Arsenal predicted XI v Blades: Mikel Arteta to make six changes, £8m man to start

Sat 27 June 2020 8:45, UK

Arsenal have finally claimed their first win since the resumption of English football and up next for Mikel Arteta’s Gunners is the chance to earn themselves a and a place in the last four of the FA Cup.

The Emirates Stadium side will be heading to Bramall Lane to take on Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United on Sunday afternoon and, while the Blades have enjoyed a superb Premier League campaign, their form has stuttered since the restart.

Given Bernd Leno’s injury, Arteta should once again opt for Emiliano Martinez in goal, while in front of the Argentine, there could be several changes considering the quick turnaround in games for the Gunners.

(Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Arsenal’s new-look 3-4-3 formation worked well against Southampton and, with Sheff Utd using a similar system, Arteta could keep that setup, especially considering David Luiz – who works best in a three-man defence – is back.

The could have Shkodran Mustafi and Rob Holding alongside him, while Sead Kolasinac and Ainsley Maitland-Niles could come in as wing-backs, giving Kieran Tierney, Hector Bellerin and Bukayo Saka a rest.

Granit Xhaka showed just how important he is to Arsenal at Southampton so he should retain his place, while Joe Willock could be rewarded for his goalscoring exploits in midweek with a sport alongside the Swiss.

Further up the pitch, Reiss Nelson could be given a start – his first since the resumption of English football – along with Alexandre Lacazette, and with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang likely to be given the nod up front, this would see Eddie Nketiah rested on the bench.

Predicted Arsenal starting XI Sheffield United (3-4-3): Martinez; Mustafi, Luiz, Holding; Maitland-Niles, Xhaka, Willock, Kolasinac; Nelson, Lacazette, Aubameyang

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Arsenal predicted XI v Blades: Mikel Arteta to make six changes, £8m man to start