Arsenal will commence their 2020-21 Premier League campaign on Saturday when lock horns against London rivals Fulham at Craven Cottage.
The Gunners have been on the rise ever since Mikel Arteta was appointed as the manager, and will look to begin their league campaign with a win.
Arsenal clinched the FA Cup and the Community Shield last month and they will certainly not be low on confidence.
However, Scott Parker’s team will be no pushovers and will hope to upset the odds and start their season on a high. Fulham finished second from bottom in 2019 and were relegated to Championship, but will look muster better performances this time.
Arsenal Team News
Veteran defender David Luiz is struggling with a neck injury and could miss the London derby. Centre-back Shkodran Mustafi has stepped up his rehabilitation process and could recover from his thigh injury next month, but he will be unavailable for the opener.
While Gabriel Martinelli is still on the treatment table following his knee surgery earlier this summer, Pablo Mari and Calum Chambers will also be unavailable owing to their ankle and knee injury, respectively.
Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs Fulham (3-4-3)
Goalkeeper
It will be difficult for Arteta to pick his no. 1 custodian this season as Bernd Leno and Emiliano Martinez were equally brilliant in goal last season. Martinez is the fitter of the two goalkeepers considering Leno has just returned from a long injury, and the former could get the nod once again after helping the Gunners to the Community Shield a few weeks ago.
Defence
Gabriel Magalhaes is available for selection, but Arteta might not go with the new signing straight away, and afford him some acclimatisation time.
The manager could instead go with Kieran Tierney, Rob Holding and William Saliba to fill in the three-man defence.
Wing-backs
Hector Bellerin and Ainsley Maitland-Niles are expected to operate as the wing-backs in the Arsenal lineup. Both of them have the pace to burn, pace and have the tendency to contribute in the attack, and will be desperate to make their presence felt on the pitch come Saturday.
Midfield
Granit Xhaka has been spectacular in the middle of the park for the north London outfit under Arteta. However, he had a draining international break with the Swiss national team, and could start on the bench.
Mohamed Elneny impressed in pre-season, and could get the nod to start alongside Dani Ceballos in the central midfield area, who has signed for another season on loan.
Attack
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang bagged a brace in the pre-season friendly against Aston Villa, and he is all set to feature on the left flank.
Nicolas Pepe is likely to start as the right-winger, while Alexandre Lacazette could spearhead the Arsenal lineup.