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

Opinion

Arsenal predicted XI vs Aston Villa as Mikel Arteta makes Jurrien Timber decision

Lucas Arnold
Lucas Arnold

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has one or two crucial decisions to make when his side aim to better their abysmal record against Unai Emery and Aston Villa last season.

Arsenal were exceptional for the majority of the campaign, but failed to take a single poi🧸nt in two meetings with Emery.

Arsenal lost 1-0 at Villa Park in December, and their 1-2 defeat at the Emirates a few monꦛths later is likely still f𒉰resh in the memory for a lot of the club’s supporters.

That being said, Arsenal look fresh and remotivated this year,🅠 and beating Villa would be a huge psychol𓆏ogical boost ahead of the north London derby to come.

In terms of his team, Arteta may decide to name an unchanged eleven to the one which beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 last Saturday, however TBR Football are predicting two significant changes.

First of all, despite playing well against Wolves, Arteta could drop Oleksandr Zinchenko to t൲he bench, who has often struggled in big awa⛎y games.

Arsenal could drop Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Martinelli against Aston Villa

D💖arren Bent previously described Zinchenko as a ‘liabi🌃lity’, and if Arteta decid💖es to dropܫ the him then he has two possible options to replace the .

Either Riccardo Calafiori or Jurrien Timber could come in, and we think it’ll be the la♉tter as long he’s fully fit.

Mikel Arteta's predicted Arsenal XI vs Aston Villa, Oleksandr Zinchenko decision made
Mikel Arteta’s predicted Arsenal XI vs Aston Villa, Oleksandr Zinchenko decision made

READ MORE: What Gabriel Jesus thinks is going to happen at Ars🧜enal this season as Mikel Arteta plans signing

Timber would offer Arsenal similar control to Zinchenko on the ball, but may theꦑn also prove more effective in 🍷one versus one situations.

Elsewhere, it’s a toss up between Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard on the left-wing.

Martinelli has looked lively and willing in recent games at the Emirates, but 🦹Arteta may choose Trossa🌸rd’s end product in a game of such small margins.

And although he’s likely to retai🦄n his place, Arteta may also be tempted to drop Thomas Partey as his number six.

Partey enjoyed some excellent ꦚmoments against Wolves, but his performance was undone by some unnecessarily sloppy passes, ones that may tempt Arteta to turn𒅌 to Jorginho.

However, the Italian hasn’t played many minutes 🤡in recent matches, and may be deemed a bit behind in terms of♊ match sharpness.

That being said, an exciting Arsenal youngster was spotted in training ahead of Saturday’s big kick off.