Predicted XI

Nketiah to replace Lacazette? - How Arsenal could line-up against Burnley

With the pressure on Mikel Arteta's side ahead of a Premier League clash on Sunday, the Spaniard is desperately seeking a winning formula.

 
11:40am on Saturday 12th December 2020
By
Robin Bairner

Arsenal will attempt to put their Premier League woes behind them on Sunday, when they host Burnley at the Emirates Stadium.

Mikel Arteta arrived at the club with the good will of the supporters, but he is beginning to burn through that after a wretched start to the Premier League.

The Gunners completed their cruise through an easy Europa League group with a midweek win against Dundalk, but they are back to reality at the weekend.

Their record in the league has been woeful. From 11 matches, they have scored just 10 goals – three of which came on the opening night against Fulham – and have won only 13 points.

Indeed, they will face the Clarets on Sunday having lost just as many games as their opponents.

As a consequence, they find themselves rooted in 15th in the standings.

Talk of a relegation battle is far-fetched – Arsenal are, after all, seven points clear of the drop zone – but they are not coming up the standards of the club.

There is, therefore, a tremendous amount riding on this match against a rival that has only managed to pick up six points from 10 matches to date and has an even poorer record in front of goal than the north Londoners.

Arteta will be without Thomas Partey because of a thigh injury, while the only other player poised to miss out is attacker Nicolas Pepe, who will serve the last of a three-match ban he picked up when dismissed for a headbutt against Leeds.

The Spaniard has hinted that he may be willing to gamble with some of the club’s younger players following their impressive European displays.

Alexandre Lacazette could be the player to suffer, with Eddie Nketiah poised to swoop in and play at centre forward. He is, after all, the club’s leading scorer in all competitions this season.

Meanwhile, the controversial No.10 spot is up for grabs. Dani Ceballos and Joe Willock will vie for it.

Arsenal predicted XI to face Burnley

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