How Arteta predicted Lineup 4-2-3-1 vs Oxford United as Emile Smith Rowe returns and Mikel Arteta goes strong.

This post has been viewed 18 times.

the Gunners could line up for their FA Cup clash with Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium.

The FA Cup gets underway on Monday night as the Gunners end the third round of fixtures in the competition away at Oxford United. This time last year Arsenal were preparing for a trip to Nottingham Forest which they would rotate heavily for and then lose.

Mikel Arteta will want to avoid a repeat of the disappointment, especially with the Gunners adorning the ‘No More Red’ for a second successive season. Arsenal will travel knowing that their next Premier League opponents Tottenham are through.

Arteta spoke of the importance of the competition before the game. Arsenal remain the most successful club in the competition’s history.

Picking the side might be a simpler task than many believe. Whilst rotation could have been an option there’s a couple of factors which might prevent this.

Firstly, is simply a lack of depth. Arsenal have injuries to key forwards like Gabriel Jesus and Reiss Nelson so the likes of Eddie Nketiah is most like to start.

Secondly, with the north London derby up next after the disappointing draw against Newcastle previously, Arteta might want to build some momentum with a good win against Oxford. Going into a must-win with Spurs with a record of failed tries since 2014 in the league away from home, making sure a big win preludes the clash is important.

Matt Turner is likely to come in for Aaron Ramsdale. Turner enjoyed a strong World Cup for the United States and impressed in goal and should be comfortable coming in for the England international.

In defence it will likely see the most change. Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu can come in at the full-back positions and Rob Holding is sure to regain a spot in the defence. William Saliba paired the 27-year-old more than Gabriel Magalhaes in Europe, but it could be a toss-up between the two – Saliba played little at the World Cup and so might be given the chance of more minutes here.

In midfield, Mohamed Elneny could replace Thomas Partey, although Granit Xhaka is likely to maintain his spot to keep consistency in the group. Fabio Vieira then comes in for Martin Odegaard meaning the Swiss midfielder would take the armband.

Joining Nketiah up top, Bukayo Saka could start to stay strong, with Marquinhos getting an opportunity from the bench later on. The biggest returning figure is saved for Emile Smith Rowe, who is pushing to make his first appearance since September after undergoing groin surgery.

Arsenal predicted XI vs Oxford Utd: Turner; Tomiyasu, Saliba, Holding, Tierney; Elneny, Xhaka, Vieira; Saka, Smith Rowe, Nketiah