Mikel Arteta is facing a tough decision ahead of Arsenal’s clash against Manchester City.
The question is whether he should stick with Rob Holding in central defence or twist and bring in Ben White for more pace and ability to play out from the back.
Despite Holding’s struggles against Erling Haaland in the FA Cup tie, Arteta might go with him, as he is a solid defender and a popular member of the squad.
However, there is a possibility that Arteta might use Kieran Tierney at left-back and Oleksandr Zinchenko on the other side to accommodate White in central defence.
The decision to make changes in the starting line-up might also depend on the availability of Granit Xhaka, who is expected to be back after missing the last game due to illness.
Upfront, Arteta might stick with Bukayo Saka’s form, Gabriel Martinelli’s pace, and Gabriel Jesus’ knowledge of City, instead of making a big call on Leandro Trossard.
On the other hand, Pep Guardiola is likely to revert back to his strongest XI, with Kevin De Bruyne returning to the midfield.
Hat-trick hero Riyad Mahrez could drop to the bench, with Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva on the wings. Erling Haaland, who scored in the reverse fixture at the Emirates, is closing in on more records and has expressed his excitement on social media.
In the backline, Aymeric Laporte could replace Nathan Ake, who has been a regular as of late. City’s defence, featuring Manuel Akanji, John Stones, and Ruben Dias, will be crucial to their success in this game.
Overall, both teams have a lot to play for, and the decision to stick or twist with the starting line-up could be a game-changer for either side.
It will be interesting to see how Arteta and Guardiola approach this crucial Premier League clash.