The full focus is on the Premier League and making the top four, so let’s take a look at our Arsenal predicted lineup to face Burnley on Sunday.
The League Cup is gone, the FA Cup is gone, and Arsenal’s only remaining goal is to finish as high in the Premier League as possible. That starts with a game against Burnley on Sunday.
It may seem rough to name some or all of the same players that started against Liverpool on Thursday, but Mikel Arteta should do so anyway. He has to go as strong as he can to win the game, and it’s the last match before the winter break and a rest for the squad.
Here’s our Arsenal predicted lineup for this weekend’s Burnley clash at the Emirates Stadium.
Goalkeeper
For perhaps the first time since his debut, Aaron Ramsdale has a bit of a point to prove, after a disappointing semi-final display against Liverpool.
The goalkeeper remains in the hunt for the Golden Glove, sitting third in the Premier League standings right now, and he’ll hope to add another clean sheet to his tally by starting against Burnley.
Defence
Kieran Tierney, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Ben White should all keep their places, and unfortunately, it looks like Takehiro Tomiyasu might have to start as well.
That’s no slight against Tomiyasu as a player, who has been excellent since signing, but Arteta admitted it was already a stretch including him for the Liverpool game given his recent injury problems.
Ideally, Arsenal would rest the right-back, but there’s just nobody else available. Both Cedric Soares and Calum Chambers remain injured.
Midfield
In midfield, it’s less a case of picking Arsenal’s best players and more simply naming the only players available. Albert Sambi Lokonga, Martin Odegaard, and Emile Smith Rowe are Arsenal’s three midfielders.
Granit Xhaka is suspended, Thomas Partey is suspended, and Mohamed Elneny is away at AFCON. Despite strong links to Arthur Melo of Juventus, Arsenal haven’t made any signings.
Unless Arteta opts to give a youth player a chance (likely Charlie Patino), it will be the same midfield that started against Liverpool.
Forwards
Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka remain two of Arsenal’s most dangerous players at the moment, so they need to start. Once again, this is also an area Arsenal don’t have many alternatives in, thanks to AFCON and Smith Rowe having to play midfield.
Alexandre Lacazette looked off the pace against Liverpool, but the good news is he came off early, so he shouldn’t be any more tired than his teammates. Eddie Nketiah is available from the bench.
Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Burnley
