Mikel Arteta has made five changes to the Arsenal side that beat Premier League champions Liverpool ahead of this evening’s FA Cup Semi-Finals clash against Manchester City.
Shkodran Mustafi comes into the centre-back three for Rob Holding, Arsenal’s wing-backs have also been changed with Hector Bellerin and Ainsley Maitland-Niles replacing Cedric Soares and Bukayo Saka.
In midfield, Dani Ceballos starts ahead of Lucas Torreira. There’s just one change to the attacking ranks with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in for Reiss Nelson.
We’ll have to wait until kick-off to see just what formation Arteta is deploying, the Spaniard could be going with wing-backs again in a 3-4-3 system or could be giving Ainsley Maitland-Niles the chance to shine in his natural central midfield position with a 4-3-3.
Take a look at the Gunners’ lineup below:
? Here it is – our semi-final team news!
?? @Aubameyang7 starts
?? @LacazetteAlex starts
?? And so does Nicolas Pepe?
#?? #EmiratesFACup
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 18, 2020
Here’s what some Arsenal fans have made of Arteta’s team selection:
Niles, Mustafi and Luiz, congratulations City for reaching the final?????? what a joke
— sem paciencia (@piperhimself) July 18, 2020
Surely…where is holding…. the same way arteta is treating holding is the same way he did it to AMN….. HOLDING IS BETTERR THAN MUSTAFI NA LUIZ
— george (@Georgekiprop96) July 18, 2020
Still think Holding should’ve started.
— Tee. (@timefortierney) July 18, 2020
A bit gutted that holding dident start this one he pocketed Sadio last game kinda happy with the line up amn atleast starts so I’m happy COYG!
— Hamiduu? (@BojangHamidu) July 18, 2020
Could be AMN’s chance in the middle of the park ?
— Jordan Davies (@jordswbu) July 18, 2020
is amn playing midfield or lwb
— ?? (@merxjn) July 18, 2020
4-3-3 with AMN in CM or 3-4-3 with AMN at LWB?
— Dr. Rajpal Brar, DPT (@3cbPerformance) July 18, 2020
Niles at left wing back pic.twitter.com/v0ckTGCb73
— P™ (@SemperFiArsenal) July 18, 2020
It will take some doing for Arteta to mastermind a victory over his former employers, can this starting lineup overcome Pep Guardiola’s fierce City lineup?
The Citizens boast a vicious attacking force and Arsenal’s defensive ranks have continued to be error-prone this season, making for a bad mix that could see the Gunners punished this evening.