Mikel Arteta to make nine changes for Saturday’s Premier League clash vs Burnley




Arsenal return to Premier League action against Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday afternoon.

The Gunners progressed to the Carabao Cup quarter-final after a 2-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at home.

The club will now refocus on their league campaign, where they are four points ahead of second-placed Bournemouth.

Manager Mikel Arteta made 10 changes for the midweek win over the Seagulls, and we anticipate at least nine tomorrow.

David Raya will obviously return in goal ahead of Kepa Arrizabalaga.

The 30-year-old has been an undisputed starter for Arsenal in the Premier League and Champions League this term.

He has kept six clean sheets in the English top-flight and will be eyeing another shutout against the Clarets.

Jurrien Timber, Gabriel Magalhaes and Riccardo Calafiori are guaranteed to return to the backline.

Ben White, Piero Hincapie and Myles Lewis-Skelly will make way for the Premier League regulars.

With William Saliba nursing an injury, Cristhian Mosquera looks likely to continue as the right-sided central defender.

The £31 million-rated star has proven his credentials in the league and has already made a couple of starts. He should get the nod over Hincapie.

Christian Norgaard and Mikel Merino are expected to make way for Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice in the centre of the park.

Ethan Nwaneri started as the number 10 on Wednesday night as Eberechi Eze played on the left wing.

Eze should start in his preferred attacking midfield role tomorrow, with Nwaneri dropping to the bench.

Arteta handed surprise starts to Max Dowman and Andre Harriman-Annous against the Seagulls.

Dowman became the youngest-ever starter for the Gunners, and his performance was ‘definitely special‘, as per the manager.

The academy duo will be dropped from the XI. Dowman could still make the matchday squad with Gabriel Martinelli sidelined.

Bukayo Saka will obviously return on the right wing. Leandro Trossard is poised to make his sixth-straight league appearance on the left wing.

Viktor Gyokeres is expected to lead the line after a much-needed breather in midweek. He will be eyeing his first away goal for the Gunners.

Early Predicted Line-up (4-2-3-1) vs Burnley: Raya; Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Eze, Trossard; Gyokeres.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com



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