Gabriel & Zubimendi in: Predicted Arsenal XI (4-3-3) vs Athletic Bilbao with four changes

Arsenal take on Athletic Bilbao in today’s friendly at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners have lost their last two games against Villarreal and Tottenham Hotspur in pre-season.

Manager Mikel Arteta will expect a much better showing versus Athletic at home.

The game is the final one before the Premier League curtain-raiser against Manchester United on August 17.

Arteta should pick his strongest starting line-up without any experimentation.

Formation: 4-3-3

Predicted Line-up:

David Raya is an assured starter between the sticks ahead of summer signing Kepa Arrizabalaga.

The defence should see a solitary change from the midweek loss to Villarreal. We anticipate Gabriel Magalhaes to be reinstated alongside William Saliba in central defence after his recent return from injury. Jakub Kiwior is poised to drop to the bench.

Ben White and Myles Lewis-Skelly are strong candidates to keep their places at right and left-back respectively. Jurrien Timber is back in the mix after injury, but White should get the nod over him.

In the centre of the park, there should be a complete reshuffle from the Villarreal defeat. Christian Norgaard was brilliant in the holding midfield role and also scored a headed goal from a corner.

Despite this, Martin Zubimendi is likely to start over the Dane due to his better ball progressiveness and decision-making. Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice are expected to replace Ethan Nwaneri and Mikel Merino in central midfield.

Further forward, Bukayo Saka, Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli should be nailed-on starters. Noni Madueke has had only two training sessions under his belt while Leandro Trossard is doubtful due to a groin injury.

Martinelli should keep his place as a result. Kai Havertz was ruled out of the recent friendly against Villarreal due to a possible muscle injury. The German could come on as a substitute for Gyokeres.

Predicted Arsenal line-up vs Athletic Bilbao

The post Gabriel & Zubimendi in: Predicted Arsenal XI (4-3-3) vs Athletic Bilbao with four changes first appeared on ArsenalNews.co.uk.