Arsenal’s officially start their 2020/21 campaign this afternoon at Wembley as they face Premier League champions, Liverpool in the Community Shield.
Following the record-14th FA Cup final victory, the Gunners’ Premier League season starts away at Fulham on September 12, meaning this game comes in the middle of a congested pre-season which will also feature an international break.
Heading into today’s game, Arteta will not have a squad full of first team regulars to choose from but nevertheless, a team must be picked to challenge for another piece of silverware.
In goal, Bernd Leno is most likely to start considering Emi Martinez’s off-season holiday to Portugal. The German was substituted for Matt Macey at MK Dons but that shouldn’t happen at Wembley.
Keeping with the back three shape on Tuesday, Arteta won’t veer away from it this afternoon. Looking for continuity ahead of the new season, he will keep the defence as it was at Stadium MK with William Saliba, Rob Holding and Kieran Tierney shielding Leno.
With the amount of work the wing-backs get through, if available, Hector Bellerin will take Cedric Soares’ place. The Spaniard should be looking to make the right back/wing-back role his own this season.
This game may come too early for Willian to make his Arsenal debut. The Brazilian was heavily involved in the restart for Chelsea and picked up a hamstring injury which kept him out of the FA Cup final so Arteta will want to monitor his return well.
“I don’t know. We’ll make the decision tomorrow [Friday] on who is going to play and who is going to be involved, but for sure they’re going to see our signings playing a lot of minutes this season,” he said ahead of the game.
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“So it’s not a hurry to see them in one game. I know they will be excited and desperate to see them but they will see plenty of them this year.”
As a result, Bukayo Saka will start on the right. Alexandre Lacazette will be rested again due to the injuries he endured at the start of last season, so Eddie Nketiah will lead the line as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang attacks from the left.
Should Arteta decide to go with a back four, it is possible to see Emile Smith Rowe start in place of either Willock or Maitland-Niles as a No.10. or No.8.
de Roche’s Predicted XI: Leno; Saliba, Holding, Tierney; Bellerin, Willock, Xhaka, Maitland-Niles; Saka, Nketiah, Aubameyang
