Mikel Arteta vs Burnley (Photo by Laurence Griffiths / POOL / AFP)

4 changes: Arsenal lineup vs Everton predicted

Dec 19, 2020

See the official Arsenal lineup here

After a couple of home games, next up is a trip to Goodison Park this weekend, so let’s take a look at our predicted Arsenal lineup vs Everton.

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta reacts during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 6, 2020. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / POOL / AFP) — Arsenal’s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta reacts on December 6, 2020. We’re looking at what we’re expecting him to do on Sunday in our predicted Arsenal lineup vs Everton (Photo by Glyn KIRK / POOL / AFP)

Everton have had a good start to the season, though perhaps not quite as consistent as their initial run of four wins suggested. They subsequently won just one of their next seven Premier League games before beating Chelsea and Leicester City this week.

Arsenal know all about runs of inconsistent form, beating Manchester United one week and losing 3-0 to Aston Villa the next, but they desperately need to put a few results together and make a run up the table now.

Let’s have a look at our predicted Arsenal lineup vs Everton for this weekend.

Goalkeeper

No real surprises here, as Bernd Leno prepares for another start. Runar Alex Runarsson will make the bench, and it’s hard to see him getting another game until the FA Cup fixtures at the earliest.

Defence

Arsenal's Spanish defender Hector Bellerin controls the ball during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium in London on October 25, 2020. (Photo by IAN KINGTON/IKIMAGES/AFP via Getty Images) — Arsenal’s Spanish defender Hector Bellerin controls the ball during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium in London on October 25, 2020. Bellerin returns in our predicted Arsenal lineup vs Everton (Photo by IAN KINGTON/IKIMAGES/AFP via Getty Images)

Hector Bellerin is back available again after his yellow-card suspension in midweek. The full-back will presumably retake his spot on the right, with Kieran Tierney and Rob Holding starting as well.

Pablo Mari and Calum Chambers are both returning to fitness and full match sharpness, so we could see them starting to break into the lineup more regularly. The same goes for David Luiz.

It’ll presumably be Luiz coming in for Gabriel Magalhaes as he did after the red card on Wednesday. Gabriel is suspended after that red.

Midfield

Granit Xhaka will miss out once again through suspension, whilst Thomas Partey remains unavailable after his injury. Mohamed Elneny and Dani Ceballos are both and available to feature, however.

Bukayo Saka needs to start, as he’s proving a key member of the side right now. He’ll play that left-central-midfield/left-wing-back role.

That leaves Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Joe Willock, and Emile Smith Rowe on the bench, assuming they make the squad.

Forwards

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 29: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Emirates Stadium on November 29, 2020 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) — LONDON, ENGLAND: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Emirates Stadium on November 29, 2020. Aubameyang makes our predicted Arsenal lineup vs Everton despite his goalscoring drought (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang finally got back on the scoresheet on Wednesday, and he’ll likely get another start on the left. Alexandre Lacazette may well come back in for Eddie Nketiah, however, as Arteta rotates between the two.

Arteta has options out wide on the right, with Willian, Nicolas Pepe, Reiss Nelson, and even Smith Rowe if he wants to use him there.

Nelson missed out on Wednesday through injury, but he may be available for Everton. The safer bet is Willian right now, as Pepe doesn’t really ever get consecutive starts.