As the final match before the season kicks off in earnest, it’s highly likely that Arteta will field his strongest available lineup. However, there’s always the chance that I could be completely mistaken in my predictions!
Given that Saka is returning from a break, I anticipate he’ll play at least half of the game to help him ease back into action. Up front, I expect to see Martinelli and Havertz leading the line as usual. The midfield trio, ideally, would consist of Rice, Partey, and Odegaard, who have been our solid anchors in that area.
In defense, I suspect we’ll see Rice, Saliba, Gabriel, and Zinchenko forming the backline once again. It’s possible that Arteta isn’t entirely convinced that Timber is ready to start just yet, which might influence his decisions.
When it comes to tactics, I doubt Arteta will reveal any of his strategic surprises to our rivals during this match. It’s possible that he’ll opt for a different lineup and approach in the second half, allowing him to experiment with tactics without giving too much away.
At this stage, all we can do is wait for Arteta to confirm the official lineup, which will soon be revealed…
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