injury recently but is expected to be fit for this tie and he should play at the heart of the defence for his side in the first game of the season.
CB – Shkodran Mustafi
The German centre-back was also recently back from an injury but he has settled well in England and will have to be at his best against the likes of Vardy and Mahrez in this tie.
RWB – Hector Bellerin
The Spaniard almost lost his place to the ‘Ox’ recently but Wenger used him in the Community Shield against Chelsea and should stick with him yet again.
CM – Granit Xhaka
The Swiss international has improved by leaps and bounds since last season and is easily one of the best midfielders in the league. He should start this tie against the Foxes.
CM – Mohamed Elneny
The absence of Aaron Ramsey, Francis Coquelin and Santi Cazorla should see Wenger use Elneny to partner Xhaka in the midfield for this game.
LWB – Sead Kolasinac
The summer-buy for Arsenal has made a great start to his career in England but he will have a tough test against the likes of Mahrez in his first league game in England.
RW – Alex Iwobi
The youngster has been effective almost every time he has been given a chance and injuries to Sanchez and Ozil should see him start in the attack for Arsenal.
LW – Danny Welbeck
The English striker had a productive time in this role in the Community Shield game and Wenger is expected to stick with him, in wake of the injuries to his star men.
ST – Alexandre Lacazette
The French striker also made a decent start to his time at Arsenal in the pre-season and he will hope to make an immediate impact in the league, facing a tricky Leicester side this weekend.