Mikel Arteta shakes hands with his Arsenal players. (Getty Images)
First up, Arsenal have a daunting trip to the Etihad as they take on Manchester City when the league resumes after a 15-week enforced break.
Despite their disappointing campaign, the Gunners have had some positive results before the break. Mikel Arteta’s men should be at their best against City in an attempt to desperately regain some ground on the top four.
However, the task against Pep Guardiola’s side would not be easy and the manager should be able to guide them to a win and boost their confidence.
The manager would be satisfied to see most of his men back in training after the three-month break. Calum Chambers is still out injured but Cedric Soares has returned to training. Lucas Torreira is back in training but it is unclear if he is ready to play.
The German has been the first-choice shot-stopper in the last two seasons and will likely remain in goal for the Gunners. He has kept 7 clean sheets in 28 games so far and would be hoping to increase that tally.
Bellerin returned to the squad against Chelsea in mid-January after a long lay-off. And with the three months break, his fitness should be intact. He is expected to start ahead of Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
The Flamengo loanee was brilliant in the two games he featured before the break. He would be hoping to form a strong partnership alongside David Luiz and keep City at bay. He should start ahead of Sokratis.
Luiz’s form has been a concern for the manager but he is one of the most experienced in the defensive unit. He needs to lead from the back.
The teenager has been brilliant in the absence of Kieran Tierney and Sead Kolasinac for the majority of the 2019/20 campaign. He should be given another chance when they take on City. Saka has racked up 3 goals and 4 assists so far and could be helpful in the team’s attack from the back.
After a few troubling months at Emirates, Xhaka looks to have put the past behind him and has been a regular under Arteta. He is expected to make the cut into the manager’s starting XI on Thursday.
With Torreira’s inclusion a doubt, the French youngster is likely to get the nod ahead of the others. He needs to take his game to the next level and help the Gunners’ midfield keep ticking.
Ozil has not been at his best this season but he seems to be in good nick since Arteta arrived. He will be key to unlocking City’s defence and will be a key player in this fixture.
The captain has been in sensational form, scoring 17 goals in the league so far. He has been reliable and Aubameyang would be hoping to get his name on the score sheet.
Pepe’s form post-New Year has been excellent. He has the ability to cause damage to any defence and thus, he must get the nod ahead of Reiss Nelson.
The former Lyon man has not had the best of campaigns but he is capable of leading the attack. He should be spearheading the attack.
