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Mikel Arteta should start ‘phenomenal’ £6m Arsenal player against Chelsea tonight
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta certainly has some tough selection calls to make when his side welcome Chelsea to the Emirates tonight.
Perhaps the biggest news heading into the game is the uncertainty regarding Cole Palmer’s involvement, Chelsea’s everything man this season.
That being said, Mikel Arteta certainly won’t be taking Mauricio Pochettino’s side lightly regardless, given all that is at stake.
Arsenal have the opportunity to mount some serious scoreboard pressure on Manchester City, possibly going four points ahead before they next play.
Therefore, Arsenal’s team selection will be vitally important.
Mikel Arteta does have a few more dilemmas given the players who have now returned from injury, with the likes of Thomas Partey pushing for a start.
Many Arsenal fans felt as if their manager got it wrong in the defeat against Aston Villa, surrendering control in midfield.
And although Arsenal won against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, perhaps the balance wasn’t still quite right then, either.
Mikel Arteta needs to reinstate Gabriel Martinelli into his Arsenal XI to face Chelsea
Gabriel Jesus’ availability has thrown a real spanner in the works at a time when Kai Havertz looked so settled as a false nine.
Having the Brazilian available is definitely a positive, but fitting all these players into one team is no easy task.
That being said, the return of Gabriel Martinelli to the XI against Chelsea tonight could really help with that balance.
Leandro Trossard was the match-winner against Wolves, and therefore it might seem harsh to drop him.
However, it shouldn’t be forgotten just how ‘phenomenal’ Martinelli can be, especially at getting in behind when Havertz is playing centrally.
Thomas Partey should also be handed a start
Mikel Arteta has an opportunity to deploy Arsenal’s strongest midfield three tonight, Thomas Partey, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard.
Partey hasn’t been fully fit of late, but showed glimpses of his passing once again in his short cameo against Wolves.
And tonight seems like the perfect opportunity for Arteta to start both Partey and Martinelli for Arsenal against Chelsea – players it would be unthinkable to leave on the bench last season.
Martinelli in particular has a point to prove, the hasn’t been at his best this season.
But if there was ever a player determined to turn things around, it’s him.
All that being said, Darren Bent has just admitted that he’d rather Arsenal sign a £100m player instead of Bruno Guimaraes this summer.